Official Ice Out 2011 Reports
 

Here is your Annual Ice-Out Thread. Please put your reports of lake conditions here where we can keep track of the 2011 ice out.



Features of the ice out page are:

• Live images from the Lake Winnipseaukee webcams
• DRH's daily picture from West Alton
• Sanders Bay daily picture (link will be up as soon as their page is up)
• Link to other lakes webcams
• Lake temperature at the Weirs
• Links to frequently used information such as CLA's weather page, how to tie knots, Lakeport Dam information, McDude's restaurant page, etc.

Snow
 

Just to get you going.... it is snowing here in central MA!!!!

The DRH photo-a-day is always really cool. As is the Silver Sands daily photo (if they do it this year). Thanks for compiling this...definitely scratches an itch.

Thanks IG!
 

I've been checking for the iceout page for the last few weeks. I look forward to this every year!

I think Mother Nature is confused or she didn't like the fact I was doing yard work yesterday :eek:

Club Cam
 

The Club Cam at WCYC is

http://www.wcyc-nh.com/ClubCam.html

Ice color
 

The color of the ice is finally changing, I noticed on most of the cams it is taking on a darker shade.

Soon to be covered by more white stuff!!! :fire:

Come on ICE OUT not Ice Covered.

But I did notice on some cams that the ice cracks are getting more pronounced so that indicates the ice is changing too.

ice out, or ice in?!?!
 

it's looking a lot like winter out there today... very discouraging for those of us that want to get out on the water (and to the island) :(

hopefully this weekend will improve things!! -PIG

I was checking today's satellite photo of the lakes region. As some of you know I make occasional comparisons of the "big" lake with Sebago Lake in Maine. They share roughly the same latitude. Today's picture shows a much "darker" lake surface on Sebago compared to other area lakes and ponds, including Winnipesaukee. Don't know what if anything that means but it was noticeable.

I could be wrong but is that a area of open water near the Broads?

BT

The open water near the broads is "The Witches". The sun warms the rocks and they melt the ice. The next step is the wind starts to rip it open even more.

The water is warming up as the sun is very strong now. I still think it will be around April 25th or about three weeks away.

R2B

Blue Thunder, could you post the link to the satellite photo you mention? Thanks!

Yes, I would love this link for the satellite view. Spectacular.

Here you go...
 

http://ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/

Click on the section of the map that contains New England then click the 250m icon. Use your mouse to scroll and get the lake into the center of the picture. The photo is updated every day around noontime and obviously (I hope) it has to be a clear day to get the best results.

BT

Depressing
 

More snow today..are you kidding me :(
at least we are getting rain here in Mass, it doesn't look like the warmer temps the DC area is getting will make it up this way.
This is very depressing

Wind ?
 

Does anyone know if yesterday's windy conditions and awesome sunshine helped along the ice out mission ? We were out to dinner on Sunday afternoon with no coats on and very comfortable.

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' back:D

Thank You Blue Thunder!
Your link is now on my short list to check out each day.
Thanks again. :):):)

Very depressing to say the least.:( Might have no choice but to wait till May to open up.

Anyone want to report on the ice condition over on Lilly Pond in Gilford?

It is always a benchmark on predicting Ice Out on Winni. Lilly Pond is something like 10 days ahead of Winnipesaukee for Ice Out.

Weather.com 's forecast has Moultonborough in the 50s over the next 10 days & mid 60s next monday!

:D

My usual indicator is Stevens Pond in Manchester. Lake Winni ice out typically occurs 3 weeks after there is no ice on that pond. Last year was an exception due to the warm weather, it was less than 2 weeks. I suspect this year will be the usual 3 weeks, therefore since there is only a little ice on the pond this morning, ice out will be April 28.

Lily vs Winnipesaukee
 

Yeah, what he said! :D

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...mmit-Hotel.jpg

This Gunstock Summit Hotel picture from flyguy shows Lily Pond in the background. The picture was taken April 1st. Could Lily be free of ice longer than usual before Lake Winnipesaukee?

Sat Pic
 

Hey Blue Thunder, ditto on the thanks; neat site.

Today's pic "should" be pretty good. Those of you that know the lay of the land should be able to pick out Lily Pond and see it's condition.

BT

The ice on Stevens Pond disappeared this afternoon. On the other side, the snow at the lake is still holding on as well. Went to Meredith today and still had well over a foot of snow in the yard. Very disappointing. :confused:

I think they sunny and warm days coming up will make things start to happen up that way real quick.

the next 5 days is prime melting weather

I agree, should have some significant progress in the next 4 days. Let's see where we are on Tuesday!

Remember there is still about 15" of ice out there! We still have a long ways to go! :emb:

hotel
 

when did they build a hotel on top of Gunstock?

That's exactly what I was wondering. And how do you get up there (obviously some good roads now, seeing as they trucked up all those building supplies).

As of this morning, Lilly Pond is still iced in. the marsh area near Rt. 11 is open.

The picture was taken on 4/1? April Fools? :laugh::laugh:

Maybe someone Photo Shopped the Hotel and the open water (Just Kidding... )

The lake ice is still almost white today, very little darker color yet.

The Lilly Pond ice is a darker grey offering some hope.

The next days may bring forth darker ice.

We saw a pair of loons near just south of the Alton/Gilford town line. Apparently they have faith that the ice will in fact melt in time.

hotel
 

its a photoshop...looks pretty good..but you can tell

We opened up today! Earliest we've ever done it but I'm glad we did. It was a beautiful day.

However, I am surprised at how locked in Merrymeeting still is. Very little melting along the shoreline, the ice is still solid and thick. It's going to be awhile.

Meredith Bay is still pretty tight except for the shoreline on the west side of the bay. In hopes that we can fool mother nature, we decided to launch the kids 14' aluminum boat today. Our goal is to keep her in the water for 8 months. :D

Any updated reports on areas opening up? With the temps this weekend and a very warm Monday we should start seeing some serious thinning.

Open water almost to the bandstand at Alton Bay this afternoon.

We spent a lot of time driving around Merrymeeting this weekend. Early Saturday, the ice was still white and looking very solid. By late today, it was still solid, but large areas were clearly darker. The temps this week should help. But it looks like another 2 weeks at least.