Ice-In 2012-13

[ishoot308]

From my deck this morning at 6:30 A.M. it appeared the open water had once again froze over. It was a little dark but still could see the lake fairly well.

Dan

[dpassmore25]

I don't live on the lake but I come up to snowmobile. I assume the crossing at Ambrose cove on trail 15 is safe? Any reason it wouldn't be?
Finally getting some real snow this weekend

[Hamiltony]

Any updates? Good ice, things melting, lotsa snow from Nemo?

[fatlazyless]

For an informative report on two 11-year old hockey players and a 56-year old, who ice-skated four & one half hours last week, on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013, across the length of Lake Winnipesaukee from Center Harbor to Alton Bay - 30 miles, and the detours made necessary by large pressure ridges, suggest you read the story linked above from an Exeter NH newspaper.

That is a lot of ice skating, plus the lake ice is probably no-where near as smooth as skating the perfection of a Zamboni ice arena, plus the lake is so big that it could all get just a little bit overwhelming as one skates the distance. I thought about ice skating myself from FL-3 out to Timber Island and back, alone, last week and chickened out what with safety concerns and I'm a pretty good, strong ice skater.

Saw one individual from a distance of one half mile, out skating last week down the inside passage of Bear Island heading towards Cattle Landing so I suppose it can be done if you really really want to do it! Ice skating is sort of like hiking; no snowmobile, gas, registration, insurance, trailer, or pickup truck is needed; all u need is some ice skates.

[Merrymeeting]

This is one of the stranger years I've seen for ice formation in the region.

Like the spot on Winni that people have discussed, there is a section of Merrymeeting Lake that has refused to freeze this year. It's still open today.

The strange thing is that this is in an area that usually freezes solid, no known currents, and it's one of the deepest areas of the lake (100+ feet).

Perhaps that is the answer? Is the area on Winni that is still open a deep area?

[Webbsatwinni]

Is it me or are those snowmobile tracks on Snake eyes?

[cessnaair]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Is it me or are those snowmobile tracks on Snake eyes?

Looks like cross country ski trails

[Blue Thunder]

It's hard to believe that there hasn't been a post in this thread in nearly a month....
Attached is the crystal clear MODIS satellite photo from yesterday March 9th showing a completely locked in Winnipesaukee and a mostly open Sebago Lake. Its the first decent image in over a week due to weather and cloud cover.

BT

[Merrymeeting]

The ice fishing folks on Merrymeeting yesterday were reporting 24" before their augers were breaking through to water. About a 6" layer of snow, then a layer of slush/crumbly ice, then about 10-12" of solid ice.

Despite the current temps, it's going to be awhile before all this goes away. Looking like a relatively normal, early/mid-April ice out right now.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

This is one of the stranger years I've seen for ice formation in the region.

Like the spot on Winni that people have discussed, there is a section of Merrymeeting Lake that has refused to freeze this year. It's still open today.

The strange thing is that this is in an area that usually freezes solid, no known currents, and it's one of the deepest areas of the lake (100+ feet).

Perhaps that is the answer? Is the area on Winni that is still open a deep area?

Freshwater reaches its maximum density @ 39°F. For it to freeze its surface water must cool to 39F at which time it becomes denser then the underlying water and sink beneath them. This process will continue until the water at all depths is uniform at 39°F. Then the surface water can continue cooling down to 32°F and begin freezing.

So yes depth of water does play a factor in the top layer to freeze.