Ice-Out 2010 Declared

[CanisLupusArctos]

I believe it was the lack of snow, as well as the ice color, and well-timed strong winds that contributed to the early iceout this year. The ice froze right on average timing, and it got thick enough for human activity a lot earlier than it has in recent years. It supported the weight of trucks out in places where trucks can't go during the years when the ice stays thin all winter.

However, there was no snow after January. We got 50 inches of snow (for the season) at Black Cat, and a fair amount more outside the "shadow" of the Ossipees that occurs when we get snow driven by northeast winds.

The dry weather was due largely to storm track. Most of the storms were tracking south of here. The cold air DID make it incredibly far south this winter (ask anyone in Florida or the Gulf Coast states, most of which got accumulating snow this winter.) Once again, the cold air was on a trajectory that missed New England.

The lake has a short season of ice growth -- the shortest days/longest nights of the year are about it. Once that sun starts getting higher in the sky around mid-February, the lake needs snow on top of it to take the beating from the sun. We didn't get that, this year.

However, we can't say there was no snow in New England. In late February, the dry spell ended. Rainstorms occurred at the lake's elevation, but notice that the local mountain ranges are STILL white. It turned out to be a fantastic snow year for elevations above 1500 feet.

Black ice is usually pretty strong ice, indicating solid, clear (not flaky) ice. It's great in midwinter. Without a reflective white fluffy coat of snow on top of it, the black ice becomes its own worst enemy come spring.

Finally, this year at the end of February when the other forces had already weakened the ice a bit, we had those rain storms with wind. The late February storm brought wind gusts to 60 mph. The storm of the 13th to the 15th of this month brought 3 days of 40+ mph wind, peaking out at 56 mph. Both wind events did a number on the ice.

Thus, we have a rare start to the boating season upon us: The ice is out while we still have plenty of reminders of winter still visible. This year it will actually be possible to cruise around and observe snow-covered mountains and perhaps even go boating in the snow, because it's not too unusual for us to get snow showers here and there, in late March and early April.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by CanisLupusArctos

I believe it was the lack of snow, as well as the ice color, and well-timed strong winds that contributed to the early iceout this year. The ice froze right on average timing, and it got thick enough for human activity a lot earlier than it has in recent years. It supported the weight of trucks out in places where trucks can't go during the years when the ice stays thin all winter.

However, there was no snow after January. We got 50 inches of snow (for the season) at Black Cat, and a fair amount more outside the "shadow" of the Ossipees that occurs when we get snow driven by northeast winds.

The dry weather was due largely to storm track. Most of the storms were tracking south of here. The cold air DID make it incredibly far south this winter (ask anyone in Florida or the Gulf Coast states, most of which got accumulating snow this winter.) Once again, the cold air was on a trajectory that missed New England.

The lake has a short season of ice growth -- the shortest days/longest nights of the year are about it. Once that sun starts getting higher in the sky around mid-February, the lake needs snow on top of it to take the beating from the sun. We didn't get that, this year.

However, we can't say there was no snow in New England. In late February, the dry spell ended. Rainstorms occurred at the lake's elevation, but notice that the local mountain ranges are STILL white. It turned out to be a fantastic snow year for elevations above 1500 feet.

Black ice is usually pretty strong ice, indicating solid, clear (not flaky) ice. It's great in midwinter. Without a reflective white fluffy coat of snow on top of it, the black ice becomes its own worst enemy come spring.

Finally, this year at the end of February when the other forces had already weakened the ice a bit, we had those rain storms with wind. The late February storm brought wind gusts to 60 mph. The storm of the 13th to the 15th of this month brought 3 days of 40+ mph wind, peaking out at 56 mph. Both wind events did a number on the ice.

Thus, we have a rare start to the boating season upon us: The ice is out while we still have plenty of reminders of winter still visible. This year it will actually be possible to cruise around and observe snow-covered mountains and perhaps even go boating in the snow, because it's not too unusual for us to get snow showers here and there, in late March and early April.

At it's very best! Thanks to Our very own Cat'LA!!!!
Carrying on in our beloved Don Kent's Lakes Region footsteps.
God Bless and Best Wishes...

Terry
______________________________

[Kings Bluff]

Still cannot get my boat into the harbor.

[StephenB]

I agree. Canis, that's really a great summation of the ice, ice-out sequence this year.

[DailyWolfeboro]

Picture I took this morning in Winter Harbor. (blog post here)

[Sman]

Great perspective, hope you didn't fall in taking that one

[Formula]

Now that the ice is gone what should we expect for early lake levels. If you look at the chart, this year is the soonest with the highest lake levels. With the mountain snows not yet melted I would assume that we might see some early record high levels.

[CanisLupusArctos]

Originally Posted by Formula

Now that the ice is gone what should we expect for early lake levels. If you look at the chart, this year is the soonest with the highest lake levels. With the mountain snows not yet melted I would assume that we might see some early record high levels.

I agree with this. I agreed with it, even before the ice went out. The lake level is spiking and there are signs now that we will see yet more heavy rain early next week. I will start a "Flood potential" thread in the weather section that we can use throughout the spring.