Quote:
Originally Posted by Merrymeeting
While I am leaning toward chasedawg's view, remember that we were all predicting a record ice-out last year, then it happened in the blink of an eye.
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Yes. It's natural to focus on air temps since that's what we feel, but it's not what does the most damage.
Once you get into mid-late April, the longer days and sun peaking at 60 degrees above the horizon will destroy the ice regardless of air temp, especially with any wind to scour out the insulating layer of cold air just above the ice.
Ice out was on 5/2 in 2001 despite April being downright hot at times with several days ranging from 64-84 degrees.
For late ice outs, you'd want as many cloudy and calm days as possible. (Not that anyone wants that.)