Any Ice Forming?
 

Just checking to see how the ice in the Bays are doing, really hoping the pond hockey tourney happens this year

Is wakewaun iced over?

Wide open here in Meredith; not even a skim anywhere. Driving in from the highway yesterday, Pemigewasset had ice, but water on top of it; same with Wicwas, although that had a number of open spots. Don't know about Waukewan...haven't been over that way.

Will this be the year of no, or minimal, ice? I've thought that at this time of year for the last few years, and each year we've had an arctic blast for a few weeks in Jan to bring on the ice. Will this year be the same...???

Yes, there is ice forming. Some coves have a couple inches. I've seen fishermen out on Lake Winnipesaukee coves, but not very far out. This recent warm weather has made the ice look weak, but it is still there. On 104 this weekend, you could see people set up on the smaller lakes.

Me personally, I won't go out until we get more ice.

Paugus bay has basically nothing in the main area anyway....

Ice is rotten
 

In Moultonboro Bay, the ice is hanging in there, but showing a rotten gray color. Too many days of water melting on top, then seeping through or running off into holes. It would be safer, in the long run, if this batch of ice melted completely, then refroze. I don't expect safe ice locally till at least the second half of January.

It's tough having a business model that depends on the right weather conditions. We will need to see a real good cold snap soon to get the Pond Hockey tournament on Winni.

There is dark ice on Waukewan with water on top.

Attachment 17949


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Alton Bay: open water from the bridge up to the bandstand.

Alan

Waukewan is looking like the best chance for pond Hockey this year


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Where is this Stingray?

That was at Waukewan Sunday afternoon 1/9, off of Waukewan st near the water treatment facility. There are fishing traps out there. The fishermen were in park vehicles. Any body know what side of the lake the hockey tournament played previously when Meredith Bay didn’t freeze.


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Thank you

The last time they set up closest side to the launch ramp and the road closest to the lumber yard

The last time it was on Waukewan they set up down near the boat launch and beach area. They had all the festivities set up in Middleton lumber property across the street. It wasn't ideal but it worked.

These cold temps going to be enough before the one or two days of 40?

Nothing really under freezing for the next week as far as daytime temps. Throw in 49 degrees with rain and wind on Friday and we'll be hard pressed to see a full lake freeze for a bit.

Freezeover Doubtful
 

At this point with the upcoming long term warm forecast, I doubt we will see a full lake freeze over this year. Heck I'm still seeing occasional boats going by!!

I was hoping to get out to the camp and maybe do a little ice fishing...doesnt look good!

Dan

Getting out to the island (by boat) won't be a problem, but the only ice will be in your drink. :laugh:

Paugus Bay iced over last nite, again. This time it looks like it will last through the winter...

I'm hearing that they are prepping Waukewan for the Pond Hockey Tournament, anyone know if this is true?

Sunday 1/15
 

Saw A marine Patrol boat cruising through Meredith Bay this morning near the town docks. ice forming-just past the Indian, can’t see pond hockey on the bay this year

Yes it’s true.

There was an article on WMUR Friday I believe that said they were working on it but were not optimistic of it being outside. I believe they said they had alternative sight but it would be indoors. Unless I heard wrong.

Squam Lake looks like it is iced in from rte 3. There was a sole lady pretty far out on ice skates with some sort of kite. She was pretty far out and the only person I saw on the ice. But at least she was on it and not in it.

Sounds very scary to me.

I saw a few people fishing on 3 different ponds over the last 2 days. Pretty shallow but still was kind of surprised. I'm hopeful we'll see some solid enough ice for February but I would not be out there right now, especially not fairly far from shore on something like Squam.

Many people are fishing 19 mile bay. Ice is 5-6 inches.

Very curious about any insight you have on pond Hockey. My brother brings half the team up from Florida. Trying to gage on when/if they should be booking flights. A primary indoor event plan would lose the draw of out of state players. A backup indoor plan may make sense to mitigate what happened last year.


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I have a home on Waukewan and I'm going up there tomorrow. I will post any activity I see on the lake. It's supposed to be real cold the last week of the month so that should make for real good ice on Waukewan. I can't see how they could pull off the event indoors!

Big Thanks


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There is no ''indoor'' plan for the event.

Every year the planning is the same.
Scott monitors both the bay and the lake.
He meets with the management of MBS should the lake option be needed around the beginning/mid of January.
The lake option, should it be used, requires that vendors/etc be hosted in the MBS building #11.

About a week before the tournament, should the lake option be needed.
The MBS management passes onto the yard and weekend crew what to expect.

The report on WMUR was about the Black Ice tourney in Concord the last weekend of January. I caught it on the news last Friday night and they mentioned moving it indoors, in March, as a backup plan. The NEPHC would be way too big to move indoors.

