Ice In

[HomeWood]

The 10 day outlook on weather.com shows lows in the 20's. That is not ideal for ice making. I hope we don't have a repeat of 2006 when the derby was delayed and there were soft spots all over the place.

[hilltopper]

The thickest ice I saw on my way to work this morning was on I93 from Tilton to Manchester. Jeesh.....thanks for the heads up weather forecasters. The scene around the Hooksett tolls was down right apocalyptic.

And I think Winni is going to take a heck of a lot longer than 2 weeks to ice in.

This is a bad weather pattern if you enjoy snow and lake ice.

[joann721]

Has there been a year that the lake hasnt frozen over ?

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by joann721

Has there been a year that the lake hasnt frozen over ?

I know there have been years when the broads never locked up.

I know it's still fall, but the bays should be locked up with ice by now right? (even if it's just a couple of inches)

Alton bay seems to be the only one holding any ice and Moultonboro bay seems like it's trying hard. My knowledge is only based on what I can see from the cameras.

[Lakegeezer]

It was surprising to see some of Moultonborough Bay frozen this morning. It had frozen about half-way across over the weekend, but blew out in Monday's winds. Tuesday AM, it was frozen half-way again with a light coat of snow on it. Now, the rains have come and it is looking very thin and gray. It will probably not last till tomorrow.

[phoenix]

lake temp at 40 still two weeks behind last year

[Merrymeeting]

The water temp is pretty much where it was in December of 2006, a year when many also worried there would be no ice-in. The lake was still mostly open in late January.

But it got very cold in late January, and February, and by the end of January, there were reports of 10" of ice. It can change quickly. It is New England, after all.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ghlight=iceout

[fatlazyless]

And, this website reports today's Weirs Beach air temp at 1:33-pm to be 48-degrees......now that's pretty warm for December 22!

[Shore Driver]

Originally Posted by joann721

Has there been a year that the lake hasnt frozen over ?

Winnisquam did not in 2001-2002.

[This'nThat]

Originally Posted by joann721

Has there been a year that the lake hasnt frozen over ?

Ice-out records have been kept for 125 years (beginning in 1887). Over that time, there hasn't been a single year that the lake didn't freeze over (although the broads might have remained open). Ice out has occured in April 109 times; 13 times in May; and 3 times in March.

The ice-out history can be found here.

[This'nThat]

I guess we can declare "ice-in" this morning (Dec 25). The Mt Washington can't make it down the bay today without cutting through a lot of ice. It moved in quickly this morning, and there is a thin sheet of ice at least 1.5 miles long.

[Pine Island Guy]

we went out to the island yesterday and just a little ice around the mainland dock... it was a beautiful day for a ride in the alumacraft... but the 'wind chill' was freezing when we got any speed up!

we didn't see any (other fools) out on the water

hoping for ice -PIG

[Merrymeeting]

With temps remaining in the 40's through the night and heavy wind and rain, We should see much of the skim ice in the protected coves and bays disappear tomorrow night.

But then the next night will be in the low teens, and it will stay below freezing for 24+ hours, so much of it will probably reform.

[upthesaukee]

On the way to the dump, errrr landfill, errrrr Transfer Station (ah, politically correct at last), we noticed the ice in the bay was out past Sandy Point. This too will probably change over the next day or so, and then start to reform Thurs.

[ishoot308]

If you look at this thread; http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ad.php?t=11360 it looks like the broads finally froze right around January 14th last year. Based on this and the 10 day forecast we will be at least two weeks or more later this year.

Thoughts or predictions??

Dan

[Resident 2B]

I look at long range weather models as a hobby. They are not always correct, but they do show a trend. Within the last week, two of these long range models have started to show that cold weather, below normal cold weather that is, is coming.

These two models are predicting each of the next three months of 2012 will be below normal temperature-wise in our part of the world. Since it appears the first week or so of January will be near or very slightly above normal, this tells me that it is possible the colder than normal weather will get going soon after the first week in January.

If this happens, it could "rescue" the winter activities on the lake. However, we are well behind where we should be this time of the year and as we get into late January, the sun angle gets higher and that starts impacting ice growth, especially if there is no snow on the ice to reflect back the suns rays.

