Ice-Out 2008

Island Girl · 03-10-2008, 10:46 AM

This is your official Ice-Out Thread....once again we begin the watch until the lake is free of ice. The Ice-Out page is up at www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm

This has been a terrible year for snowmobiling on the lake.... I am sorry that the Babes on Sleds' snowdancing was too successful.

Please let me know here or email rattlesnakecam@comcast.net if you want to upload a daily or weekly picture from some part of the lake. I will create a space for you and directions on how to upload.

The recent rains filled in a lot of potholes on the lake and left open water up to 12" deep with ice below.

So... what are your predictions for Ice-out this year... early, late, or normal.

Please check out the Google Ads and other ads on the various Winnipesaukee Websites... they help keep our sites free to you.

Here's to a great new liquid season!!
IG

Blue Thunder · 03-10-2008, 12:52 PM

Are we of the opinion that the "out" process has begun????

BT

codeman671 · 03-10-2008, 01:02 PM

I say early for sure, lots of water on the ice now and certainly not the thickness/setup that we had last year. Certainly plenty of snow- I heard there is 3-4 feet on my deck at Mark as of Saturday.

I had guessed the 18th but my gut tells me sooner. Not as early as 2 years ago, but somewhere in between the last 2.

Island Girl · 03-10-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

Are we of the opinion that the "out" process has begun????

BT

This thread starts around this time each year.... sometimes a little earlier... It is March... it will get warmer... this thread might be slow for a little while, but it will get very active shortly!!! How is Sebago

IG

Blue Thunder · 03-10-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

This thread starts around this time each year.... sometimes a little earlier... It is March... it will get warmer... this thread might be slow for a little while, but it will get very active shortly!!! How is Sebago?

IG

Sebago Lake is still mostly frozen although the Main Bay didn't lock in until Feb 22nd. There are many areas that are not/never were safe but plenty that are such as the "Station" in Standish and Jordan Bay in Raymond. In all the years that I have followed it and made comparisons, Winnipesaukee and Sebago have "ice out" within days of each other.

( Secret: IG used to come to Sebago many years ago before her beloved Rattlesnake)

BT

CanisLupusArctos · 03-10-2008, 08:47 PM

This year, there are some different processes eroding the lake ice, other than direct warmth-on-ice. Today on a south-facing shore I saw the sun had melted away all the snow on an exposed part of the shore, and the resulting meltwater had flowed into the lake, eroding the ice right at that spot.

I would also guess that weakening will occur as the flow gets going from all the meltwater we'll have soon... runoff in, dam water out...

Since we are in an active weather pattern there is also good chance that a storm will take it out, like last year. Had it not been for the April 16 storm with its 64-mph wind gust (sustained at 45 mph for a couple of hours), last year's ice would've lasted a lot longer I think. It got busted up by force and 80-degree temps melted the pieces a few days later.

chipj29 · 03-11-2008, 06:43 AM

I think that the end of March into April will end up being a bit colder than normal. This just might delay ice out. Heck, I hit 8* at my house last night.

Island Girl · 03-11-2008, 07:21 AM

This year's ice formation was different than usual. I don't think we got the solid thick black ice that forms the base and takes longer to melt. The ice also has layers of snow that may melt more easily than the more dense stuff..

Remains to be seen... I could be wrong, but I think the melt will be fast. It may be cold now... but the sun is high and we have that extra hour at the end of the day...

This is always an exciting part of the year for me..

IG

CanisLupusArctos · 03-11-2008, 09:08 AM

The ice formed completely from snow this year, as opposed to last year's 'black' ice. It was December's snows that started to freeze the lake over beginning on the 3rd. "Snow ice" is not as high quality as "Black ice" because it's flaky and has lots of air pockets in it. Then it kept snowing on top of it, and snow is actually a very good insulator so it kept the ice from attaining the quality it had last year when it froze long before we got a good dumping of snow. Daylight Saving Time won't do anything to melt it, because while DST made sunrise & sunset an hour later by our clocks, the length of time between sunrise and sunset is still the same.

