The Official 2010 Ice-in Thread
 

Here is the official 2009-2010 Ice-in thread. With the freezing temps, snow, ice on Alton Bay and the lake temp below 40 degrees it is time to watch for ice-in.

Here we discuss the conditions all over the lake area. Please post pictures of your part of the lake as it freezes... links to PhotoPost are fine!

Several people have asked what determines ice-in. There is nothing official. My definition would be when the broads freezes over enough so the ice can grow and a warm rainy day will not melt it all and turn the lake liquid again. This does not mean it is safe to go out there!!!!!!!

For those who are new here... sometimes we wake up in the morning... check out Snake Eyes... and the lake is skimmed over with ice. We get very very excited!!! Occasionally we get fooled... and it rains and we have to start watching and hoping for a very cold, very calm night so the skim coat can start again.

The ice-in page is up for your daily watching.. at http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm. All of the Winnipesaukee cams are there. If you want to see the other lakes go to http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/lakecams.htm.

Happy Watching

ps... my snowmobile is running... and waiting for safe ice!!! :D

Dear God...
 

Thank you Island Girl... It was pushing the 70 degree mark here in Dallas/Fort Worth and I was suffering in my short Short's while out of doors.

I couldn't imagine being without my extended Northern family this time of any year!!!!!!!!!!
Best wishes and Happy Holidays!
"You Go Girl"!
From Dallas/ Fort Worth,
Terry

It's to early for ice. I still need to put the de-icer in at the end of the dock. I could be in trouble ifthis cold sticks around:eek::eek::eek:

We had signficant ice form last Sunday and it stuck around until the wind kicked up today. Now, its moved out except for big chucks huddled around the shore. With the strong wind forecast for the next few days and very cold temps, the water should become superchilled, and a few hours of stillness let it refreeze.

The wind out today is pretty much destroying the ice in the bay. Even though we have low temps this wind is going to halt any good freeze. Plus it is sunny too. I say Jan 20th for ice in the Broads.;)

From what I could see it looked like huge white caps in the broads today.

I have a feeling the lake may not completely freeze this year. The water is usually much colder by this time. It may be an early ice-out, but who knows, we might get a nice long cold snap and that will get us caught up, but not with this wind we've been having!

Brrrrrr
 

This morning, my thermometer is showing 1.5 degrees and there is a layer of smoke swirling above the water in M'boro bay. The water temperature is catching up to where it is supposed to be, I think.

The winds are supposed to blow pretty good until Friday nite. My guess is that on Saturday morning, north of M'boro bay will be solid and by Monday, may even be safe to carefully venture on.

I am not a meteorologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night...

If the air temps were staying above normal, I might agree with you. However, I don't think that is going to be the case this year. It looks to be pretty cold (normal or below) for at least the next week. The cold pattern could relax between Christmas and 1/15 or so, but after that we are going to go right back into the cold pattern.

No worries
 

Looks like we are closing the water temperature gap this week. I've had the same concern that the water temps were much higher this year than typical. But Mother Nature always seems to balance it out and we're quickly getting back on track.

I'm expecting a typical ice-in with safe ice before the end of January.

Yes, a layer of "sea smoke" seen above the waves in Alton Bay and out toward the lower broads. This will suck some of the heat out of the lake. It sure is draining the heat out of the house keeping both a pellet stove and a wood stove busy.

The next 5 days will really help ice-in... Supposed to be 0 and below at night for the next 4 nights and not about 20 during the day.

Latest Picture from NASA
 

I don't know if this matters......:)

Despite how cold it was today, the ice seemed to break up more than form as it was so windy. So unless it calms down, I don't think we will make more ice. We had some hooded merganzers floating around the past few days.

Water Temp
 

Looks like we are right on the button with last year at this time for water temp, this cold and wind in my opinion is good to get the overall water temp where we need it. If it stays cold and we get some calm nights / days we'll be in good shape.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for the Derby !!

The forecast for wind was wrong. North of M'boro bay (and well into it) iced over again last night. This time, it is shore to shore. I can't see any open water in any direction, but see some sea smoke coming off m'boro bay, well to the south.

Water Temps
 

The water temp is 36 degrees today (Friday) at Lakeport with continued cold air temps in the forecast. The ice man cometh....

If the ice man is cometh, I am putting in my request for hime to leave in 102 days. Please put your request in as well.:):laugh::):laugh:

Ice is growing
 

I noticed late this afternoon that the ice is forming in Meredith Bay. Skim ice from Grouse Point down to the Weirs. Not much in downtown Meredith yet. This is opposite of how the ice usually forms. Usually starts downtown and grows towards the Weirs. Lake was perfectly flat today and good for growing ice.

