Lake temps/ ice in

[fatlazyless]

It's all open water around Cattle Landing....no starter ice yet in any of the usual spots.....Indian Summer lives at the Cattle Landing....the boating season has at least another month left before the January 8 ice-in.

[Mink Islander]

Won't be long now....

[Lakegeezer]

A lot of the ice from M'boro bay to Lees Mills has been broken up and is flowing south. Sunday, the lake was almost frozen in from Ambrose cove across to the snowmobile power-line trail, but this morning, its all open again. Whitecaps everywhere, and smoke rising from the water. Its 6 degrees at 9:30AM - so if the wind would ever calm down, things would freeze up again quickly.

[CanisLupusArctos]

There is quite a showing of arctic sea smoke this morning at Black Cat. The water temp has dropped 2 degrees overnight. The temp at 10 feet down was 40 yesterday and is now 39. The temp at 2 feet down is now 37. At 35 there is usually some ice on the surface. The 10-foot probe usually stays around 35 or 36 all winter.

This week we'll get some snow chilling the surface tomorrow and then Thursday will bring another cold blast.

[Lakegeezer]

The wind died down enough last night - and it was 4 degrees - to freeze over virtually everything north of Moultonborough Bay. All white - shore to shore - except for a few wet spots here and there. It is snowing lightly, so its easy to see where its ice and not. We'll see how it stands up to Wednesday's "upper 40's" and showers.

[Merrymeeting]

The large pond in Marlborough, MA that I pass on my way to work was completely frozen over and covered with snow this morning for the first time. Over the years, I've found this to be a good indicator for the lake as it preceeds what happens at the lake by about 2 weeks, both Spring and Fall.

It had been wide open before this. I expect it will open up again over the next few days. But the freeze does seem to be a bit earlier this year.

From the Alton Bay cam, I see that it is similarly covered today.

[CanisLupusArctos]

This morning I found a few small bergs drifting past Black Cat. I assume they came from a frozen part of the lake, perhaps Salmon Meadow Cove.

The water temp dropped during this morning's snowfall, which tallied 1.5 inches. The 2-foot probe is now at 37 and the 10-foot probe is 38. We're getting close. More snow or sleet will help to chill the water surface, as will more cold, dry, windy weather like yesterday's.

The warmup is stalling. It was forecast to go to the 30s today, but it's almost 2 pm and we've only reached 20 so far. Tomorrow, if the warmup gets in here in earnest, I don't expect it to last long. Thursday we'll be right back into winter.

[chipj29]

Pretty warm today...those toasty winds are going to warm the surface up quite a bit I would imagine.

[hilltopper]

Looks like they're already posting a Winter Storm Watch for Belknap County Thursday night into Friday afternoon with the possibility of 6+ inches. I'm sure this will get it's own thread. Everyone ready?

[BoulderBronco]

Any ice forming up there yet? Looks like a bit of snow and cold temps are there to stay. Plus the water temp says 36*. I don't think I have ever seen it feeze before Christmas. This year maybe? Come on ice!

[CanisLupusArctos]

Earlier this evening the probe at 2 feet deep went to 32. The probe at 10 feet was 35. This is the normal wintertime temp pattern when it is frozen. My guess is that the snow falling in the water, which was already at 36, lowered the temp a lot more. There's no doubt it's ready to freeze as soon as it sits still. The question is, when will it sit still?

Saturday: Windy and cold, high 19. (More chilling of the water.)

Sunday: Possible Nor'Easter, more snow. (More chilling of the water.)

Monday: Very windy and very cold, high 14. (Mega chilling of the water.)

Tuesday, maybe? Wednesday brings another storm.

[CanisLupusArctos]

This morning the water temperature at Black Cat Island is again down to 32 at the depth of 2 feet, and 33 at 10 feet. It has been trying to freeze when still, but has not been very still for the last several days. Today the northwest wind howls once again; we are gusting to 28 mph and wave heights are about 2 feet. There are several bergs of ice formed from the snow, which never melted in the lake water.

[BoulderBronco]

Anyone have any updates/info on the ice? Is meredith still iced over or has it gone away with this warmer weather? How about the rest of the lake?

[Resident 2B]

About the current ice situation:

The Good is that the water is cold, in fact cold enough to freeze on a normal night without wind.

The Bad is that it will get warmer the next day or so, likely record warmth. It will also get windy. This will break up and melt most of the thin ice that is in the coves.

The Ugly is the wind. I do not see any stretch of time where it will be cold without wind between now and about Jan 6th. There is a short period around Jan 1 and 2 that might become more promising for the ice, but right now it does not look cold enough or calm enough.

Unfortunately, it might get uglier! It is my personal opinion that from mid January to late February, it is likely to be warmer than normal. It will still be cold, this is northern New England in the winter, but compared to normal, I see it on the warmer side.

For those technical folks out there, I see the trough near the east coast moving (retro-grading) westward and holding a blocking position near the Rocky's, giving them winter and us the warmer flow found on the east side of a trough, with a ridge over us or slightly to our east enhancing the northward flow of the warm air about a month from now. That is why I think it will be above normal here from Jan 20th to late February.

I really hope that I am wrong with this, but that is the way it looks to me at this time.

R2B

[BoulderBronco]

Well I hope you are wrong. Looks like the temps are going to drop quite a bit after tonight. Looks good to me for the next week or so. Alton is still frozen which is good but I am still wondering about Meredith bay. Frozen?

[Resident 2B]

BB,

I took a ride up to Meredith this afternoon to get you an updated status of the Meredith Bay ice.

The ice is covering more of the bay than I had thought. It extends down to Grouse Point and across to Pinnacle Point. From there it is wide open. There is no ice in the area where the falls exit into the bay to the left of the launching ramp as you look out from the land.

The ice looks like it will hold and build with the cold weather the next week. Alton is also iced up well past Sandy Point.

It will be windy the next week or so, so unless the wind dies down, I do not think we will see much more new ice.

I have some photos that I hope to get up in the next day or so.

Happy New Year!

R2B

[BoulderBronco]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

BB,

I took a ride up to Meredith this afternoon to get you an updated status of the Meredith Bay ice.

The ice is covering more of the bay than I had thought. It extends down to Grouse Point and across to Pinnacle Point. From there it is wide open. There is no ice in the area where the falls exit into the bay to the left of the launching ramp as you look out from the land.

The ice looks like it will hold and build with the cold weather the next week. Alton is also iced up well past Sandy Point.

It will be windy the next week or so, so unless the wind dies down, I do not think we will see much more new ice.

I have some photos that I hope to get up in the next day or so.

Happy New Year!

R2B

Top notch report. Thanks. Thats ahead of schedule. I hope you didn't drive up there just to look at the ice for me. I assumed someone lived there. My parents are up there all this week so they will be watching. I am looking for one of those real cold winters. Where there is a "highway" down the bay and 24" of solid black ice. It's been almolst ten years since we drove our trucks out there. This year is going to be fun. Thanks again.
Chris