IG, I wasn't sure if you were serious or just kidding around, but since a few people have asked me seriously about that in person ("will the extra hour of daylight help to melt all this snow?"), I figured I'd clarify it for anyone else who's seriously wondering. DST does the same exact thing as if we just told all the schools and workplaces to begin & end daily operations an hour earlier, but that would have a different psychological effect on us. In effect, we're going to work/school an hour earlier than we were last week but the clock change makes us rave about the 'longer' afternoon instead of complaining about having to wake up an hour earlier. The government's rationale behind the earlier DST is that afternoon daylight is more useful to us than morning daylight, so by having us do all our work an hour earlier in the day they're hoping we'll spend more time outdoors in the afternoon instead of consuming electricity indoors. Morning isn't a peak energy-usage time, but afternoon usually is.

Interestingly, the ice has made more "growth-booms" in the last couple of cold nights than I've heard all winter. Might be that the rain storm killed all the insulating fluff on top, for the first time all winter.

bilproject · 03-11-2008, 09:55 AM

The underlying water seems to be a degree or 2 warmer than last year. Last year on the 9th of March water going over the dam was 33 degrees. This year it has remained a consistant 35 degrees. (This is a mix of shallow and deeper water.) As CLA said water running over the ice or on top of the ice has the same erroding effect as it has on rock or dirt. There also is no frost in undisturbed areas. This will cause the snow pack to melt from below once temps remain above freezing for longer periods. The snow will leave much the same way frost leaves the ground from the bottom up. Check Black Cat water temps at 2 ft and 10 ft both are above 32 degrees. Relatively warm runoff will increase water temps below the ice rapidly. My guess the first week of April we'll be boating. I got in 3 days on the lake before official ice out last year thanks to the Noreaster!!

Chris Exley · 03-11-2008, 10:30 AM

http://www.nhboat.com/Nhboat/Feature..._update_07.htm

Grant · 03-10-2008, 04:16 PM

Where's that cool ice-out cam that posts the (almost) daily shots pointing toward a gas dock? I seem to remember Silver Sands or something...

Island Girl · 03-10-2008, 04:35 PM

Yes, Grant that is Silver Sands... they do not have their 2008 page up yet... as soon as they do, I will link to it... I love watching that page.

A little secret: If you go to the ice-out page and hover over the white space under the link for DRH's Ice-Out Page, you will find the link to Silver Sands' 2007 page.

IG

Grant · 03-11-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

...

A little secret: If you go to the ice-out page and hover over the white space under the link for DRH's Ice-Out Page, you will find the link to Silver Sands' 2007 page.

A Snake-Eyes Easter Egg? Very cool. Thanks.

CanisLupusArctos · 03-18-2008, 04:10 PM

This afternoon a 2-inch crack opened up between Black Cat Island and Black Cat Shoals (FL 83). The shoals themselves opened up yesterday, just a foot or two surrounding the rocks.

While the ice otherwise remains plenty strong enough to support snowmobiles (they keep going by) the opening between the island and the shoals is usually the first visible step in the iceout process for the NW end of the lake. Once fully open, it provides the wind an access point to start ripping.

Island Girl · 03-21-2008, 09:07 AM

As we watch the progression of ice-out over the next few weeks please take a second to thank all of the webcam operators who make this possible for you. If you look at the ice-out page, and the webcams page and click on each image you will find that someone out there has taken the time and effort to show a piece of our area.

Just a few years ago there was just the WeirsCam from our beloved webmaster.... and now most of the lake is represented (still waiting for someone to run with it from Moultonboro.) We can see the changing conditions frequently and assess the traveling possibilities.

I appreciate the willingness of all of the owners to allow their cams to be viewed from a webcams page and urge you to click on their ads once in a while to keep these cams free. If you visit a sponsor... mention that you saw their ad on that particular webcam...

Thanks everyone for your support and a special thank you to my fellow webcam operators.. and the Snake Eyes contributors....

Let's watch the ice melt!!

(my non-lake friends think that I should not say that outloud.. sounds wacky!!)

IG

ps...I hope to adjust the exposure on Snake Eyes on Saturday.. My great friends will provide transport.... weather and lake conditions permitting.. thank them too!!!)

www.weirscam.com
www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm
www.rattlesnakecam.com/lakecams.htm
www.rattlesnakecam.com

SIKSUKR · 03-21-2008, 09:44 AM

Certainly a big thanks to you IG for being the inspiration for many more lake cams.Great job!

