weirs channel frozen

[baastan]

I just drove over the weirs beach bridge and saw the channel was actually frozen? I mean It's clearly very thin, but I can't remember seeing this happen in the last 15 years or so, or this early for that matter.

Has anyone ever seen this? I do remember skimming (when it wasn't illegal) about 15 years ago and it was wide open for a good while...

Does this have something to do with the lake being so low this year?

[TiltonBB]

I was there today at a local business on the Channel. The owner said in 15 years he had never seen the Channel freeze. His wife was offering to take a picture of him walking across it but that didn't seem like a good plan! :)

The current usually keeps it open during the winter but maybe the low water level and reduced current has allowed it to freeze. I doubt it will remain like this or have a hard freeze.

[TiltonBB]

Very thin but it is frozen. Pictures were taken this morning.

[Bizer]

... Does this have something to do with the lake being so low this year?Indirectly, yes.

Moving water melts ice. Since the lake's level is significantly lower than normal, the lake's outflow at Lakeport has been reduced to 15% of normal. A lower flow at Lakeport means a slower flow through the Weirs Channel.