Lake water temperature?

[scubajay1153]

With BLackcatnh down and the dam hotline not picking up today I was curious if anyone knew the current lake temps?

[Outdoorsman]

Current water temperature for Lake Winnipesaukee is: 50°F

[Merrymeeting]

Outdoorsman, where are you getting your reading?

I am recording 46 with mine on Merrymeeting, which usually tracks Winnipesaukee fairly well. Though since my dock came out, the location is different. Now it's only in about 1' of water near the shore. This time of year, I suspect that it would be warmer as you get deeper.

In either case, we are looking at a 15 year high for this time of year. I went back through the recorded temps on this site for Dec. 12th (+/- a day or two depending on when readings were taken). The results are below. If we are close to 50 today, it is a rather striking difference from the norm.

2000 36
2001 42
2002 36
2003 38
2004 39
2005 38
2006 41
2007 37
2008 37
2009 39
2010 38
2011 44
2012 40
2013 34
2014 37

[phoenix]

and to think the ice out contest begins in 50 days

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

The lake is ~45 degrees on Paugus. It's held steady for a couple weeks now. Thank you El Niño.

[Grant]

If the ice never truly goes in, can it go out?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[scubajay1153]

Thanks folks!

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Grant

If the ice never truly goes in, can it go out?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

I understand the humor. But for those who may not know, the ice goes "in" fairly quickly. Using inverse logic, if Ice-Out is when The Mount can make all of her ports without hitting ice, then ice-in is when she would first hit ice on the way to one of her ports.

So, even if The Broads and other areas never fully freeze, it would be a frightening winter if none of the bays ever skim over during the whole winter!

[PCTim]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I understand the humor. But for those who may not know, the ice goes "in" fairly quickly. Using inverse logic, if Ice-Out is when The Mount can make all of her ports without hitting ice, then ice-in is when she would first hit ice on the way to one of her ports.

So, even if The Broads and other areas never fully freeze, it would be a frightening winter if none of the bays ever skim over during the whole winter!

So, what do you think the chances are that there will be enough ice for the Pond Hockey tourney at the beginning of February (or is it too early to start panicking)?

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by PCTim

So, what do you think the chances are that there will be enough ice for the Pond Hockey tourney at the beginning of February (or is it too early to start panicking)?

Although I participate in the pond hockey tourney each year at this point with the weather we've been having I am praying the lakes don't even fully freeze. Ill skip ski season for a year, and the boat would be back in the water April 1st and we would be back up and running by the following week!!

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Today's lake temp on Paugus is 44. Last year on this day the lake was 36 degrees and there were discussions on here about 'the earliest ice in'.

We have already seen our earliest sunset as the sun sets later every day from here!

[salty dog]

The chart that Merrymeeting displayed shows just how warm it is. Considering how late in the season it is and taking in the consideration of the mild upcoming temps, it seem to reason ice-in will be quite late. I wonder what the shortest ice-in to ice-out is? I read on an on-line blog (the blogger was going from memory) that there was no ice-in for the 2000 season and possibly two years before. Do any of you remember? I wonder if this might be another year? I know with a cold snap the ice take hold pretty quickly.

[SPT13]

I think a few yrs ago the lake never really froze completely, and I remember the pond hockey being moved to another location.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by salty dog

I know with a cold snap the ice take hold pretty quickly.

Yes, one week with below freezing temps and many parts of the lake can freeze quickly. Don't forget that we still haven't actually started winter (though we have started meteorological winter)

I think 2011 was the last time when The Broads never fully froze.

[ishoot308]

I just looked at the 10 day forecast for Gilford and they are still showing temps in the 50's at Christmas!! This is just crazy!!

[webmaster]

Originally Posted by scubajay1153

the dam hotline not picking up today

The Dataphone at the dam has not answered since November which makes it hard for me to post the temperatures. The NOAA site at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/gyx/lakefore...nipesaukee.php also no longer shows the H20 temperature for anywhere on the lake. Does anyone know another source for the daily water temperatures?

[Bear Guy]

For the other data junkies out there, I plotted the water temperature data from this website, for the past dozen years. Interestingly, this September was the warmest, but this November looked normal.

[Merrymeeting]

Taken 2 years ago today.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Taken 2 years ago today.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wow. That says it all.

[Outdoorsman]

I can't confirm the accuracy of this site, but since all the others seem to no longer be providing the data, I have been watching this one. It may very well be 'average temps' for the time of year that they are reporting.

https://www.watertemperature.net/uni...ipesaukee.html

[Merrymeeting]

Before we all get carried away, last year it was 50 degrees on Christmas Day and the ground was bare until the first week of January. We all know what happened after that!

