Lake water level

Steveo · 04-19-2015, 07:36 AM

I know we have this "discussion" every year but it does seem strange that with all the snow and runoff we've had this year that the lake is fairly low for this time of year. I measure about a foot below normal. I did notice on the way up that the Merrimack River in Hooksett was very full.

rsmlp · 04-19-2015, 07:45 AM

according to this chart maybe 6" under normal. rainfall considerably short for this time of year though.

http://des.nh.gov/organization/divis.../graph2015.JPG

Merrymeeting · 04-19-2015, 07:55 AM

It's a good thing they kept the level low until now. With the extended winter/cold this year, the ice pack has taken longer to release it's grip from the shoreline and other structures. If they had started raising the level any earlier, you would have seen a lot of damage from ice lifting things as it came up.

See forecast entry in ice-out thread. I'm sure the level will come up quickly this week.

PaugusBayFireFighter · 04-19-2015, 09:22 AM

The water has risen a lot over the past two weeks. Later than other years, for sure. It's been a great melt for both snow and ice. I expected terrible flooding in New England this spring. The melt was very gradual. Hopefully the ice rots a bit more before the wind tomorrow. East facing shores will get the ice tomorrow. East wind ~15mph. Lots of rain.

fatlazyless · 04-19-2015, 09:48 AM

On a sunny day, you can see the ice surface sublimating straight up into the air.....the ice turns into water vapor and goes up, up, and away. It can be seen from a distance of maybe 500-1000 yards as a wavy, energy heat release sort of like a mirage or a spiritual happening or something similar to a sunny summer's day when the water surface can be seen to evaporate straight up. The ice is doing the same thing as evaporating, except it is called sublimation......so's it has been sublimating as opposed to melting.

....just go ask Mr Rogers!

Lakegeezer · 04-19-2015, 12:14 PM

The snowfall in the lakes region was light in density this year, even though it was high in volume. An inch of water made 10-15" of snow, rather than 2-5". When the melt got going, it was warmer than normal, so more evaporated and more absorbed into the melting ground. With less water to begin with, the result was less water into the lake. Probably a good year for the aquifers.

04-19-2015, 07:36 AM	#1
Steveo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 523 Thanks: 47 Thanked 123 Times in 63 Posts	Lake water level I know we have this "discussion" every year but it does seem strange that with all the snow and runoff we've had this year that the lake is fairly low for this time of year. I measure about a foot below normal. I did notice on the way up that the Merrimack River in Hooksett was very full.

04-19-2015, 09:22 AM	#4
PaugusBayFireFighter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 837 Thanks: 361 Thanked 674 Times in 264 Posts	The water has risen a lot over the past two weeks. Later than other years, for sure. It's been a great melt for both snow and ice. I expected terrible flooding in New England this spring. The melt was very gradual. Hopefully the ice rots a bit more before the wind tomorrow. East facing shores will get the ice tomorrow. East wind ~15mph. Lots of rain. Attached Images

04-19-2015, 09:48 AM	#5
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,527 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	....sublimation? On a sunny day, you can see the ice surface sublimating straight up into the air.....the ice turns into water vapor and goes up, up, and away. It can be seen from a distance of maybe 500-1000 yards as a wavy, energy heat release sort of like a mirage or a spiritual happening or something similar to a sunny summer's day when the water surface can be seen to evaporate straight up. The ice is doing the same thing as evaporating, except it is called sublimation......so's it has been sublimating as opposed to melting. ....just go ask Mr Rogers! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

04-19-2015, 12:14 PM	#6
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,657 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts	Every year is different The snowfall in the lakes region was light in density this year, even though it was high in volume. An inch of water made 10-15" of snow, rather than 2-5". When the melt got going, it was warmer than normal, so more evaporated and more absorbed into the melting ground. With less water to begin with, the result was less water into the lake. Probably a good year for the aquifers. __________________ -lg

04-19-2015, 07:45 AM	#2
rsmlp Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 462 Thanks: 5 Thanked 160 Times in 81 Posts	according to this chart maybe 6" under normal. rainfall considerably short for this time of year though. http://des.nh.gov/organization/divis.../graph2015.JPG

04-19-2015, 07:55 AM	#3
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	It's a good thing they kept the level low until now. With the extended winter/cold this year, the ice pack has taken longer to release it's grip from the shoreline and other structures. If they had started raising the level any earlier, you would have seen a lot of damage from ice lifting things as it came up. See forecast entry in ice-out thread. I'm sure the level will come up quickly this week.