Official 2015 Ice-In Thread
 

This is the Official 2015 Ice-in Thread. Please post your
comments about this year's Ice-in here.

There is ice in Moultonborough Bay and in some of the coves.

It is typically 33-35 degrees at the Weirs when the broads skims over. The Lake temp as of this morning, reported by the Winnipesaukee Dataphone is 35 degrees. (1-5-2015) The forecast this week is for very cold temperatures. There will be little wind Wednesday January 7th. We can hope for the lake to skim over.

The Ice-in page went live a few minutes ago at www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm. If you have a webcam or know of one, please post the information in this thread and I will add it to the page. If you have a webcam that I have in the defunct section of the ice in page, please post here if it will be coming back at some point.

For those of us who are addicted to watching the lake freeze, enjoy. If you are new to the lake, come back often and watch the progress of Ice-in!

Please visit this thread for the latest news and the Ice-in page for current images of the freezing progress. (Please click on the ads at webcam sites and support the sponsors. This provides revenue to keep the cams alive)

As always Please post your pics of the freezing lake here.

See you on the ice!
IG

PS: My site was hacked some time ago and I am in the process of repairing the broken links. Thanks for your patience.

Thanks IG
 

I look forward to your "Ice In" page post every year, thanks for the winter enjoyment!

think Ice out !!

:D

is it ?? I want to get out on a liquid big lake

I'm seeing some new ice on the webcams today.

WCYC Cam
 

The URL for the Wolfeboro Corinthian Yacht Club cam is :
http://www.wcycnh.com/web-cam.html

Live video feed.

In front of Black Cat just froze over
 

As I sit here in my office on Tuesday afternoon at about 3:00 I just saw the entire span of my view on the SW side of Black Cat turn from open water to ice in the matter of about 30 minutes. After ten years at this location that was a first for me.

One ice house on Alton Bay...
 

I believe that it is a bob house owned by the man who is the airport manager for the ice runway. It will serve mainly as a hospitality hut for the runway.

Not sure how thick the ice is, but he is very careful about getting out on the ice.

Top pic is at 2:30pm today, on the dropcam I could see the water moving a bit. At 4:00pm I looked at snake eyes and was surprised to see ice, I went back and looked and the broads had a thin sheet of ice (bottom pic). Thought I'd share.

Today was a tipping point day I think...lots more ice everywhere! However, we are one day closer to "Ice Out".

Since 2:05 pm when I last posted, all those places that were water are now ice. Pretty cool. Never seen it lock up in real time...in a manner of speaking.

That was fast
 

Here is a shot from Snake Eyes after 3 today. If you go to rattlesnakecam.com and click on Time Lapse Videos you can see the ice form. Really cool... so to speak!

IG

Hopefully the forecasted winds won't undo what's already in place.....

locked up from end long island over to jolly Island now. won't see "wahta" now util spring! all we need now is about a foot of snow for sledding

Watch out for air gaps
 

Be extra careful with ice along the shore. The lake is about a foot high and the dam is running fast to lower it. On Jan 6, while checking ice thickness, I found areas along the shore with just one inch of weak ice over top an air gap. Once out about a foot, the ice was at least 3" and safe for walking.

In the past I took images saved every 30 seconds from the BearCam to create ice and and ice out videos. You can watch the process of several days in just 1 minute.

Ice In

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ippl-XSUseU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ippl-XSUseU

Ice Out

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3YLbb58cLLU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YLbb58cLLU

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Meredith Bay on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LakeWinnipesaukee?src=hash">#LakeWinnipesaukee</a> is iced over this morning for the 1st time this season. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeirsBeach?src=hash">#WeirsBeach</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SurfSkiWxMan">@SurfSkiWxMan</a> <a href="http://t.co/Z0g27bt7fN">pic.twitter.com/Z0g27bt7fN</a></p>&mdash; Lake Winnipesaukee (@iWinnipesaukee) <a href="https://twitter.com/iWinnipesaukee/status/552847563481944064">January 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Winnisquam
 

Checked my camera this morning and it looks like Winnisquam is mostly skimmed over in front of our place on the west side just south of Pot Island. 2 days ago there were wave crashing on the shore.

The last open areas on Merrymeeting closed up last night, and I heard several expansion booms during the night. Ice-In is here and the ice is expanding rapidly.

comment....
 

your :really cool, so to speak" comment was really cold......lol!

LOVE these cameras! They are such fun to watch. Good thing your dock wasn't in the water, BI, when that ice came back.

Ice out
 

The broads ice in front of Snake Eyes has just blown away. :(

Ice thickness
 

Is there a certain thickness the ice is, as an average when ice-out happens, as we watched in Bear Islander's video?