CanisLupusArctos · 03-21-2008, 04:36 PM

IG, thanks so much for the reminder to folks on how to support the cam sites. Even on a site with graphics like mine, no one should assume "this site is obviously all set for support." Since some have asked (privately), My site's design reflects a little knowledge of Photoshop and web design that I gained in college when I should've been studying other subjects (D'oH!)

As far as Moultonborough view is concerned, my WeatherCam is Moultonborough for all intents and purposes. It's true that the southern half of Black Cat sticks into Meredith but this view doesn't represent Meredith much at all - the town is on the other side of the lake from here, and isn't even visible. Most of Black Cat Island is in Moultonborough.

In the cam view, the right side includes Meredith, Gilford, and Alton while the left side is mostly Moultonborough (except for 5-mile island.) For details (and a visibility chart) visit the information section of the weathercam site.

Now about iceout... significant things have happened today. The Black Cat Shoals became much more open thanks to wind gusts of 42 mph. The crack between there and the island also became more evident and will soon be an open lead. When it becomes a couple hundred feet wide, iceout is usually within a few days... depending on weather. Wind will speed the process but extremely low temperatures (like this morning's) results in some reformation of the ice and overnight thickening.

The crack and open shoals can be seen easily in this cam image from this morning.

Merrymeeting · 03-21-2008, 05:41 PM

But if the 10-day forecasts are reasonably accurate, we're in for at least another week of cold (40's), damp, dark weather, with temps below freezing at night. I doubt we're going to see much change in the ice over the next week.

CanisLupusArctos · 03-21-2008, 11:22 PM

Around 6 p.m. I had an eye-opening as I spied a compact car riding between Black Cat and Beaver Islands. The car made its way along the MOUNT route all the way down to near Steamboat Island before turning and coming back, then heading in the direction of Center Harbor.

While the car was hanging out down by Steamboat, a snowmobile came by, not incredibly fast, and made the circle around Black Cat.

It's apparently thicker than it looks out there...

Merrymeeting · 03-22-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanisLupusArctos

apparently thicker than it looks ...

Apparently, so are the drivers!

dan · 03-22-2008, 03:09 PM

7 Cars and trucks in front of our house right now. Parked fairly close to one another. Must still have good ice in this part of Moultonboro.

Formula260SS · 03-22-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan

7 Cars and trucks in front of our house right now. Parked fairly close to one another. Must still have good ice in this part of Moultonboro.

My guess is they would be fishermen, my next guess is the know how thick the ice is

dan · 03-22-2008, 09:10 PM

Right on both accounts.

Weekend Pundit · 03-23-2008, 04:04 PM

I'm guessing it's going to be a 'normal' Ice Out, with it occurring sometime around Tax Day (April 15th). I'll even hazard a guess as to the time: 3:30PM.

Merrymeeting · 03-23-2008, 07:11 PM

The water temperature seems to determine ice-out more than most other indicators. If you look at the temperature history on this website you will see it is amazingly consistent in late March. We are on track and should see a degree increase sometime in the next 10 days!

Blue Thunder · 03-27-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

Yes, Grant that is Silver Sands... they do not have their 2008 page up yet... as soon as they do, I will link to it... I love watching that page.

A little secret: If you go to the ice-out page and hover over the white space under the link for DRH's Ice-Out Page, you will find the link to Silver Sands' 2007 page.

IG

I emailed Barry Uicker yesterday about his Silver Sands page and he emailed back to say it's up and running as of today. A lot of good info on his page. A big THANK YOU to Silver Sands Marina and Barry Uicker!

Blue Thunder

http://www.nhboat.com/Nhboat/Feature...t_2008_ice.htm

rander7823 · 04-02-2008, 10:37 AM

Only 17 Days and 3 hours left until Ice Out

bilproject · 04-02-2008, 07:26 PM

I think 17 days was about 9 days too long for ice out. There's 6" of ice and 19 inches of frozen rain soaked snow. By the looks of cracks and plates forming 2 days in the 50's and a good wind would turn it into a giant slurpie. Now all I have to do is dig the boat out.

sum-r breeze · 04-02-2008, 09:38 PM

I heard somewhere, (maybe WMUR) that a couple of trucks went through the ice in Alton earlier this week. Any info on that? The ice wasn't thick enough for them I guess.

The Breeze
Wave 'Cuz I'll be Wavin' Back

upthesaukee · 04-02-2008, 09:48 PM

Didn't go through the ice...they sank down in the slushy snow on top of ice and had to be pulled off ice. boat ramp access in Alton is now closed off.