Just received confirmation that the PHC will be on Waukewan this year.

I’m assuming you are the captain of a team if you received the email last night? For some reason nobody on my team received it (other than me) making me question registration issues? By chance did you experience the same?


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Our captain just forwarded the email to us.

Thanks


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Do any of you history buffs keep records of when was the last time we didn’t have a full lake freeze? Announcement of the hockey tournament move this early must indicate forecasters believe no freeze in the near future


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Waukewan is all cordoned off with stakes, presumably to keep the bob houses from setting up where the rinks need to go! A lot of melting going on today, but we are supposed to get some real cold weather in another week so it should be good to go for the Pond Hockey Tournament. It also looks like Middleton Building Supply has cleaned up the end of their lot near the lake preparing for the venders!

Great insight-thanks


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Cold? Forecast is for a lot of snow.
If they don't clear the snow, it will insulate against additional cold.

They know how to manage snow, It's rain that presents problems like last year.

They normally would plow to uncover the ice and help it thicken up... moving the banks back far enough not to cause the ice to heave.

Yes, I'm the captain. I thought everyone used to get them, but I think with the new registration process only the captains get them. If you're having issues with registration, it might be because you're trying to use Sports Engine. Don't. There's a link in the email for registration, use that.

What team and division? We're the Methuen Goons (Duster division). Maybe we'll see you up there?

We are in the +50 Division Paugus Bay old farts. Perhaps when my baby brother gets old enough we will go to the +60. Have a great tournament, hopefully Mother Nature is better to us this year.


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Has the lake ever not frozen over completely?

Alton Bay ice runway won’t be opening this year. There’s still open water, and the high lake level is not helping. https://www.facebook.com/AltonBaySea...eandIceRunway/

Yes a few times that I remember…

Dan

Ice ice ice
 

The calm winds and low temps helped form ice in many parts of the lake last night, Bruan Bay is fully iced over, ice around Pine Island and Bear. Hopefully tonight's snow doesn't insulate it enough that it won't keep freezing, although the temps aren't as cold for this coming week.

Wise choice to head back from the island last night! -PIG

We have a skim of ice in front of us on East Bear. This storm is supposed to bring wind with gusts up to 40mph so I don’t know if it will survive.

Hey Biggd

An update came out about the PHC on Waukewan. The report indicates they experienced cracks, sinking, slush, and water when moving the snow around.

They might be clearing the whole space for around 26 rinks?

Are they piling large snow banks causing uneven load bearing weight on thin ice?

Perhaps with this hindsight they should do more of a grid pattern of smaller snow banks for better distribution of weight with this next storm.

Are you or anyone with a line of sight of the operation able to comment on the situation?

Hate for Mother Nature to steal another one from us.


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I will be going back up in the morning and will let you know.
I think they are expecting another 8" tonight but it's supposed to get real cold next week.

Bit of ice was broken up yesterday here on Winnisquam. Absolutely no ice where I am on the northern end


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There is still a week left for them to prepare, and with cold nighttime temps, and no silly warmup in site, hopefully they can pull it off this year.

We had a skim coat of ice out by Rattlesnake and Diamond this morning. If we get this wind later they are talking about I don't expect it will stick around. Looks to be windy until Sunday.

It looks like they cleaned it from the earlier storm this week. No big snow banks, it looks like they piled the snow along the road side. As of yet they haven't cleaned up last nights storm. It's warm here today, almost 40, lots of melting. It doesn't look ideal. It's supposed to get real cold so hopefully they can get some water on top of it to even it out.
I'm only here until Sat morning, if any changes I will post.

Thanks


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I'm leaving Saturday and won't be back up until after the Pond Hockey Tournament so you will have to rely on others to update you.
Good luck, I hope everything goes well!

There should be plenty of ice by next weekend.

WMUR has minus 12 as the low Friday night and 1 degree on Saturday night.

Lake Waukewan, Meredith: How's that Lake Waukewan ice?
 

Lake Waukewan, Monday, Jan 30, 2023: At 9:30-am today there were no hockey rink boards for the numerous individual rinks out there on the ice. It's an ice hockey skating venue awaiting for it to get cold or something?

There was two guys working with a gasoline powered water pump putting water atop the ice via a hole cut through the ice.

A third guy was operating a medium small orange tractor with a bucket loader up-front, out on the ice, doing something?

Today's air temperature at noon was about 36-degrees. Is supposed to get much colder overnight, tonight, and for the next week with a deep freeze moving in, here. Pray for the deep freeze ........ puh-lease O hockey Gods ..... make it icy cold so all's the hockey players from all over will show up to Meredith, NH!