Here's the fat part
 

of Moultonborough Bay, this morning (1/7/15). It's all iced in.

Snake Eyes
 

Looks like Broads open again on Snake Eyes webcam

More open today
 

The upper photo was taken yesterday at about 11 am from Belknap Point. The lower photo is about 8 am today, temp minus 10 deg.

Yesterday there was ice from Ames Farm out to Diamond, all open today. The wind really did a job on any thin ice.

Any info on ice at Meredith Bay? I'm supposed to be playing in the Pond Hockey Classic in three weeks. Think Mother Nature can get her act together before then?

Alton to Laconia to Alton
 

As you can see from Slickcraft's photo from today, there is a lot of "sea smoke" (fog) coming off the surface of open water. That is the bad news. The good news should be that Mother Nature is taking a lot of heat out of the water, and if the winds will just lay down, the ice should form rather quickly. Here's hopin'!!!!;)

Open Water
 

A quick look at the lake smoke on the various webcams around the lake reveal the open water spots. The wind has been dying down this morning... perhaps a skim of ice soon?

IG
www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm

;)

Here's what it looks like from Rattlesnake, facing west as of 1/8/15 @ a little after noon.

This is from http://www.rattlesnakeisland.net/cam.htm

http://www.rattlesnakeisland.net/ice_in.jpg

Taken early this morning of Ellacoya all the way to Big Pier at Lake Shore Park

Attachment 10235

I want ice-in, but.......
 

Here is my dock a few minutes ago. I believe the icicles from the dock are at water level and the ones on the posts are under the water. This cam shows water movement which leads me to think this. The gray color at the bottom of the ice on the posts has water lapping against it.

My concern is that if the lake freezes and the water level goes down significantly over the next few days, will the ice take my dock down with it? Opinions please?

Hope not
 

Poor Ralph if it does

Fro0m Erika's Cam
 

You can see a lot of open water here.

Future Darwin Award Winners?
 

48 hours ago I reported that I just watched the lake freeze over before my eyes. Right now I am watching a group of about 10 people skating together between 3 Mile and Beaver Islands about 1/2 mile out in front of me. Yikes.

Watching the broads freeze
 

The wind has died down and ice chips are forming... perhaps it will freeze now!!!! :D

Mindful of what Yogi said about predictions I won't make one. I will say that with a light WSW wind that I would not be surprised to see it firm up tonight between Lincoln Park and Welch.

The section north of Diamond is quite another matter.

It is supposed to be very windy again tomorrow and Saturday. Unless it closes up tonight, it will probably stay open again for a while longer.

IG, do you have a bubbler/ ice eater? I can see one on the picture. If you do you are ok, if you don't, my only experience was a few years ago my bubbler died and we have the same ice on the post situation and the ice formed around it and looked like it grew around it and didn't seem to bother the dock. The one thing we have learned is that no two years are the same, the differences are fascinating to watch and recall from year to year.

The bubbler has been key for our fixed post dock, this year it isn't working (I can see it on my webcam) so I will need to go chip it out once the ice is strong enough to get there.

Broken/old link
 

this has nothing to do with ice-in.....

("listen carefully as our menu options have changed......")
the link to "mcdude's menus" on the ice-in page has moved to......

http://www.belknaplakes.com/Restaurants___Take-Out.html

Bob house
 

There is a Bob house on Meredith bay, 2 on Alton bay and some on other bays. Hope this helps anyway about ice information.

still open from south long island over to jolly island. unreal

Alton Bay
 

is starting to look like winter. A few other bob houses to the north, snowmobiles quite a ways up the bay maybe too far up.

A bob house went through the ice on Meredith Bay. They're try to pull it out now.

Today's view from space...
 

Winnipesaukee lower left.....Sebago upper right.

Game Wardens were out in force on the 8th posting thin ice markers all around Meredith Bay so this Ice Shack headed to the bottom doesnt surprise me. It's only been iced over for 3 days and we've only had 5 days of cold weather. I am not from around here, but in Maine it takes at least 2 weeks straight of 25 or below days to freeze a lake solid, not 3 days :) It might look safe, but it surely is not. I wouldnt be surprised to still see large air pockets or open water at his point.

I now live on Meredith Neck (moved here last sept) at the end of the peninsula and I wouldnt be caught dead out on the ice right now. When I drove into town yesterday I saw 3 shacks right in the bay as well as a 4-wheeler parked next to one of them. Not 90 or so feet away were the thin-ice signs. Ice isnt the same thickness everywhere and it moves under the ice with the water flow from wind down the lake where it's still open. As the wind kicks up, the ice thickness underneath changes with the currents. Open ice anywhere means ice thickness varies EVERYWHERE (although it varies everywhere even when no openspots exist, just not as drastically). Check it every 30-50 ft if you're going to be out and stay away from shallow/shoreline areas where ice is thinnest.