Bottom line is, IF these two long range models are correct, we could still have a reasonable winter. However, if they do not have it right and the warm trend of the last six months continues, we will remember this winter as one with poor, unsafe ice conditions.

I only have been looking at temperatures, not the more complicated view on precipitation, so I am not saying these models are predicting big snow storms. They might or might not be doing this, I have not looked at this that deeply. We need to get it cold first.

I share this only to say there is a possible light at the end of the tunnel. Let's hope it is not another train!

R2B

[HomeWood]

As of now, weather.com (TWC) shows some pretty cold temps for the next 10days. The predicted 5* low will help give the ice a jump.

[Dhuberty24]

There was people on lake pemingewasset today

[meredith weekender]

Wmur stated today that this could be a year that Winni does not completely freeze over. Let's forget about ice inane just concentrate on ice out, ha ha ha.

[AC2717]

How does the lake look this morning?

[DickR]

Originally Posted by AC2717

How does the lake look this morning?

Cold.

Well, actually, with the sun out so brightly, the sky so blue, and no snow around as I look out over the water, it looks like a nice fall day. The wind isn't as strong as it had been, so there are no whitecaps between Long Island and the Neck. I do notice that in close to shore, for 50 ft or so out, the quieter water has allowed some ice to reform overnight. Further out, where the breeze is cooling the water rapidly, it also is turning over the surface and mixing it with slightly less cold water below it and delaying the freezing.

[ishoot308]

I have given up on seeing any kind of decent ice fishing or winter sport season on Winni this year. With the 10 day weather forecast predicting above freezing temps during the day and mid forties on Saturday, the chance of the broads freezing over this year are slim.

Oh well, looks like the camp will open just that much earlier this year!

Dan

[HomeWood]

I'll settle for bare ice at this point and I'll leave the sled in NC. I just want to be able to fish and ride the atv's to my favorite spots.

If anybody is up flying around, I'd like to see some pics of the lake from the sky. The webcams give me a good idea of what parts are freezing, but it's only a handful of areas.

[Grant]

Originally Posted by AC2717

How does the lake look this morning?

When I got up at midnight, the stretch between 20 Mile Bay and Moultonboro Neck/Black Island was entirely liquid & choppy. By the time I got up @ 6:15, the entire area was frozen, save for a small patch out toward #59 marker. However, most of Winter Harbor was still completely open. Once that wind calmed, the temps didn't take long to set it up.

[Resident 2B]

Don't give up yet! There will be less wind over the next few nights and the lake is cold enough to freeze, as CLA has pointed out. We could see the bays locking up by this Friday night, some sooner.

Yes, there will be one warm day Saturday, but by the following Thursday, it will be very cold. Winter is coming and it looks to be below normal cold for the period Jan 11th onward for a few weeks, perhaps longer. I expect that in the end, Jan and Feb will be below normal temperature wise. Time will tell, but I am fairly confident with this.

Once it gets cold, the snow will follow.

R2B

[Merrymeeting]

See earlier reference to 2006... most were giving up that year too.

The lake was frozen solid by late January.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

Don't give up yet! There will be less wind over the next few nights and the lake is cold enough to freeze, as CLA has pointed out. We could see the bays locking up by this Friday night, some sooner.

Yes, there will be one warm day Saturday, but by the following Thursday, it will be very cold. Winter is coming and it looks to be below normal cold for the period Jan 11th onward for a few weeks, perhaps longer. I expect that in the end, Jan and Feb will be below normal temperature wise. Time will tell, but I am fairly confident with this.

Once it gets cold, the snow will follow.

R2B

R2B;

I'm saying that I am giving up to throw Mother Nature off. Old Ma Nature knows how much I enjoy my winter time activities on the big lake and she is trying to mess with my head with all this warm weather! She likes doing stuff like that, she can be bitchy at times! I figure if I say I have given up it will throw her off just enough to get some cold weather here and get the ice locked up.

I'm feeling much better now!

Happy New Year!