[Paugus bay girl]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I just looked at the 10 day forecast for Gilford and they are still showing temps in the 50's at Christmas!! This is just crazy!!

My wallet sure is thankful! So far not costing me my left foot for heat!

[Paugus bay girl]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Before we all get carried away, last year it was 50 degrees on Christmas Day and the ground was bare until the first week of January. We all know what happened after that!

We still didn't get as much as the south last year!

[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Before we all get carried away, last year it was 50 degrees on Christmas Day and the ground was bare until the first week of January. We all know what happened after that!

perusal of lake temps of december of 2014 from this very site shows a temps of 37 near 12/25/14. I seriously doubt the broads will freeze over in '16. we've been here since '98 and there was one other year when they didn't freeze over maybe 15 yrs ago. anybody remember which year it was?

[CAVU]

Probably winter of 98-99, another strong El Nino year.. El Nino has begun to weaken, I would expect winter will return in Feb, March, April...

[ishoot308]

Looking at the 10 day forecast again for Gilford just shows more warm weather on the way. It's supposed to be in the 60's on Christmas Eve and warm weather continuing after Christmas.

Being someone who really enjoys the winter sports...this sucks!!!

Dan

[Major problem]

I've been watching these forums for many years primarily for fishing derby forecasts.

My group has been fishing both the spring Winni Derby and the Meredith Rotary Ice Derby for decades. If we couldn't stay with lakeside friends (mostly winter) then we stayed at B. Mae's/Fireside in Guilford. We had to make reservations in November because the Derby often fell at the same time as winter school vacation and they could get booked up.

There's been years we fished brutal arctic conditions and others with little to no ice. In recent years we've watched the weather fearing there would never be an ice-in and then around the second week of January winter would show up leaving only two weeks for the ice to thicken.

We are usually hopeful and faithful. This year my friends have chosen to wait and see.

Here's what it looked like in 2010, 3 feet of solid ice, no slush and a warm (~55 f ) sunny day.

[Merrymeeting]

As always, Mother Nature seems to be averaging things out.

Driving around the region this morning, many of the smaller, shallower, water bodies were skimmed over with ice. My water temp probe was measuring 40 degrees this afternoon. Rocks along shoreline are somewhat encased in ice after the winds of the past few days.

While the next few days will not be anywhere near average, it won't take much of a cold snap to get things back to normal. The lakes don't usually show signs of consistent freezing until after Christmas each year anyway.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

I have 38 degrees now for the lake temp. With overnight lows below freezing and a blast of arctic air set for the beginning of the week, we should see some solid ice forming soon.

[Blue Thunder]

Although I understand it completely, I am not worthy of articulating it like this. An excellent explanation of how ice forms......we are getting close to that magic 39 as we speak.

"For water to freeze and change into ice, it must be cooled to its freezing point, which implies heat loss. That heat loss occurs when the ambient temperature of the air is lower than the temperature of the water.
The freezing point of fresh water is 32°F; however, its maximum density is reached at 39°f. From an ecological perspective, the latter point is extremely important, since the deeper water which is located under the ice – except in some small lakes or ponds - does not freeze, which means that the creatures living there can survive winter under the ice. Let us take the example of a lake whose temperature decreases to 39°F in the late fall. Since density (the weight of the water per unit of volume) increases with the decrease in temperature, the entire lake – from the surface to its bottom – will reach 39°F after a certain length of time. When it cools, the thin layer close to the surface of the lake becomes denser, therefore heavier, and sinks toward the bottom of the lake, and is replaced on top by “warmer” water which rises to the surface.
If the temperature continues to drop and dips below 39°F, the layer close to the surface becomes less dense when approaching the freezing point; it then increases in volume instead of shrinking, and becomes “lighter” than the water below it at 39°F. Therefore, that cooler layer will float on the surface and will continue to cool until ice is formed. Ice (a solid) is lighter than water (a liquid) due to its larger volume, and that is why it floats. The water located under the ice below remains at 39°F, except for the layer just below the ice’s surface. That layer will approach the freezing point of 32°F. As it reaches that temperature, it turns into ice as well, making the layer of ice on the surface even thicker. The colder it gets, the thicker and the more solid the layer of ice becomes.
If water behaved like other physical bodies, it would increase in density as it cools. If that were true, rivers, streams and lakes would be frozen from the surface right down to the bottom. In the summer, only the top layer would melt, while the deeper water could remain frozen throughout the year. In such conditions, it is obvious that aquatic life in our rivers and lakes would be impossible."