Anyway, I'm anxiously awaiting total ice-in as I've not yet had a chance to snowmobile the lake yet as this is the first winter for me here. I hope it remains cold for the next 2 weeks with NO snow. Snow slows down the ice making process as it acts as an insulator lol. Once it's frozen solid, then order me a nice blizzard with a side of no wind, and hold the cherry on top :)

From Lincoln Park in Gilford today. Still lots of open water.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...ps861b2165.jpg

There was a pickup truck on the ice by Suissevale. I don't know how thick it is. It has been locked in since early December..

On a different website...
 

The airport manager for the Alton Ice airport reported that the ice on the bay ranged from 5-8 inches. They need 12 inches or more to open the runway.

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif oceanadventura, I was just browsing through the forum and noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

Glad to have you posting on the site.:)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

Getting There!
 

Woke up to this today. Looks like a skim of ice almost everywhere except between Welch and bellknap Point.

Calm winds and low temps forecast for all this week. Everything should lock up shortly.

Nearly done in Snake Eyes view
 

I have been watching the lake freeze today. Still a stream of open water in front if the dock, but beyond it appears to be all ice. Any pics from Gilford?..

View from Gunstock today
 

Not much open water

What A Difference A Day Makes
 

I took the first shot yesterday from Lincoln Park in Gilford and as you can see, still plenty of open water. Today I took another shot from the same spot and there is a skim coat of ice right across the lake.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...ps861b2165.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...ps7d0182ce.jpg

Thin slush Welch to Ellacoya
 

The Broads looked white indicating a skim of ice under today's snow dusting. The area between Belknap Point and Welch and down to Ellacoya was a dark grey. The snow dusting melting on contact.

Pond Hockey?
 

What's the early prognosis for the Pond Hockey event? What's the local chatter saying about the ice conditions and what it might be like?

Main Land to Bear Island Ice
 

Anyone know the ice conditions for this specific region of the lake?

http://i.imgur.com/KxcKwl2.jpg

Ice In?
 

My webcam shows no open water on the south west side of Welch. This usually means ice in should be declared VERY soon... My guess would be tomorrow.

Lake Winnisquam
 

As of this morning there is open water on Lake Winnisquam off of Shore Drive in Laconia.

I'm across the lake from lake Shore drive and from my camera I can see wet spots in the snow including a long crack going straight out from shore.

Today's satellite view. Excellent progress. As usual Sebago is the last to freeze if at all. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...02d1558772.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting tidbits.
 

Sebago Lake does freeze over, usually after Winni and Sebago usually ice out before Winni. Not sure why.

Lake Tahoe never freeze. Some facts to ponder:

The average temperatures for the winter months at Lake Tahoe are
December: 14 degrees Fahrenheit,
January: 15 degrees,
and February 17 degrees.
These temperatures are not cold enough to freeze such a large expanse of water.

Some statistics about the Lake may help you to see why it doesn't freeze.
Though sitting at an elevation of over 6,200ft:
Lake Tahoe is 22miles wide by 12miles long
1645ft maximum with an average depth of 989ft
The lake's surface area is 122,200 acres
With a volume of 39 trillion gallons
And
The sun shines at Lake Tahoe during 75% of the year, or 274 days.

Broadhopper,

I've been on Sebago for over 40 years. It freezes completely only about 40 percent of the time.

BT

It has to be the depth of Sebago. Much deeper than Winni.

Certainly that must be a factor. Sebago is Ave depth 107' deepest 316' Winni ave depth is 43' deepest 212'

Yes, depth is a factor but the biggest factor is that Big Bay as it is called, is far larger an expanse of water than the broads is and is "almost" never calm. Wind of some kind is always a factor. Even on the coldest calmest night below zero it will not freeze and if it does, the wind comes up and blows it off to shore the next day. I have many pictures of my kids standing on ten to twelve foot high piles of ice on our shore front.

Picture from Mink Island looking past Bear Island on the left
 

Mink IP Cam pic from yesterday

Ice In
 

I'm expecting ice in to be declared today...

As of yesterday afternoon at 3-pm, there was an area of open water, maybe 25-acres, just north of Horse Island, plus I watched a lone fox walking along the ice close to Horse Island, and noticed this fox always walked on the white ice and avoided the black, wet looking ice .....so's how about that?

