Lake water level
 

I know we have this "discussion" every year but it does seem strange that with all the snow and runoff we've had this year that the lake is fairly low for this time of year. I measure about a foot below normal. I did notice on the way up that the Merrimack River in Hooksett was very full.

according to this chart maybe 6" under normal. rainfall considerably short for this time of year though.

http://des.nh.gov/organization/divis.../graph2015.JPG

It's a good thing they kept the level low until now. With the extended winter/cold this year, the ice pack has taken longer to release it's grip from the shoreline and other structures. If they had started raising the level any earlier, you would have seen a lot of damage from ice lifting things as it came up.

See forecast entry in ice-out thread. I'm sure the level will come up quickly this week.

The water has risen a lot over the past two weeks. Later than other years, for sure. It's been a great melt for both snow and ice. I expected terrible flooding in New England this spring. The melt was very gradual. Hopefully the ice rots a bit more before the wind tomorrow. East facing shores will get the ice tomorrow. East wind ~15mph. Lots of rain.

....sublimation?
 

On a sunny day, you can see the ice surface sublimating straight up into the air.....the ice turns into water vapor and goes up, up, and away. It can be seen from a distance of maybe 500-1000 yards as a wavy, energy heat release sort of like a mirage or a spiritual happening or something similar to a sunny summer's day when the water surface can be seen to evaporate straight up. The ice is doing the same thing as evaporating, except it is called sublimation......so's it has been sublimating as opposed to melting.

....just go ask Mr Rogers!

Every year is different
 

The snowfall in the lakes region was light in density this year, even though it was high in volume. An inch of water made 10-15" of snow, rather than 2-5". When the melt got going, it was warmer than normal, so more evaporated and more absorbed into the melting ground. With less water to begin with, the result was less water into the lake. Probably a good year for the aquifers.