Ice-Out 2007
 

This is the official Ice-Out 2007 thread. The ice-out web cam watch page is up at http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm.

The warm weather today and coming is sure to get that ice melting...

The lake temperature is 34 degrees... and last year ice out occured at 40 degrees..

Be careful out there... the lake will not be safe much longer.

Please post your iceout pictures to Photo post. If you want to take a picture every day from an area not covered by a webcam.. let me know at [email protected]

Let's make this years watch a fun event!!!! It's coming..

Just a few more days until spring.

IG

Snake Eyes has the wrong time for a few days because the camera is old and does not understand the new dates.

Please visit and buy from the sponsors on winnipesaukee.com and rattlesnakecam.com... they help keep your websites and webcams free!

Does anyone think it might be an early ice out or a late ice out? Will be interesting to see what the weather does this week

Sun or Wind?
 

This looks like an above-normal week for temps, and a chance of colder (not extreme, but below freezing) at the end of the week. My guess would be for a late ice-out, given that it got over 20 inches thick in some places this year... most of it was solid clear ice (not flaky snow ice) and there were still trucks out on it this weekend. There's also plenty of white snow on it to reflect the sun's rays for a while.

Presence or absence of wind will play a big role. In the blackcatnh weathercam's time lapse over the past month the ice could be seen moving up and down during windy conditions (while everything else in the image remains fixed). The past 8 weeks have been incredibly windy with very few calm days and if this trend continues, the wind will be the major contributor to this year's iceout. If that is the case, the iceout could be dramatic and possibly damaging with waves carrying thick bergs and shards. If that is not the case, the sun will have to do most of the work which could take a while since there's so much ice to melt.

Looking at weather patterns, the El Nino that probably played a huge role in our incredibly warm weather in December/January has broken down and is becoming its opposite - La Nina - as spring arrives. While the El Nino and La Nina patterns have had many different effects on New England in the past, El Nino is most noted for warm/dry here, while La Nina has often caused cold/wet. Only time will tell.

More weather info regularly posted by a bunch of us meteorology buffs on the latest version of the "Winni Weather" thread.

While it will return to normal later this week, I think the rain will put a dent in things icy. Most importantly, when it stays above freezing during the night, something it is supposed to do for the next several nights, a lot of melting can occur.

That said, it's still going to take a lot of heat to melt 20". Despite my ice-out guess, I'm thinking well see an "average" ice-out, which would be mid-to-late April

Just Praying
 

I am praying and asking God for mild Temps, from now on.... Not that I am anxious or anything..... but after sending in the Boat payments through the winter.... well.... I want to know I spent my money wisely...... Maybe next time I should buy and ICE BREAKER :rolleye2: ....

Thinking of boats.... and ice.... FLL.... how are your circulating pumps, boatlift and most importantly the Boat holding out?????

Babes apology
 

We Babes on Sleds do apologize for the late season snow... it appears our Ice-out dance backfired and the snow Gods thought we were signaling for more snow..

Given the amount of slush that was there before the snow and the new weight from this snow.... it might be a bit boggy out there... I would not go there but the Airboat people will have a great time!!

The Ice-out page now has a new digi-cam (still pics taken each day) from DRH... check it out. Anyone else wanting to to a daily update on a place on the lake not covered by a webcam... please let me know at [email protected].

3 days until spring!!!!!

IG

Silver Sands Ice Out page is up
 

The Silver Sands Marina Ice Out page is up and running. I'm sure there many of you who like to frequent their view as well. IG's page is the best though!!
Seems like wishful thinking with so much snow on top.

http://www.nhboat.com/Features/daily_update_07.htm

Blue Thunder

We found everything to be quite firm today in our travels with no real places of concern for snowmobilers. My travel route/findings can be found in the "safe ice?" thread. You missed a great day!

Guess
 

Did I miss something or is there no ICE OUT contest this year?

You Missed It
 

Guesses had to be in by the end of February - The webmaster announced it on 1 February.
See http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...hlight=contest

Did you check the front page of the site or search the Forum for "Ice-Out Contest"? :rolleye1:

Forgot
 

I forgot about the front page. I'll starting look there. The search did not like me because I forgot the '-'.
Guess I'll hve to start a returning north contest. :coolsm:

Black Cat Shoals just opened up
 

The ice around Black Cat Shoals (south tip of Black Cat Is.) just opened up this morning and widened through the day. This has usually been a sign that iceout is between 2 and 3 weeks away, depending on weather.