The I S S aluminum airboat, I S S is the name on the transom, that looks like either a very large jonboat or a small barge, powered by a large fan propeller in the back, was launched into the water yesterday and was used to go from Shep Brown's(?) to the north side of Mark Island, and return trip, and that boat can either go on top of the ice or it rumbles loudly though the ice like an ice breaker depending on the ice strength.

No open water in view
 

Drove down Scenic Drive in Gilford today, the arc from Welch down to Ellacoya was all ice. Also no open water visible north of Diamond nor out toward the Broads.

Ice In??
 

Yup I just did the same thing. If there is open water I have no idea where...

Dan

Ice
 

Ice as far as you can see from Smith Point (not including water at end of dock:D). Looking NNW towards Broads/Long Island and NE between Rattlesnake and Sleepers

When is Ice Out???:laugh:


Attachment 10260

Attachment 10261

So the mystery hole off Welch is not there this year?

Apparently the fires of Mordor have subsided, looked like all ice to me.

For the first time in three years the ice in this area has froze normally and in unison with the rest of the area.

dan

April 8th, 11:38 AM...oh, wait...Don doesn't post the guess thread for another 2 weeks...never mind.

Bring on the pond hockey tournament!!!!

What he said! ^^^

Two weeks from today!!!

I believe you are quoting the nighttime lows. The winter highs for Tahoe are in the forties, making the overall temperature right about freezing. The average Winnipesaukee air temperature in the winter is in the low twenties, some eight-to-ten degrees cooler.

Water volume is not all that important as evidenced by Lake Baikal (150 times the water of Tahoe and frozen 4 months a year). Once the water temperature is lowered to 39F (4C), only the first foot of water needs to be cooled further. Even in the dead of winter, the lake's bottom is at 39F (4C).

However, I, too, have no idea why Sebago doesn't freeze each year.

Volcanic Plume
 

Perhaps the recent earthquake shut down the volcanic plume that was heating the water right there.

I do.......wind, wind, wind.

Ice
 

Ice in confrimed yesterday. :)

Emerson Aviation Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emers...31847876851023

I wonder whether the predicted heavy rain and warmer temps will cause problems with the newly formed ice?

Looking good in Alton Bay and 19 Mile Bay today 1/17/15

What is the definition of Ice In?
 

Ok, this may sound dumb, but what does ICE IN mean exactly?

I know what Ice Out means - and it doesn't mean there's no ice.

What is the definition of Ice In?

Sorry for the dumb-ish question :rolleye1:

I am not aware of an official definition. Some years, the lake never completely freezes, yet we have an official ice out for that year. So, I believe it could be possible to have ice out without and ice in. :)

My only concern is once ice in is declared, some people will think the ice is completely safe everywhere on the lake. Be aware, the ice has varying thicknesses and is not safe everywhere!

R2B

Singing ice
 

We walked from Ellacoya up Scenic Rd this morning; the ice singing was loud and continuous. While the direction was well distributed the main chorus seemed to from between Welch and Diamond out toward the Broads.

I’ve got another stupid question. With all the bob houses in Alton bay, is there fish that deep in the bay, or is it easy excess to the lake and a good place to hang out?

I do not think there is a definition. It seems that it gets called when there is no open water as seen from the air. It does not mean it is safe. I for one would not ever call ice in. Some idiot would sue if they fell through the ice. :rolleye1:

IG

Ice out is "official" when the Mt. Washington can make it to all ports, right?

Open Water this morning
 

There is a stream of open water in front of my dock. You can see it on Snake Eyes. Is there any other open water?

IG

It's probably water sitting on top of the ice. It rained most of the day Sunday.

I walked out to Whortleberry from 19 Mile Bay over the weekend and there was at least 10" of solid ice everywhere I checked. Walking back to 19 Mile Bay Sunday we were in puddles a few inches deep in spots.

Now if we could just get some snow for the sleds!

My understanding is that this is the official definition for ice in and ice out is the mount route open or not.

If this was the case, then "ice-in" should have been declared weeks ago.

I still do not think we have an official definition, although over the last ten years or so, it has been called when ice covers the entire lake.

R2B

I don't think we have an official definition either. There was never before such a thing. But then, the definition of ice out was not always when the Mount could make it's way to all it's ports either. Emerson Aviation didn't always fly around and declare ice out.

Imo,
Ice in = zero open water, the surface of the lake is shore to shore frozen.

Ice out = zero remaining ice, dive in. :)

:laugh:According to Wikipedia, there appears to be misconceptions about even Ice-Out. So I would surmise that there is nothing definitive for Ice-In either!



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnipesaukee_Ice-Out

IG, I don't see that same stream of water on the other end. But I can't imagine today is a good ice growing day.