Jan. 9: Strong Winds
 

A wind advisory is in effect for every county in New England this afternoon and tonight. The warmup that has affected much of the central and eastern US has been pushed east by a strong cold front that has been making its way across the US.

Winds ahead of the front are blowing heartily from the southwest. The latest airport observations show the leading edge of the strong winds to be over the Green Mountains where winds are starting to gust past 30 mph.

In New York State Massena was reporting sustained winds of 38 mph with gust to 61 mph and Watertown was reporting similar. Most other locations were reporting gusts 40-45 mph. This activity will be moving east today.

The strong southwest wind has had an added effect of drawing up some very warm and humid Gulf of Mexico air and that is giving us a second springlike day despite the clouds. Across the lake, there have been some beautiful fog effects as this warm air mass conflicts with the ice pack and the 33-degree water below it.

The ice pack has been weakened by this warm spell and the strong winds could break some bergs loose. These would have the most damage potential if they drift into shorelines that are ice-free, because there is no existing ice there to stop them.

For those who've already been out on the ice, expect things to be different when you go back out. This sort of weather moves things around, and open spots, leads, ridges, etc. will likely be in different locations after this weather passes.

As of this afternoon, the wind has opened up what had been continuous solid ice, from Governor's to Mark Island and changed it back to open water.

Sorry about that, forgot to turn off the 1/6 hp ice-eater? :eek:

The miles of ice out on the lake had all looked like it had just been Zambonied.....all wet & clean.....no snow. Hey, even my grass & dirt driveway is having an early mud season!

Do you see it freezing back up pretty good after this? Is there any snow left on the ice? If not, that would be a good thing, so real ice can be made. I'm planning on arriving up there on Feb 2nd and staying for about 12 days...c'mon cold!

Feb. 6 remains to be seen - way too far out to make a forecast. There's no snow left on the lake that I can see, and tomorrow's rain should melt any that I haven't seen. The re-freeze looks to happen beginning this weekend and getting colder next week. It's like FLL said, it's getting a zamboni treatment.