That was everything that was happening on the Lake Waukewan ice as of Monday, Jan 30, 2023, 9:30-am.

Pumping the water on top before a cold snap smooths and thickens the ice.

Dangerous cold and wind Friday & Saturday for the Pond Hockey Tournament. I hope everyone takes precautions against frostbite and stays safe!

That one got a ''Thanks''.
It wasn't an accident.

I wish you cold temps for the tournament. I live just north of Boston on a 100 acre pond. Water is all open today and, when there was ice it was never thick enough for skating. Even after -9 temps they are predicting for Friday night Sat morning if we get ice they are predicting mid to upper 40s during the day Sunday thru Friday. Who says no climate change?


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They were working on the rinks this morning when I went by. The boards are on the lake but not set up yet.

Great update thanks. Seems like they can get the boards up for 26 rinks in 2 days or less. Assuming they maximize the amount of time to flood the surface. Hope it’s smooth enough for great hockey this weekend.


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boards probably went up yesterday afternoon and also all day today, they will have it done!

We are under a wind chill warning of as low as -40 with actual temps of -16 Friday PM, high of 5 on Saturday. I can't imagine it will be well attended, which is unfortunates as it is a great event.

No protection from the wind when you're out on the lake, esp if it's blowing in from the West, nowhere to hide! :eek:

Just got word from my son that many of his friends playing in the tournament called it quits after one game. :eek:

Heard the same. Bars are full


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I can't imagine tying skates with bare hands in this weather.

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Bare Hands?
 

Never Mind Bear Feet

Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, 6:45-am:
 

The Winnipesaukee.com weather factoids says Mount Washington NH is both the coldest at -45.4 F, and the windiest at 94-mph. This ..... www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_windchill ..... has the wind chill at -106.6 F.

At Weirs Beach the Winni Marine Cam says it is -13 and 2-mph with the Weirs channel water temp at 33.

The wind chill in Meredith is figured to be -37 F, right now, with temp at -17 and wind at west-10 mph.

Pond hockey FB page says they will start at noon today. I did see a couple posts about people at the hospital yesterday after playing in the AM and having frostbite.
Good luck to them all, I'll stay inside. Even my dog RAN out to pee and RAN back last night and today.

From FB
 

From FB: It's so cold out, I think I'll stay inside and poop in the house.

Dave

Too Much Info Dave

When I checked near midnight last night it was -46.1F, -116F wind chill, 102mph ten minute average, and peak gust was 127mph.

Here’s a few from this morning. I was surprised to see how much did take with all that wind, but the open water by Diamond is already starting to take back over as the wind pushes it around.

Sorry, not sure why the iPhone sometimes loads them upside down! Any easy way to fix this?

...... gimme some heat!
 

So, a temp of -16.1 F and a wind speed of 24.8 -mph makes it a wind chill feeling of -45.5 F.

Most or all of the NH ski areas have closed for today, Saturday Feb 4, due to the cold and wind. Wildcat, close to Mt Washington has been closed for Friday and Saturday. Cannon Mtn, Attitash, Loon, Waterville Valley, and Sunapee are closed today, Saturday.

Over at the www.merrillfayarena.com in Laconia they have public skating today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, Feb 4 & 5 from noon to 1:30-pm for $6 or $3 for senior/military.

Anyone know, does the Merrill Fay Ice Arena have a hot air, propane fired heating system for heating up the inside building air that one feels and breathes while skating on the ice surface?

They have heating... since they have a shop (store) for rentals, sales, and other services.

But I doubt that once the wind is removed during that period when the temp is higher, that they would use them in the rink area.

Without the wind, it isn't really that cold. I didn't even bother to idle the car when I left work at just after noon.

Sunday is supposed to be even warmer.

Put the photo into your gallery, click on it, open edit icon rotate.

... electric grid; large and in charge
 

Today is Monday, February 6, 2022 and the local NH air temps have bounced back up to a relatively warm 25-degrees at 3-am in Weirs Beach, a very normal and common February-NH temperature, 25-degrees-F.

It seems like NH really dodged a serious problem over this last Friday-Saturday-Sunday, Feb 3-4-5, 2023 cold snap that coincided exactly with the Pond Hockey Classic in Meredith because the winds did NOT disrupt the NH electric distribution grid with falling trees knocking down the electric lines. Having a deep freeze cold of 10-20 degrees below zero for two to three days combined with electricity outages could have been a serious tough problem, so it was totally excellent that the electric distribution grid was large and in charge during the recent super-cold snap.

It would have been no joke, had that actually happened ........ -10 to -20 over two to three days with no electricity ..... yikes. Makes me think living in Alaska, off grid, and heating with a wood stove. A super reliable electric power grid is what I am fortunate to have, here in the middle of NH.