Blue Thunder · 04-03-2008, 05:34 AM

Hey UP,
At what point will you be taking your semi-daily pictures of ice out in Alton Bay?

BT

chipj29 · 04-03-2008, 06:33 AM

I drive through Manchester daily, and drive by Stevens Pond, which is right next to/under I-93. In a typical season, that pond is ice free ~3 weeks before ice out on Lake Winni. As of this AM, it still has a decent amount of ice on it, but it is receding, and it looks real thin right on the edge closest to the highway. I would guess that it will be ice free around Monday. Ice out on track for the last week of April IMO.

BTW, my ice out guess is very early May.

Chris Exley · 04-03-2008, 08:59 AM

Hey all,

I think I ask this every year. Planning to open camp the week of April 22. Need to know if I bring the boat or not.

Can someone provide regular updates on Mirror Lake?

Thanks.
Chris

Orion · 04-04-2008, 07:19 AM

Looks like the water temp is about 2 weeks behind last year. Are we looking at a May Ice Out?!!!!!!!!

NHDOLFAN · 04-04-2008, 07:33 AM

Each day I drive by the lake, Wolfeboro area, as a way to get rid of the winter blues. I must say that each day the ice seems to pull away from land more and more. In addition, the color of the ice is a blueish color. Wolfeboro Bay is open more than last year, so hopefully this means the ice is weakening. We'll see! I'm thinking April 26th!

Weirs guy · 04-04-2008, 11:16 AM

Thats it, I'm buying an icebreaker!

ladyslipper · 04-04-2008, 07:14 PM

Webbsatwinni · 04-05-2008, 08:02 AM

Great shot Ladyslipper.

That would be a great scene if this was December 30th, but March 30th? Will ice out ever come?

chipj29 · 04-08-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipj29

I drive through Manchester daily, and drive by Stevens Pond, which is right next to/under I-93. In a typical season, that pond is ice free ~3 weeks before ice out on Lake Winni. As of this AM, it still has a decent amount of ice on it, but it is receding, and it looks real thin right on the edge closest to the highway. I would guess that it will be ice free around Monday. Ice out on track for the last week of April IMO.

BTW, my ice out guess is very early May.

Well I was off by a day, but ice out on Stevens Pond in Manchester is hereby declared by yours truly, today, April 8th. Therefore, ice out on Lake Winni is on schedule for April 29th. It is 3 days before my guess, but I am still in the game.

csuhockey3 · 04-08-2008, 10:45 PM

Hey Folks,

My Dad was out flying today and sent me some pictures. He asked I share them with you all to show just how much ice is out there! I added them to the photopost/spring section. I was surprised, it looks more like February!

michael c · 04-09-2008, 12:56 AM

coming from Meredith today ,towards the weirs ,at the top of the hill above colorshed ,you can see whatappears to be open water from Eagle island all the way over to spindle point. I am sure its not open water [quite a distance and I was traveling 40-45 miles an hour = - but I believe it is VERY gray ice ,just looking for a reason to sink,,,, when you exit the channel from Paugus bay out onto the "lake " the ice is gone all the way over to all of the docks at the weirs ...all open water ,maybe a few hundred feet from shore ..Paugus is open from channel marine out to a bit past 4 seasons condo's ,,,the ice at the merdith docks are not safe for ducks to walk on ...I stick with my guess ,,,what was it? April 23rd around 2:30 p.m. I really don't remember
Mike

CanisLupusArctos · 04-09-2008, 10:26 AM

Yesterday I saw a snowmobile traverse the lake from around Center Harbor down to Five-Mile Island. I can't remember the last time I saw snowmobiles on the ice in April. I saw another one this morning, towing something.

Last year at this time, there was significantly more open water. Most of the ice went out forcefully during the 60+ mph winds of the April 16 NorEaster.

This weekend's weather will likely have an impact, as we are expecting heavy rain. Runoff flowing into the lake rapidly will erode the shoreline ice more than it already is. The pounding rain on top of the ice will eat away at it.