Dan

[Island Girl]

In keeping with tradition and philosophy (well mine anyway...) I am declaring this thread the Official Ice-in Thread rather than start a new one. Traditionally I start this thread in late Decemeber when it looks like the water is getting cold enough to freeze. It has been warm and I have been attending to other matters so am too late to start a new thread as this one has so much good info and pictures!

I love it when ice-in pics and discussion are all in one thread for easy reading. (again, just my philosophy, not a demand! )

The Ice-In Pageisup at www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm.

Here you can watch the lake freeze from many different cams. I think this is the 8th year the page has been live!

This year is a new cam.... one that has an incredible view, and is much welcome.

Please wander on over and see if you can find it! Thanks to our newest webcam operator!!!!

The lake temp reported by the dam operators is 35 degrees. The broads can freeze when this thermometer is at that reading or a little below. We don't really know what the lake temp is out there, this is just historically what has happened over the last several years.

Let it ice, let it ice, let it ice.......

IG

Sorry for being so late this year

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

Sorry for being so late this year

You weren't IG! The ice is! You are right on time. Just in time for "Ice-In"

[ITD]

Measured 8 inches of ice Blackey's cove, about 1000 feet from shore......

[JPerron2004]

Originally Posted by ITD

Measured 8 inches of ice Blackey's cove, about 1000 feet from shore......

Can you still see open water if you look out from the cove. I am doing the derby there and am interested on how much its freezing, i drove up this weekend and it didnt look very safe up there.Thanks

[ITD]

Originally Posted by JPerron2004

Can you still see open water if you look out from the cove. I am doing the derby there and am interested on how much its freezing, i drove up this weekend and it didnt look very safe up there.Thanks

I'm about half way down the cove, I didn't venture out far enough to see the outlet but would guess that beyond the entrance of the cove was not frozen yet. I think the cove is pretty much frozen, I drilled three holes as I walked out, all were 8 inches, I stopped because I ran out of time.

Center harbor was beginning to freeze, with I would say about 75% frozen, but it didn't look safe to me.

[JPerron2004]

Originally Posted by ITD

I'm about half way down the cove, I didn't venture out far enough to see the outlet but would guess that beyond the entrance of the cove was not frozen yet. I think the cove is pretty much frozen, I drilled three holes as I walked out, all were 8 inches, I stopped because I ran out of time.

Center harbor was beginning to freeze, with I would say about 75% frozen, but it didn't look safe to me.

Thank You i appreciate it, Im staying on Wilson road for the derby, which i would assume is closer to the outlet but cant be too much. Its our first time on this area of the lake for the derby, but everything i hear says its a good area.. Please update if and when possible as i live about an hour and 15 minutes away

[ITD]

Originally Posted by JPerron2004

Thank You i appreciate it, Im staying on Wilson road for the derby, which i would assume is closer to the outlet but cant be too much. Its our first time on this area of the lake for the derby, but everything i hear says its a good area.. Please update if and when possible as i live about an hour and 15 minutes away

I'm guessing you will be ok as long as you head into the cove versus toward CH. Just drill before you get too far. Good luck, I'm an hour and 45 minutes away but should be up again Monday or Tuesday.

Welcome to the Forum!!

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

In keeping with tradition and philosophy (well mine anyway...) I am declaring this thread the Official Ice-in Thread rather than start a new one. Traditionally I start this thread in late Decemeber when it looks like the water is getting cold enough to freeze. It has been warm and I have been attending to other matters so am too late to start a new thread as this one has so much good info and pictures!

I love it when ice-in pics and discussion are all in one thread for easy reading. (again, just my philosophy, not a demand! )

The Ice-In Pageisup at www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm.

Here you can watch the lake freeze from many different cams. I think this is the 8th year the page has been live!

This year is a new cam.... one that has an incredible view, and is much welcome.

Please wander on over and see if you can find it! Thanks to our newest webcam operator!!!!

The lake temp reported by the dam operators is 35 degrees. The broads can freeze when this thermometer is at that reading or a little below. We don't really know what the lake temp is out there, this is just historically what has happened over the last several years.

Let it ice, let it ice, let it ice.......

IG

Sorry for being so late this year

That was EASY...Mr. Hughes has a cam at Minge Cove now??!!!