Ice-Out 2007

[meteotrade]

Here's a nice high res satellite photo taken today... looks like the lake is almost completely ice free. Also notice the snow covered hills surrounding the lake... even Red Hill is snowcapped.

[Pine Island Guy]

what was ice free as far as the webcam could see, has taken a sudden turn as the wind has pushed in a nice ice-flow... regardless, we will be on the island this weekend! PIG

[offmycloud]

PIG - will you put the thermometer back up this weekend, please?
Thanks!

[SteveA]

The Broads look to be very open as viewed from the Scenic View on Rt 11. Some ice has blown in around Ellacoya and Lake Shore Park.

Looks like my 4/28 guess is going to be a bit off. With the high temps over the next few days, it could go fast.

[CanisLupusArctos]

Here's a view shot today from Black Cat - the season's first boater taking a cruise up to the edge of the ice, in the shadow of *snow-covered* Mount Major, enjoying temps that soared to 58 today. And now the forecast is calling for 70 on Monday. Break out the BBQ's and turn on the Sox game! (And maybe take a few runs down Wildcat Mountain in shorts... can't believe they're 100% open and still grooming half a dozen trails.)

The frogs are croaking in the marsh... making quite a chorus. First time I've heard them in over a year.

...And now the loons are chiming in.

Spring has just sprung.

[Merrymeeting]

We drove up through Farmington on the Kings Highway (Rt. 153). Many, many areas where the side of the road has been washed away, with asphalt undermined in many areas. Lake level is similar to what it was last May, namely very high.

There is water everywhere, with snow patches still in evidence in the woods and hillsides. The ice pack on Merrymeeting is still pretty solid. which is surprising as we usually track the same or a bit ahead of the big lake. My son almost stepped out on it last night (until I yelled). But it may have supported him. Very slushy on top, but like icebergs, fairly solid below.

I sat on my dock at 6 PM last night, and it was wonderful! Full sunshine (I DO remember what it looks like!) and total silence. The seasons at the lake, despite the weather, are still wonderful.

Most surprising to me is that the open areas are skimmed over with a new layer of ¼” ice this morning, despite temps now in the 50’s and no lower than 38 last night. With water temps 38-39, can any of the weather experts explain how this can happen?

I still hope the weather helps get it all out this weekend.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Can anyone tell me the status of the ice in Alton Bay? Thanks!

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Can anyone tell me the status of the ice in Alton Bay? Thanks!

RG: We scoped it out from Alton Mt. tonight on our way into town. You'll be fine. As Justsold said, there are some "icebergs" floating around to the right (east) of Rattlesnake, but you'll have no trouble getting around them. Be Safe and Have Fun! McD

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Most surprising to me is that the open areas are skimmed over with a new layer of ¼” ice this morning, despite temps now in the 50’s and no lower than 38 last night. With water temps 38-39, can any of the weather experts explain how this can happen?

Merrymeeting,

In Laconia, the tempature was below 32F for several hours last night. I would expect that same was true at Merrymeeting.

With the wind down and the dew point low, radiational cooling has a huge impact and right at the ground or lake level, it can be colder than at say 10' or 20' above the ground or lake. The cold air seeps to the lowest possible level. The only way 38F water can freeze is for the air around it to be below freezing.

R2B

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

The only way 38F water can freeze is for the air around it to be below freezing.

With the wind down and the dew point low, radiational cooling has a huge impact and right at the ground or lake level, it can be colder than at say 10' or 20' above the ground or lake. The cold air seeps to the lowest possible level.

The part about needing below freezing temps seemed obvious to me which is why I was puzzled. I have a local temperature gauge that tracks high and low temps. The lowest reading it recorded last night was 38.

But, you explained it. The gauge is located about 100' from the shoreline, and about 20-30' above water level. The air was very still last night I'm sure the cold settled above the water.

Thanks!

Also, contining on my report, I forgot to mention that while the water is usually crystal clear this time of year, it is now very tea-colored and muddy from all the runoff.

[fatlazyless]

Right now looking at the ice mass under the mid-day sun from about three hundred yards away, you can see the moisture evaporating upward just like on a 90's humid, July day. Yesterday there was a lone bald eagle that had a mouse or something, and it flies out to the edge of the ice, next to the open water and takes its' time dining on the mouse.

Another week, the eagle will be gone to Hudson's Bay or somewhere, and will be replaced by 8000lb-32'-1200hp Bajas. Got to enjoy these days now!

[SIKSUKR]

How about evaporative cooling?Does this make any sense?

[Resident 2B]

Evaporative cooling would have an additional minor effect. But with ice at 1/4 inch thick, it had to be more than that.

The official temp at the airport was below freezing for 3 hours and the same was measured at the Weirs Cam weather station. It was most likely colder a bit above the surface of the water

R2B

[SteveA]

taken from Big Pier at Lake Shore Park... Ice is gone as far as the naked eye could see...