BT

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

I was surprised to see the lake temp this morning still at 39. It should drop a bit tonight and tomorrow but the wind is not cooperating. The forecast from Wednesday through the weekend is a bit mild, overnight lows stay in upper 20s. Next week starts some steady cold weather.
Ice lovers have to wait at least another week before ice starts forming.

[Merrymeeting]

literally watching ice form as I sit here this AM. But given forecast and any wind, don't expect it to last.

[gokart-mozart]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

literally watching ice form as I sit here this AM. But given forecast and any wind, don't expect it to last.

Lake Wentworth froze shore-to-shore last night, unless it gets REALLY warm I expect it to stay.

Compare with November 29, 2014 for last year's ice-in.

[upthesaukee]

Yesterday in Alton Bay, there was some slush / ice from in front of the old Pavillion to the town beach out towards, but not to the floating band stand.

Today, there is a skim of ice out past Sandy Point, with some patchy skimming of ice to about half way to Echo Point. What a difference a day makes.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

literally watching ice form as I sit here this AM. But given forecast and any wind, don't expect it to last.

As expected, once the wind came up, the skim ice broke apart and is now gone.

[Mink Islander]

Lake temp was 38 degrees this morning per the Lakeport Dataphone. Tick tick!

[Acrossamerica]

Originally Posted by gokart-mozart

Lake Wentworth froze shore-to-shore last night, unless it gets REALLY warm I expect it to stay.

Compare with November 29, 2014 for last year's ice-in.

Must have been more folks staying later in the year this year and flushing.

[Bob G]

There was a skim coat of ice at the south end, Rt11, of Paugus Bay. All within 200 yds of shore. Nothing out deep yet.

[barefootbay]

Originally Posted by gokart-mozart

Lake Wentworth froze shore-to-shore last night, unless it gets REALLY warm I expect it to stay.

Compare with November 29, 2014 for last year's ice-in.

Don't know where you were looking but this am at Wentworth state park it was only about a third skimmed over .

[ITD]

Blackey's cove iced over.

[Merrymeeting]

The large portions of Merrymeeting that I can see mostly skimmed over last night, though there are still open areas. If the wind picks up today, I expect it will break up. But today and tomorrow are forecast to be very calm.

It will be interesting to see how much of the predicted warm-up we get later in the week, and whether it has an impact on the developing ice. While the forecast has days above freezing, the nights (and majority of each 24 hour period) will be below freezing.

Despite what many seem to perceive, things are really not much off the normal "ice-in" schedule. It is rare for Merrymeeting to show much ice before the New Year. But is is usually solidly frozen by mid-January. The key is for the surface to skim over completely so the wind doesn't break it up. Once formed, if the temps are below freezing, the ice thickens quickly.

All that said, please be careful! The next few weeks are, unfortunately, guaranteed to include stories of bright bulbs who venture out on the ice too soon and end up in the drink. Stay safe everyone!

[fatlazyless]

Driving back and forth on Route 25-Meredith this morning, enroute to and from the Gilford-Lowe's; at about 8-am, the lake ice on Meredith Bay extended from Lago's out maybe 1000-yds to the triple-h $12.5-mil log cabin.

At about 10-am, returning to Meredith, the lake ice had most all disappeared and become water, except for very close up to the Lago's ristorante.

Also, as seen from Route 25-Holderness at about 7:45-am, Little Squam was almost totally frozen over, and Big Squam had maybe 25% ice sheets. Two days ago, there was no ice at all on either Big or Little Squam Lake.

[ishoot308]

I actually took a boat ride out to Welch Island this morning from the Glendale docks. The Docks at Glendale were just starting to skim over at best. The ISS boats that were left there overnight were slightly frozen in and easily broke free. It was a cold ride out to Welch but we encountered no ice on the way or any whatsoever around Welch island. With temps in the mid 30's and low 40's this weekend, I don't think much will be happening ice wise for a bit yet...

Dan

[hilltopper]

29 days until the New England Pond Hockey Classic. The weather forecast for the next 15 days does not have temps that will create any type of thick, safe ice. Here's to hoping for cold whether after this stretch so the Classic doesn't have to move to Waukewan or worse, be cancelled.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by hilltopper

29 days until the New England Pond Hockey Classic. The weather forecast for the next 15 days does not have temps that will create any type of thick, safe ice. Here's to hoping for cold whether after this stretch so the Classic doesn't have to move to Waukewan or worse, be cancelled.

The cold returns Monday but before that happens we will see temps near 50 on Sunday with strong, gusting wind (15-20mph) and lots of rain (1-2").
Monday puts us 69 days away from spring!

