Search operations near the Key Bridge collapse have shut down for the night due to dangerous conditions, but the process of underwater mapping with many local, state, and federal dive teams will begin Wednesday, according to Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace.
Wallace explained that the portion of the Patapsco River where the collapse occurred is tidal influenced, experiencing tide cycles similar to the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
The water depths in the area under the bridge range from 40 feet to over 60 feet, making it a challenging environment for divers. As divers descend deeper, they encounter colder temperatures, and visibility becomes zero, Wallace noted.
When crews arrived on Tuesday morning, the surface water temperatures of the Patapsco River were around 47 degrees, with an air temperature of 44-45 degrees.