Yesterday afternoon I saw three people huddled together on the ice on Lake Pemmigiwasset fishing. Can't be safe.

some ice is safe
 

The ice is safe in spots. I ventured out on it today and measured the thickness at several spots, although stayed close to the shoreline and in shallow water. A good three inches of solid black ice. The ice is very strong, with no water showing around the rocks. 3" of black ice is not "throw caution to the wind" safe, but its reasonably safe for one person walking. You can see the bubbles and the cracks all the way through the ice, it is so clear and easy to tell how deep it is. Hopefully those on Lake Pemmi took the proper precautions.

In years past (1969-1974).. I have sailed across 3" of black ice on the Broads east of Rattlesnake on a DN Iceboat. EXCELLENT. 60 MPH or better...under SAIL. Did a LOT of Ice Boating in those years. On Winni...Usually in the spring when the snow settles and freezes at night. ...right up to Ice Out. :look: NB

Ice yachting on Winni looks like fun!

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Fun
 

Mr V, that is great.

I remember 5 or six years ago we had a cold December and January with little or no snow- the ice on Waukewan was great for skating, and as it turned out, iceboating! They were awesome to watch.

Reminds me of one of the old Hardy Boys books I used to read as a kid! Cabin Island was the title I believe.

In today's Conway Daily Sun:

Though all ice is potentially dangerous, the Cold Region Research Laboratory in Hanover offers a "rule of thumb" on ice thickness: There should be a minimum of 6 inches of hard ice for individual foot travel, and 8 to 10 inches of hard ice for snow machine or ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) travel. Keep in mind that it is possible for ice to be thick, but not strong, because of varying weather conditions. Weak ice is formed when warming trends break down ice, then the slushy surface re-freezes. Be especially careful of areas with current, such as inlets, outlets and spring holes, where the ice can be dangerously thin.

Complementary contest
 

I had an idea for a complementary contest. We could call it Darwin’s Bar Wins. In the spirit of “survival of the fittest” (and vice versa), the goal is to predict most closely the time (and place?) of the first vehicle to go through the ice. As the name suggests, the prize would be a gift certificate good for a few rounds at a local establishment (anyone willing to donate?). Regarding the rules, I think the incident should involve a car or truck, not a snowmobile or ATV, and it should not involve any injury.
Any other thoughts regarding rules or guidelines?

Lake Ice formation; http://www.gi.alaska.edu/alison/ALIS...ence_Lake.html

I think it would be in extremely poor taste to promote such a contest.

I was thinking the same thing.. Especially if someone where to get hurt. Shouldn't benefit by someone else's down fall. (no pun intended)

Water temp is 35 degrees at Lakeport
 

Right on schedule....

Ice at 4"
 

Things are getting really safe now around the northeast quadrant of the lake. Four inches of black and clear ice. I've attached a few pictures. One of cracks, to show the depth. The other was taken in five feet of water by laying the camera right on the ice.

Took this from out back of the church in Melvin Village tonight on the way home. Looks like plenty of ice setup in the bay at least.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1261605139

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g?t=1261605574

Here are some photos we took around Alton during the month of December:

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...0_366964_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3433739_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5490276_n.jpg

We've also uploaded a short video taken in Minge Cove during the second week of December showing us breaking our way out of the ice covered cove:

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-W...es/75623911712

That video is great. Thanks.

Three observations
 

1. Not only a great video, but 2. you also seem to have found one particular suave and debonaire fan:).

3. Today while driving by the area of Alton Bay and the bandstand, I was witness to what apparently is Capt Bonehead transformed into Evel Kneivel, riding a dirt bike on the ice in the bay, going past the bandstand heading out towards Sandy Point, doing a wheelie as he passed the bandstand, and when he put the front wheel down, did so in not so gentle a manner. I guess he figured that by going fast, the bike would skim the water like a snowmobile if he broke through :eek:. Good news was that when I came out of the Bay Post Office after getting my mail, he was just coming off the boat ramp, and parking next to his pickup truck.

There seems to be skim ice forming on many of the cameras this morning. Looks like those wishing for ice are getting their Christmas present!

If this is the guy you saw, it sounds like he did his homework before heading out...

http://pub32.bravenet.com/forum/stat...91510&cmd=show

Ice is tricky on 12/28
 

What was very safe ice around here on Saturday has turned tricky. The rain on Sunday formed pools on the lake, which ran into cracks and formed fairly large holes, some big enough for a foot or very small dog to fall into. There is a crackling crust where the remaining standing water froze, but not all of it, as some water remains between the 1/8" crust and 4" base of ice. Now its snowing, which will cover the drain holes. All should be safe again after a few days, but with a snow cover, it will be hard to tell. Stay safe!

I'll be up in 4 weeks from today. It needs to get cold fast. Thanks for the updates LG.

beginning to look a lot like ice in...
 

from Pine Island this afternoon -PIG