At Black Cat WeatherCam the water temp at 10 feet has been holding steady at 35 for the last couple weeks, while the surface has been fluctuating. It's been reaching 35 in the daytime but the cold nights have been bringing it back to 33 and the surface of open water has been re-freezing. Last night was the first night I saw the surface temp stay above 33 all night... it was 34 this morning, and 10-foot depth is still 35.

flyguy · 04-09-2008, 04:43 PM

Hate to disappoint y'all, but flying over the lake today, we saw VERY little open water anywhere.

Lakegeezer · 04-09-2008, 06:40 PM

There are some rocks near us, where the water opens up about three weeks before ice-out. They opened today.

Slickcraft · 04-14-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

This is your official Ice-Out Thread
So... what are your predictions for Ice-out this year... early, late, or normal.

I am relatively new at this having only 10 years local observation, prior years from a distance. Today the bandstand in Alton Bay is just clearing of ice and the ice is beginning to have that unlasting look about it.
With warm weather this week, I would say with help from the wind, maybe in 10 days or the 24th. 15 days at the outside. Anyway, our standing order with Jeff Fay is to have the boat in the water and ready to go at ice out. So I'll make my usual stop to check with him early next week and he will say, when he sees me coming, don't worry, the boat will be ready. Not that I am ever in a hurry to make the 1st trip to the island.

meteotrade · 04-17-2008, 02:46 PM

Here is a nice false color infrared image taken this morning which captures the thinning ice better than the visible shot. Clearly the area from Gilford down through Alton is close to breaking while the northern bays are still socked in. Wentworth and Squam are a long way from breaking, too.

DayDreamer · 04-27-2008, 03:04 PM

Does anyone know who won the ice out contest on Winnipesaukee.com? The link to the ice out date/time is gone from the web page since the ice out was declared on April 23 @ 8:00 PM.

Thanks,
-DD

Found the web page, all set.

03-10-2008, 10:46 AM	#1
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Ice-Out 2008 This is your official Ice-Out Thread....once again we begin the watch until the lake is free of ice. The Ice-Out page is up at www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm This has been a terrible year for snowmobiling on the lake.... I am sorry that the Babes on Sleds' snowdancing was too successful. Please let me know here or email rattlesnakecam@comcast.net if you want to upload a daily or weekly picture from some part of the lake. I will create a space for you and directions on how to upload. The recent rains filled in a lot of potholes on the lake and left open water up to 12" deep with ice below. So... what are your predictions for Ice-out this year... early, late, or normal. Please check out the Google Ads and other ads on the various Winnipesaukee Websites... they help keep our sites free to you. Here's to a great new liquid season!! IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade Last edited by Island Girl; 03-10-2008 at 10:50 AM. Reason: Fixed broken link

03-10-2008, 12:52 PM	#2
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 935 Thanks: 247 Thanked 323 Times in 148 Posts	Are we of the opinion that the "out" process has begun???? BT __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

03-10-2008, 01:02 PM	#3
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,360 Thanks: 210 Thanked 764 Times in 448 Posts	I say early for sure, lots of water on the ice now and certainly not the thickness/setup that we had last year. Certainly plenty of snow- I heard there is 3-4 feet on my deck at Mark as of Saturday. I had guessed the 18th but my gut tells me sooner. Not as early as 2 years ago, but somewhere in between the last 2. Last edited by codeman671; 03-10-2008 at 01:07 PM. Reason: typo

03-10-2008, 08:47 PM	#6
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	maybe a differernt process This year, there are some different processes eroding the lake ice, other than direct warmth-on-ice. Today on a south-facing shore I saw the sun had melted away all the snow on an exposed part of the shore, and the resulting meltwater had flowed into the lake, eroding the ice right at that spot. I would also guess that weakening will occur as the flow gets going from all the meltwater we'll have soon... runoff in, dam water out... Since we are in an active weather pattern there is also good chance that a storm will take it out, like last year. Had it not been for the April 16 storm with its 64-mph wind gust (sustained at 45 mph for a couple of hours), last year's ice would've lasted a lot longer I think. It got busted up by force and 80-degree temps melted the pieces a few days later.

03-11-2008, 07:21 AM	#8
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Ice quality This year's ice formation was different than usual. I don't think we got the solid thick black ice that forms the base and takes longer to melt. The ice also has layers of snow that may melt more easily than the more dense stuff.. Remains to be seen... I could be wrong, but I think the melt will be fast. It may be cold now... but the sun is high and we have that extra hour at the end of the day... This is always an exciting part of the year for me.. IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

03-11-2008, 06:43 AM	#7
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	I think that the end of March into April will end up being a bit colder than normal. This just might delay ice out. Heck, I hit 8* at my house last night.