[meredith weekender]

Lakeport Dam is reporting todays water temp at 37 degrees which is obviously a huge reflection on last nights heavy rains. The reported temp a few days ago was 34 degrees which was a temp not hit last year until the first week of April. Thinking were going to see a March iceout, bring on Boating season.

[meredith weekender]

Lakeport is reporting 37 degrees again today (02/26/2016).

[Merrymeeting]

The raw, cool, weather pattern caused the water temp reading on my sensor to stall at 47-48 degrees for the the past few weeks. In the past 24 hours it's gone from 48 to 53! Not really a surprise as the 48 reading was uniform throughout several depths so all that was needed was air temp above the water temps, and some solar gain to get it to pop.

Any readings on Winni in the past day?

[Barney Bear]

The water temperature at our dock on East Bear Island on Mother's Day was 51 degrees. 🐻

[VitaBene]

51.5 today Ambrose Cove at 0945

[Winnisquamer]

55 on Winnisquam yesterday.

[DRH]

46 - 48 degs between Sleepers and Diamond Islands this morning.

[depasseg]

Surface temp has gone up almost 5 degrees in the past 3 days. It's 55 at Trexler's Marina. I only started collecting data to graph a couple days ago, but Tuesday afternoon it was almost 51 degrees at 1 Ft and 49 degrees at 3 Ft.

[ishoot308]

52° over open deep water this morning...

[Merrymeeting]

My sensor is mounted under my dock, about 1' over the water. The attached probe is below, about 3' deep, in an area that is about 5' deep overall.

The green line is the water temp, red is air temp (again, just above the water in the shade)

Here's my data for the past week. Water temp has risen substantially over the past few days and now showing the normal upward trend for this time of year.

[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

My sensor is mounted under my dock, about 1' over the water. The attached probe is below, about 3' deep, in an area that is about 5' deep overall.

The green line is the water temp, red is air temp (again, just above the water in the shade)

Here's my data for the past week. Water temp has risen substantially over the past few days and now showing the normal upward trend for this time of year.

Very spiffy.

[ladyslipper 6]

60 yesterday off my dock on Six Mile

[Kerk]

Put the dock in Yesterday and the temp.was 54 in Orchard Cove . Too cold for a swim my youngest said . kerk

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

My sensor is mounted under my dock, about 1' over the water. The attached probe is below, about 3' deep, in an area that is about 5' deep overall.

The green line is the water temp, red is air temp (again, just above the water in the shade)

Here's my data for the past week. Water temp has risen substantially over the past few days and now showing the normal upward trend for this time of year.

Good info, Merrymeeting. Well done.

[depasseg]

Trexler's marina just added air and water temperature graphs: http://www.trexlers.com/lake-winnipe...live-feed.html

[Merrymeeting]

Should stay consistently over 60 after today, and I'm guessing at least 65 by the weekend. Time to get out the bathing suits! (again, green line is water temp. Strong variations early in the week were due to high winds churning the water)

[Phantom]

Although not accurate, and only measures the Temp just below the hull .... the Trexler Temp's seem to align with what we were reading off our boat gauge this past weekend. We were picking off between 57 - 59 depending where we were on the lake as the water Temp.


.

[Barney Bear]

57 degrees three feet down at our dock on East Bear Island last Saturday. 🐻

[ishoot308]

60 degrees today over deep open water....

Dan

[NewHaHagirl]

Any updates? Thanks!

[Senter Cove Guy]

Surface temp in Jockey Cove was 61. Temp at 20 feet was 57.

[Barney Bear]

Sixty-four degrees at our dock on East Bear Island this morning. 🐻

[Merrymeeting]

Quite a roller-coaster ride for the temps this week. On Saturday, we had a neighborhood in-water, float party. Last night you would see your breath while outside.

[Merrymeeting]

Water temperature is heading in the wrong direction. Quite a drop in the past week, though no surprise given cold temps and winds.

Winds were unreal yesterday, and more of the same predicted for Sunday-Tuesday. We still have another 4-5 days of below average temps before things improve.

[Barney Bear]

Water temperature at East Bear Island at noon today is 58 degrees, down 9 degrees from last weekend. Have to use my wool swim suit. 🐻

[rsmlp]

I DO NOT want to turn this thread political but I have a theory that global warming will become completely real when (and if) oceanfront properties in warm places like FL start decreasing in value as people will be so concerned as to seek cooler climates. That is NOT happening but if it does? I am in GREAT shape here at South Point on Long Island. Freakin cold!

[Senter Cove Guy]

Surface temp at 5:30 PM on 06/10/16 was 61 degrees F.