Open all the way to Welch and RattleSnake and beyond.

The only ice that was there had blown in.. it is very think.. 3-4' and only right along the shoreline





Nice view of Mt Washington.. I think the islands are Timber, Mink and Mark... maybe Round and Camp ?

[meteotrade]

Here's today's high res shot... an even better one than yesterday. If you look closely you will see some ice lingering in Meredith Bay as well as the area just west of Long Island. Interesting to note that Squam is still completely ice covered and the snowpack looks deep in the Ossipees.

[Lin]

Loved that trident photo, DRH, great photos of the various parts of the lake, thank you all for sharing. Also can I ask Metrotrade what website you are getting that satelite shot from? Thanks

[meteotrade]

Originally Posted by Lin

Also can I ask Metrotrade what website you are getting that satelite shot from? Thanks

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/?calendar

You have to check the orbit tracks of the 2 satellites to figure out what time they are overhead. Today's shot was from the Aqua/MODIS at 17:50Z.

[Pier626]

Originally Posted by meteotrade

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/?calendar

You have to check the orbit tracks of the 2 satellites to figure out what time they are overhead. Today's shot was from the Aqua/MODIS at 17:50Z.

Great satelite images at that URL/website, thanks for sharing!!
-Pier626

[WeirsBeachBoater]

At 3:47pm it was declared that the M/S Mount Washington could make all her ports!

[hayes]

Hello all. My first post although I check this site daily. I am itching to pick up my new boat I purchased from Meredith Marina this winter. How's it looking in the bay? I cant take it home till they take me out for a test run and I can't do the test run till the ice is GONE! Thanks. Great website!

[CanisLupusArctos]

Shot this pic today from Black Cat.

A whole bunch of gray ice remains between here and Rattlesnake (in bergs, not solid) and I think the warm temperatures this weekend will take care of it. Monday at the latest.

High reached 58 here (surrounded by cold water) but 69 at Center Harbor's inland station, and 72 at NH-DOT's station on I-93 in Ashland!

Maybe the Babes on Sleds should become the 'Babes on Jetskis' and do an iceout dance!

[Just Sold]

RG
Alton Bay was clear except for an area from Echo Point to Loon Cove and up to Pumpkin Point. I think your dock area is clear. Could be some ice bergs lurking though. Lots of bergs and some large ice areas in the broads as seen from the RT 11 observation area.

Yes, I stole away and went up today.

They told me a Fay's that they are 2-3 weeks behind due to the snow/rain storms.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by CanisLupusArctos

Maybe the Babes on Sleds should become the 'Babes on Jetskis' and do an iceout dance!

Excellent idea, wolfman, I will stand on my dock and dance away!!! I am sure DBA will help me...

IG

[KBoater]

Where is the ice jam holding up the Mounts Route or did I miss something again?

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

Evaporative cooling would have an additional minor effect. But with ice at 1/4 inch thick, it had to be more than that.

The official temp at the airport was below freezing for 3 hours and the same was measured at the Weirs Cam weather station. It was most likely colder a bit above the surface of the water

R2B

...and I rechecked my reading and had remembered it incorrectly. It actually had a reading of 35.2. So it isn't unresonable to assume a few degrees lower down at the water level.

[fatlazyless]

Just like snow loses its' moisture content thru evaporation, so was the 1 mile x 2 mile ice sheet which was made of various rotten ice pieces about three inches thick and full of melted perforations type holes. Thankfully, the wind speed was very small, so incoming flows of the ice blob could be pushed and broken up with a 15' roof rake. Very usefull tool, that roof rake......it taking a beating and keeps on and on and on.....it's tougher than a Winnipesaukee iceberg flow. So, the ice has to be rotten for a roof rake to be able to smack up three inch thick ice. Is this getting too scientific for you or what? I think it is for me.

Anyway, ice out will not be happening for at least another week.....just too too much ice....and probably it will be on May 2 at 10am! Now, who has that time? Time for me to go have another adult beverage.

[abay]

As i was driving south on Rte 11, about 1:00 this afternoon, a there was a boat sitting beside a sizable ice flow about 200 feet offshore at Ames farm.

There was also a large drift that had completely cut off the end of Alton Bay, just south of Little Mark island. It looked to be resting on both the east and west shore at that point. But even so, it is certainly on the move.

[mcdude]

Our own Steve A's photo of ice-out was featured on this morning's 11:00 broadcast on NECN. Steve: Was curious....did you submit the photo to NECN or was it "harvested" from the photo gallery?

[SteveA]

I didn't submit anything to NECN.... did they credit a SteveA? Strange... wished I had seen it. Which photo was it?

I'll have to check their website... I know they posted a great pic from DRH about a month ago... but I think he submitted it... as well he should have.

I'm a star and I didn't even know it!

Move over Sanjaya!