03-11-2008, 09:08 AM	#9
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	The ice formed completely from snow this year, as opposed to last year's 'black' ice. It was December's snows that started to freeze the lake over beginning on the 3rd. "Snow ice" is not as high quality as "Black ice" because it's flaky and has lots of air pockets in it. Then it kept snowing on top of it, and snow is actually a very good insulator so it kept the ice from attaining the quality it had last year when it froze long before we got a good dumping of snow. Daylight Saving Time won't do anything to melt it, because while DST made sunrise & sunset an hour later by our clocks, the length of time between sunrise and sunset is still the same. IG, I wasn't sure if you were serious or just kidding around, but since a few people have asked me seriously about that in person ("will the extra hour of daylight help to melt all this snow?"), I figured I'd clarify it for anyone else who's seriously wondering. DST does the same exact thing as if we just told all the schools and workplaces to begin & end daily operations an hour earlier, but that would have a different psychological effect on us. In effect, we're going to work/school an hour earlier than we were last week but the clock change makes us rave about the 'longer' afternoon instead of complaining about having to wake up an hour earlier. The government's rationale behind the earlier DST is that afternoon daylight is more useful to us than morning daylight, so by having us do all our work an hour earlier in the day they're hoping we'll spend more time outdoors in the afternoon instead of consuming electricity indoors. Morning isn't a peak energy-usage time, but afternoon usually is. Interestingly, the ice has made more "growth-booms" in the last couple of cold nights than I've heard all winter. Might be that the rain storm killed all the insulating fluff on top, for the first time all winter.

03-11-2008, 09:55 AM	#10
bilproject Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bear Island/Fort Myers, Fla Posts: 229 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 59 Times in 41 Posts	The underlying water seems to be a degree or 2 warmer than last year. Last year on the 9th of March water going over the dam was 33 degrees. This year it has remained a consistant 35 degrees. (This is a mix of shallow and deeper water.) As CLA said water running over the ice or on top of the ice has the same erroding effect as it has on rock or dirt. There also is no frost in undisturbed areas. This will cause the snow pack to melt from below once temps remain above freezing for longer periods. The snow will leave much the same way frost leaves the ground from the bottom up. Check Black Cat water temps at 2 ft and 10 ft both are above 32 degrees. Relatively warm runoff will increase water temps below the ice rapidly. My guess the first week of April we'll be boating. I got in 3 days on the lake before official ice out last year thanks to the Noreaster!!

03-11-2008, 10:30 AM	#11
Chris Exley Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mirror Lake, NH and Royersford, PA Posts: 134 Thanks: 26 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts	Link to the Ice Out page (Silver Sands) http://www.nhboat.com/Nhboat/Feature..._update_07.htm

03-10-2008, 04:16 PM	#12
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,485 Thanks: 337 Thanked 212 Times in 116 Posts	Where's that cool ice-out cam that posts the (almost) daily shots pointing toward a gas dock? I seem to remember Silver Sands or something... __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

03-10-2008, 04:35 PM	#13
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Silver Sands Yes, Grant that is Silver Sands... they do not have their 2008 page up yet... as soon as they do, I will link to it... I love watching that page. A little secret: If you go to the ice-out page and hover over the white space under the link for DRH's Ice-Out Page, you will find the link to Silver Sands' 2007 page. IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

03-18-2008, 04:10 PM	#15
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	an open lead This afternoon a 2-inch crack opened up between Black Cat Island and Black Cat Shoals (FL 83). The shoals themselves opened up yesterday, just a foot or two surrounding the rocks. While the ice otherwise remains plenty strong enough to support snowmobiles (they keep going by) the opening between the island and the shoals is usually the first visible step in the iceout process for the NW end of the lake. Once fully open, it provides the wind an access point to start ripping.