Today's high was 50 with a low of 37. Yesterday we were up to 55. The warm weather has eaten all the snow on top of the ice... leaving puddles... and although it is still strong enough for sleds (there were a few today) it is rapidly weakening. Today the south-facing shoreline opened up a couple feet from shore... except near dock bubblers where it has opened up a good 20-30 feet from shore.

CLA

Alton Bay starting to de-ice
 

Took these 2 pictures today. It's starting !

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...hp?photo=11043

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...hp?photo=11042

Way wrong
 

When I made my ice out guess, I was depending on a cold March. And April. I figured, it was so warm in December and the first half of January, that it HAD to be cold in March and part of April, right?
Oh well, there is always next year.

I know there must people on other lakes here...
 

Hi All,

If anyone passes by Mirror Lake on Rt. 109, would you post iceout progress for me?

Much appreciated.

What was your guess? Just because the end of Alton Bay has opened up doesn't mean we're gonna see it declared in the next two weeks. Remember -- people were still reporting 18-20 inches within the past week. That kind of ice takes a while to go away. I'm still sticking with my April 20, although last week that date looked a tad early to me, given the thickness.

Still thick from Black Cat to the Broads
 

Although warm weather has started the melting of the ice away from rocks, south-facing shorelines, and other objects that collect the sun's heat, the middle of the ice pack is still quite thick.

During the past two days there were numerous sleds passing on the Center Harbor to Steamboat Island route all day long. On Saturday 3 large ATVs (traveling close to each other) drove along the same route, even approaching the edge of the ice near shore by about 15 feet. Random weak spots are making it risky to be out there, but in general the ice isn't about to go out anytime soon unless we get an extended stretch of incredibly warm weather.

I went super late, with an April 29 date. You have given me new hope! :D

Hold that thought...it's supposed to approach 80 down here today (that should erase what's left of the snow). A few days like that up in NH, and that ice could go away really fast. Who knows. The visual appearance of the ice (via cams) has changed dramatically in a short time. I'm still going long.

As of 03/18 there was about 8"-10" of solid black ice with another 12"-14" of ice in various states in the general area of the Weirs cam which was one of the last areas to freeze over. I imagine ice out will be a bit longer.

The small ponds and lakes here in central MA are just starting to go. Lakes Region is usually a few weeks later. So those with guesses near the norm (mid-April) look to be good.

Ice Out, which ice out?
 

Last year I tried to make the trip from Harilla to Cow by boat on March 31 just because I never had done it that early. Unfortunately, I was stopped by ice just north of Ragged. Undaunted, I was able to do the trip on April 1. I believe official ice out was April 4.
So far this year I have skied out once and found a Kayak and dock box missing :( probably a result of high winds.
This spring my primary aim is to repair, replace and open up camp. I expect to do that by April 11 and shortly after be able to ride the Mount!

Today's cams show a lot of dark ice
 

Are we being fooled by the apparent dark color of the ice because it was thick clear black ice at the beginning?? You ice out experts should know!!

BT

Cracks are showing in the ice
 

:)
Hi All,
I have just posted a photo to the gallery that was taken this morning from high up on the Gunstock side of Rattlesnake. When Don has approved it, you can see very visible cracking. The ice is still much thicker than one would think. These winds are causing visible surging of water around all the holes that have opened near shore. There are a couple of larger openings visible today about 200-300 yards offshore from the north side of Rattlesnake. It's coming.... slow but sure.
DBA

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...r_28_033_m.JPG

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...r_28_032_m.JPG

I'm So Missing Our Island!!!
 

Thanks for the great pictures DBA! I’ve been walking around today with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. Ice-out isn’t far away. Wahooooooo! :banana:

I know I always get over anxious and this process always takes longer than I hope. But I'm noticing some signicant changes today.

• Broadview cam view - first major cracks in ice sheet around shorleine and dock
• Pine Island South Cam - ice in foreground disappeared during the course of today.
• Fairhaven Cam - Looks like ice in lagoon may be gone by morning.
• Channel Cam - sheet of ice on right side mostly gone today
• Alton Live Cam - dock areas completely clear, first signs of openings in the ice on right toward river

Thanks to all who support these cameras. It's fun to watch each year and the process never gets old!

