Water Temperature

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Ice out is getting closer and closer. Water temp today is up to 36 degrees!

[Steveo]

Is it me or is the ice you see in the Weirscam turning very black. It definately looks like my April 27th guess is going to be way off. I don't mind a bit if it means an earlier ice out. Bring it on.

[Cal.]

That's almost a month ahead of last year.

[Grant]

...it's two days LATER than last year. Last year was April 25th.

[Steveo]

What Cal. means is the 36 degree temperature on March 1st this year is what it was at the end of March last year. The 36 degrees today is actually 3 degrees warmer than the same time last year.

[J]

Let's not get too excited now, I fear Mother Nature may just be teasing us...

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Drove by Winnisquam this afternoon and noticed a lot more open water, especially on the south side. Paugus Bay has no snowcover and a lot of puddles. The ice in front of my place is starting to look a bit darker as well. Since I haven't been able to do much sledding this year, might as well be an early ice-out. I just hope mother nature isn't playing a cruel trick on us!

[Fishermen's Friend]

This is just mother natures way of lulling you into a false sense of security. We (locals ) know that winter is no way over, this weather is a nice breather in between parts of the winter, but I believe we have alot more snow and cold coming before the winter is over. And we usually have 1 snow storm after April 1st, I hate to rain on your parade, I believe this is a reality we have to except! My thought on ice out is April 19th.

[BBS]

Isn't it possible, even likely, that the thermometer just needs to be recalibrated? It must be a remote sensor and they are prone to go out of range.

[Grant]

Aha...All I can say is "duh." Thanks for clarifying.

Interesting. Wonder how long all that thick ice can hang in there with the water so (relatively) warm. The big question: When will it warm up enough to go diving...

Not a lot of snow up there this winter, either, huh?

Hope this doesn't mean continued bad news on the drought front.

[kashmir9999]

I was skiing at Gunstock Sunday and was amazed at how the ice went from white to gray in just one day.

[Merrymeeting]

The rapid acceleration of melting over the past few days seems to result from the nights. The nighttime temps have been at or above freezing for the first time since Fall. It looks like next week we will return to nights where much of the melt during the day will re-freeze at night.

Ice-out progress should slow down again.

[Dave]

Just my two cents. I think the brunt of the winter is over. Not to say we won't have more snow but, the sun is higher in the sky and the days are longer. It won't get as cold as it has been. I believe that ice out will be early April. The water only needs to stay at a mere 33 degrees to keep melting. Well here's to everyone a most enjoyable and safe summer.

[Steveo]

Dave, looking forward to your reports on how the ice out is progressing up Alton Bay. It won't be long now.

[kashmir9999]

Just think, less than a month, April 1st, there will be boats in the water.

[SIKSUKR]

If your talking about iceout by April 1st,I doubt it,but there already are boats in the lake.I went by marine patrol the other day and the big coast guard boat is floating at the dock! SS

[kashmir9999]

No, I'm talking about all the fishermen who will have their boats in on the 1st. Open water fishing starts then. There will be alot of them wherever there is open water. They always seem to congregate by the Governors Island bridge. Even launch their boats just before you get to the bridge. If your not careful coming off the island, you can hit someone real easy.

[Upthesaukee]

Hi there -- wrong Dave with the previous message. I have gone back to using upthesaukee. Actually, the ice is looking a little gray at the end, not many bob houses in the bay, and it looks like the "runway" markers have been taken down.

Think green on the golf courses, and blue for the sky and lake.

Hope you make it up to the lake soon., Steve.

Dave