03-21-2008, 09:07 AM	#16
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Thanks to the webcam operators As we watch the progression of ice-out over the next few weeks please take a second to thank all of the webcam operators who make this possible for you. If you look at the ice-out page, and the webcams page and click on each image you will find that someone out there has taken the time and effort to show a piece of our area. Just a few years ago there was just the WeirsCam from our beloved webmaster.... and now most of the lake is represented (still waiting for someone to run with it from Moultonboro.) We can see the changing conditions frequently and assess the traveling possibilities. I appreciate the willingness of all of the owners to allow their cams to be viewed from a webcams page and urge you to click on their ads once in a while to keep these cams free. If you visit a sponsor... mention that you saw their ad on that particular webcam... Thanks everyone for your support and a special thank you to my fellow webcam operators.. and the Snake Eyes contributors.... Let's watch the ice melt!! (my non-lake friends think that I should not say that outloud.. sounds wacky!!) IG ps...I hope to adjust the exposure on Snake Eyes on Saturday.. My great friends will provide transport.... weather and lake conditions permitting.. thank them too!!!) www.weirscam.com www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm www.rattlesnakecam.com/lakecams.htm www.rattlesnakecam.com __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

03-21-2008, 09:44 AM	#17
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Certainly a big thanks to you IG for being the inspiration for many more lake cams.Great job! __________________ SIKSUKR

03-21-2008, 04:36 PM	#18
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	IG, thanks so much for the reminder to folks on how to support the cam sites. Even on a site with graphics like mine, no one should assume "this site is obviously all set for support." Since some have asked (privately), My site's design reflects a little knowledge of Photoshop and web design that I gained in college when I should've been studying other subjects (D'oH!) As far as Moultonborough view is concerned, my WeatherCam is Moultonborough for all intents and purposes. It's true that the southern half of Black Cat sticks into Meredith but this view doesn't represent Meredith much at all - the town is on the other side of the lake from here, and isn't even visible. Most of Black Cat Island is in Moultonborough. In the cam view, the right side includes Meredith, Gilford, and Alton while the left side is mostly Moultonborough (except for 5-mile island.) For details (and a visibility chart) visit the information section of the weathercam site. Now about iceout... significant things have happened today. The Black Cat Shoals became much more open thanks to wind gusts of 42 mph. The crack between there and the island also became more evident and will soon be an open lead. When it becomes a couple hundred feet wide, iceout is usually within a few days... depending on weather. Wind will speed the process but extremely low temperatures (like this morning's) results in some reformation of the ice and overnight thickening. The crack and open shoals can be seen easily in this cam image from this morning. Attached Images

03-21-2008, 05:41 PM	#19
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	But if the 10-day forecasts are reasonably accurate, we're in for at least another week of cold (40's), damp, dark weather, with temps below freezing at night. I doubt we're going to see much change in the ice over the next week.

03-21-2008, 11:22 PM	#20
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	I suddenly agree it's thicker than it looks... Around 6 p.m. I had an eye-opening as I spied a compact car riding between Black Cat and Beaver Islands. The car made its way along the MOUNT route all the way down to near Steamboat Island before turning and coming back, then heading in the direction of Center Harbor. While the car was hanging out down by Steamboat, a snowmobile came by, not incredibly fast, and made the circle around Black Cat. It's apparently thicker than it looks out there...

03-22-2008, 03:09 PM	#22
dan Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: moultonborough/billerica Posts: 42 Thanks: 21 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	7 Cars and trucks in front of our house right now. Parked fairly close to one another. Must still have good ice in this part of Moultonboro.

03-22-2008, 09:10 PM	#24
dan Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: moultonborough/billerica Posts: 42 Thanks: 21 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Right on both accounts.

03-23-2008, 04:04 PM	#25
Weekend Pundit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilford Posts: 291 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 31 Posts	Ice Out Prediction for 2008 I'm guessing it's going to be a 'normal' Ice Out, with it occurring sometime around Tax Day (April 15th). I'll even hazard a guess as to the time: 3:30PM.

03-23-2008, 07:11 PM	#26
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	The water temperature seems to determine ice-out more than most other indicators. If you look at the temperature history on this website you will see it is amazingly consistent in late March. We are on track and should see a degree increase sometime in the next 10 days! Last edited by Merrymeeting; 03-24-2008 at 03:03 PM.