Temperature at 60 feet deep was 50 degrees F. The 8 divers that went there said it was fun!

[tis]

Steam coming off the lake this morning, so you know what that means! It's cooling down even more. We are supposed to get this in the fall not the spring! C'mon summer!!!!

[LadyJane]

Any updates on water temps? We'll be up Saturday......hoping the water temps have gone up a little.

[depasseg]

74 at Trexlers. This heat is doing wonders.
http://www.trexlers.com/lake-winnipe...live-feed.html
Click on the graph for more views.

[Barney Bear]

At East Bear Island, our guests from Ohio took a chilly swim in 67 degree water last night as the nearly full moon was rising. 🐻

[Merrymeeting]

Saw the same steep rise on Monday here too. It's headed back in the right direction. (Red= air temp, blue-humidity, green=water. Under dock, 3' down)

[upthesaukee]

Sunday, we took a dip in the lake down in Robert's Cove.

Not having an AED on board, I decided not to shock this 70 year old body by stepping off the swim step into the water, I went down the ladder a step at a time, then knelt on the bottom step. Splashed some water on my chest, then grabbed a "noodle" and flopped into the water.

It was somewhere between shocking and invigorating (difference could be related to the above referenced age thing). My wife asked "How's the water?" Lying through what teeth I have left (age thing again), I said "Great once you get in."

Actually, can't remember swimming off the boat on Father's Day in the past. And it actually was pretty good after a few minutes floating on the noodle, and not because we were totally numb.

[Winnisquamer]

The water is enjoyable at this point in the year, but then again i've been swimming in it since May. My thermometer has been bouncing between 68-72 the last week.

[ApS]

The water temperature can't be too bad. Ms Deer went out 250' and casually checked out who has planted those tasty hostas this year.



.

[BroadHopper]

I have not swim in decades before Independence Day without a wet suit. I took the plunge in Braun Bay Father's Day Weekend and I was pleasantly surprise how warm it is.

[Merrymeeting]

The hot weather this weekend will help it reach the mid-70's. But its been interesting how cool the nights have been for this time of year. The mist (heat) rising out of the lake each morning this week has made things look like late October, without the color.

[Barney Bear]

The water temperature at East Bear Island has remained at 67 degrees all this week. May warm up this weekend. 🐻

[tis]

I agree, Merrymeeting. Most mornings the steam is coming off the lake like it does in the fall. I have had a hard time getting in this year, it feels cold to me!

[LadyJane]

thanks for the updates, yes, I think this weekend should help the water temps to rise. All packed and ready to come up tomorrow for a week or so.
Yay !!!!

[tis]

It felt a little warmer on my feet today but I didn't swim.

[Senter Cove Guy]

Surface temperature today in Wolfeboro Bay was 71 - 72 degrees.
At 60 feet deep near The Witches it was 55 degrees. We still had a good time diving.

[Barney Bear]

Water temperature at East Bear Island this afternoon has soared up to 70 degrees. Let the swimming begin!!! 🐻

[Merrymeeting]

Finally reaching point where nights stay above 70 and days approach mid-70's

[laketrout]

69 in Paugus bay

[Barney Bear]

Water temperature at East Bear Island today is now up to 73 degrees. 🐻

[thinkxingu]

73 in Langley Cove.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[8gv]

Whatever everyone thinks of the current lake temp, it could be much cooler.

I'm at Old Orchard Beach where the ocean is 58*

[fatlazyless]

Seems like the surface water temp of Winnipesaukee will hit 80-degrees in the next few days, for the first time since 1998, when there was a combination of low water due to drought and high air temps. 78-degrees is usually the very highest surface water temp that gets reached briefly on about July 25, but this year is looking warmer with the week ahead forecast in mind.

[fatlazyless]

Heard the voice guy on WEMJ-Laconia at noon say the water temp reported from the Lakeport Dam was 79-degrees today.

[Merrymeeting]

Merrymeeting has been flirting with 80 all week. Comes within half a degree, but not quite there yet.

[wtibert]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Heard the voice guy on WEMJ-Laconia at noon say the water temp reported from the Lakeport Dam was 79-degrees today.

I had temp readings near States Landing Beach and Ganzy last week of 80F.

[fatlazyless]

Believe the last time the surface temp got up to 80 was in 1998.

[znh]

Meh...don't like it too warm. Less refreshing and more algae/stuff in the water...

[Merrymeeting]

Temp has dropped a few degrees since last weekend, after going over 80 for a few days. Should rise again with sunny days and warmer temps forecast through the weekend. (Red= air temp, blue-humidity, green=water. Under dock, 3' down)