Canobie Lake in Salem is showing some large openings in the middle and lots of cracking so Winni will not be far behind.:D The wind today is very strong and will help speed things up with movement of the ice. Think Ice Out! Think Ice Out! I am like RG today with "can't wait".:eek:

Lots of opening S of Black Cat
 

As evidenced in the WeatherCam's time lapse (www.blackcatnh.com) over the past several days, the holes around Black Cat Shoals are widening more each day and the ice near shore has also opened up a lot.

There are cracks and a few holes starting to appear (small, but present) in the middle but the pack has been doing a very good job fighting the influence of the strong winds we've had the last 48 hours. Only last weekend there were sleds and ATVs on it, and the temperatures haven't been incredibly warm this week.

Yesterday winds peaked at 45 mph and frequent gusts to the high-30s continued through this morning. Time lapse shows the ice bobbing up and down a little but so far it's holding its own. Typically Black Cat Ledge's opening widens to the shores of Black Cat and sometimes over to Three-Mile, after which any West wind can grab the edge and start ripping.

The 6-14 day outlooks from the NWS show us in a below-normal temp trend through the period... so I doubt there'll be much 80-degree weather to speed the iceout process up.

Those with shoreline structures... just keep watching the wind. If the wind has its way, the lake will break up into thick shards of ice without the temp being able to soften it first, and we could see a recurrance of the damaging "false iceout" we had in January's high winds.

More Ice Out Pictures in the Gallery
 

Hello All,
I've posted pictures of some of today's ice condition changes. Holes are appearing in multiple areas. As much as I would like to report otherwise, Airboat Guy moved our craft out onto areas very close to the holes and there was no cracking, nor indication of breakthrough yet. So perhaps these holes are more from water movement than "melting". Stay tuned....
DBA

Ice Out page additions
 

Great pics, DBA. I wish I was there.

The ice-out page at http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm has been updated. It will now load much faster.. the live video feeds are now links.. just click on the image or link (some images are not there yet) and see Alton Bay and Wolfeboro Bay live. I cannot find the new address to the ClubCam at Corinthian Yacht Club in Wolfeboro... if anyone has it please post.

DRH's daily image from the shores of W. Alton are now much wider and on its own row. Make sure you click on the image to go to his page with all of his pics.. you can see the daily progress.

Kathy D. from Glidden Cove is sending daily pictures from the cove facing Sleeper's Island and Rattlesnake Island.. scroll down the ice-out page to see her great efforts.

The non-functioning cams have been moved to the bottom of the page for now.

This is the time of the year when progress is seen daily... let's hope all the cams stay up!!

Enjoy.
IG

Island Girl: Here is the link to the ClubCam.

WOLFEBORO CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUBCAM

It's the oddest thing. There appears to be the arm of a crane extending over the main dock with something hanging from the end of the crane?

You're right, McD. That's the crane they use for lifting boats in and out of the water. What's hanging on the cable is an "X" shaped support that the straps going under a boat's hull are attached to.

I posted yesterday that Canobie Lake in Salem had some big holes. Well today they are all gone:eek: .....No Ice to be seen from N. Policy Rd. across the lake.

Ice Thickness View
 

Hi All,
A couple more photos on the Gallery and this view of a hole off our dock. It skimmed over last night, but you can see the white lines (cracks) that show the true thickness. The rest of the ice is extremely clear and very dense. Still about 18 inches thick.
DBA

Spring Visitors
 

Just when you think spring takes forever... DBA

Ahhhh!
 

Thanks DBA, How wonderful to see this morning... they are a most welcome sight.

Thanks McD for the link to the club cam link. I had been searching the web and could not find any link to their web site.

Hey FlyGuy... I hope you have a paying job that will take you over the lake in the next week or so... we could sure use some pictures then.

IG

Any idea why the bear cams are not working on the ice out page. They work when I use the link.

Thanks for all the cameras! Being able to watch ice out is fantastic.

Hmmm
 

I will look again... I did fix them on the iceout page.. refresh your screen a couple of times.. I might have missed something.

BearCam links
 

All of the links work from the iceout page and the lakecams page. If yours do not work, refresh your page a few times. If they still do not work, clear your cache (delete temporary internet files in internet explorer.)

Here's how:

From any Internet Explorer window click on Tools, then Internet Options.. look for the Temporary Internet Files section and click on the Delete Files button. This is for Internet Explorer 6 versions.. Version 7 may be slightly different.

If you still cannot see the bearcam from these pages.. clear your dns by:

Start, run
Type cmd and press the enter key
In the window that opens type ipconfig /flushdns and press the enter key... close that window and all should be well.