04-02-2008, 10:37 AM	#28
rander7823 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 301 Thanks: 539 Thanked 39 Times in 23 Posts	Just in case you were wondering Only 17 Days and 3 hours left until Ice Out

04-02-2008, 07:26 PM	#29
bilproject Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bear Island/Fort Myers, Fla Posts: 229 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 59 Times in 41 Posts	I think 17 days was about 9 days too long for ice out. There's 6" of ice and 19 inches of frozen rain soaked snow. By the looks of cracks and plates forming 2 days in the 50's and a good wind would turn it into a giant slurpie. Now all I have to do is dig the boat out.

04-02-2008, 09:38 PM	#30
sum-r breeze Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Burlington Ma / Laconia NH Posts: 396 Thanks: 155 Thanked 201 Times in 97 Posts	New Submarines?? I heard somewhere, (maybe WMUR) that a couple of trucks went through the ice in Alton earlier this week. Any info on that? The ice wasn't thick enough for them I guess. The Breeze Wave 'Cuz I'll be Wavin' Back

04-02-2008, 09:48 PM	#31
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,547 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,398 Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts	Didn't go through the ice...they sank down in the slushy snow on top of ice and had to be pulled off ice. boat ramp access in Alton is now closed off. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

04-03-2008, 05:34 AM	#32
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 935 Thanks: 247 Thanked 323 Times in 148 Posts	Hey UP, At what point will you be taking your semi-daily pictures of ice out in Alton Bay? BT __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

04-03-2008, 06:33 AM	#33
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	I drive through Manchester daily, and drive by Stevens Pond, which is right next to/under I-93. In a typical season, that pond is ice free ~3 weeks before ice out on Lake Winni. As of this AM, it still has a decent amount of ice on it, but it is receding, and it looks real thin right on the edge closest to the highway. I would guess that it will be ice free around Monday. Ice out on track for the last week of April IMO. BTW, my ice out guess is very early May.

04-03-2008, 08:59 AM	#34
Chris Exley Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mirror Lake, NH and Royersford, PA Posts: 134 Thanks: 26 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts	My yearly request for updates on Mirror Lake Hey all, I think I ask this every year. Planning to open camp the week of April 22. Need to know if I bring the boat or not. Can someone provide regular updates on Mirror Lake? Thanks. Chris

04-04-2008, 07:19 AM	#35
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	dare I say it? Looks like the water temp is about 2 weeks behind last year. Are we looking at a May Ice Out?!!!!!!!!

04-04-2008, 07:33 AM	#36
NHDOLFAN Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 73 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Each day I drive by the lake, Wolfeboro area, as a way to get rid of the winter blues. I must say that each day the ice seems to pull away from land more and more. In addition, the color of the ice is a blueish color. Wolfeboro Bay is open more than last year, so hopefully this means the ice is weakening. We'll see! I'm thinking April 26th!

04-04-2008, 11:16 AM	#37
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thats it, I'm buying an icebreaker! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

04-04-2008, 07:14 PM	#38
ladyslipper Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Aerial view of Lake Winni on Sunday 3/30/2008

04-05-2008, 08:02 AM	#39
Webbsatwinni Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lebanon Ct and Rattlesnake Island Since 2007 Posts: 610 Thanks: 180 Thanked 137 Times in 72 Posts	Great shot Ladyslipper. That would be a great scene if this was December 30th, but March 30th? Will ice out ever come?

04-08-2008, 10:45 PM	#41
csuhockey3 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hooksett, NH Posts: 256 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Lots of ice by air Hey Folks, My Dad was out flying today and sent me some pictures. He asked I share them with you all to show just how much ice is out there! I added them to the photopost/spring section. I was surprised, it looks more like February! Attached Images __________________ - CSUhockey3

04-09-2008, 12:56 AM	#42
michael c Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	NOt ice out yet ,,,,but not too long coming from Meredith today ,towards the weirs ,at the top of the hill above colorshed ,you can see whatappears to be open water from Eagle island all the way over to spindle point. I am sure its not open water [quite a distance and I was traveling 40-45 miles an hour = - but I believe it is VERY gray ice ,just looking for a reason to sink,,,, when you exit the channel from Paugus bay out onto the "lake " the ice is gone all the way over to all of the docks at the weirs ...all open water ,maybe a few hundred feet from shore ..Paugus is open from channel marine out to a bit past 4 seasons condo's ,,,the ice at the merdith docks are not safe for ducks to walk on ...I stick with my guess ,,,what was it? April 23rd around 2:30 p.m. I really don't remember Mike __________________ " Wisdom does not always come with age...sometimes age comes by itself ! "