Was it so long ago? Ice out on March 23rd!

IslandRadio · 03-23-2014, 12:04 PM

Ah yes, it is just a fading memory - ice out on March 23rd (that's today for those reading this note on the 23rd!) back in 2012 - a scant 2 years ago.

Of course in 2010 it was on March 24th... and that was a really nice summer as I recall.

Reminiscing about the times before all of this warming set in

(Sorrry, I couldn't resist!).

Had an odd dream last night about walking on the ice - floating blocks that were about a foot thick and maybe 3 feet square. Weird dream for sure!

LadyoftheLake · 03-23-2014, 12:30 PM

I really hate to even think about how late Ice Out could be this year. This has been the longest coldest winter without any warm days in my memory.

There weren't many March guesses, so that shows that we are doing our research. This entire month of March is what is pushing out the Ice Out date. Any guesses before April 20 is greatly reduced because of our March weather. The ice is still covered with snow and the sun is not able to get to the ice.

My guess this year was May 3, but I think that could be too early. If I had to guess today I would guess May 13, just to see if that old May 12 date will be broken. I sincerely hope that this is not going to be a cooler than normal summer.

Happy Boating whenever it starts !

jeffk · 03-23-2014, 01:06 PM

What I have observed is that WHEN it starts to thaw is not so important as the conditions. A week of warm weather, heavy rain, lots of wind can break the ice down surprisingly fast. We have had a cold March. If we got rebound temps at the beginning of April, say daytime temps 50 to 60 degrees and no freezing at night, things could turn around amazingly fast. 1991 had a record string of days: Starting on April 5th - 67, 69, 71, 80, 76, 71. In 1976: Starting on April 17th - 78, 87, 88, 91, 77. Imagine what effect that would have. Once holes start to open, wind and rain can rip up the ice fast.

So, ice out? Who knows. Typical ice out is around April 20th, I believe. That's 4 weeks out. A lot can happen by then.

Legionnaire70 · 03-23-2014, 02:12 PM

Just pulled my shack off of Alton Bay today, yesterday when I drilled holes the ice was still 27" thick.. Ice out? Well... It will be a while!!

jetlag100 · 03-23-2014, 03:05 PM

It really doesn't matter to me. The weather will change and the ice will melt. We will all enjoy our summer, and, life will carry on. The lake is beautiful to me all times of the year, and whenshe wakes up, she wakes up..(the anticipation is killing me and my boat is behind a 6 foot snow bank

Lakesrider · 03-24-2014, 10:43 AM

They are saying there will be a drop of 46 millibars to under 950 millibars just off the coast on Tuesday and into Wednesday. They usually think a 24 Millibar drop ( called a bomb) is big. The "Perfect Storm" was at around 924 millibars.
Near hurricane force winds are expected just off shore. Not a good day to be out fishing I guess. Can't wait to see it's track or if we get much snow out of this one.....

VitaBene · 03-24-2014, 11:38 AM

I remember riding my motorcycle to the Lobster Pound that weekend 2 years ago- hard to believe today!!

meredith weekender · 03-26-2014, 09:25 AM

Even with these cold temperatures, the ice is melting. Our dock camera has shown some great progress over the last week.

Merrymeeting · 03-26-2014, 09:46 AM

I was amazed to see rivers of water running down our private road on Monday afternoon, despite the thermometer stating 15 degrees at the time.

The rays of the sun are very strong.

pontoonbarge · 03-26-2014, 08:41 PM

Maybe the US Coast Guard will lend us an ice breaker. That'd be fun!

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg9/icebreake...icebreaker.pdf

03-23-2014, 12:04 PM	#1
IslandRadio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mirror Lake - Full time resident Posts: 398 Thanks: 70 Thanked 156 Times in 61 Posts	Was it so long ago? Ice out on March 23rd! Ah yes, it is just a fading memory - ice out on March 23rd (that's today for those reading this note on the 23rd!) back in 2012 - a scant 2 years ago. Of course in 2010 it was on March 24th... and that was a really nice summer as I recall. Reminiscing about the times before all of this warming set in (Sorrry, I couldn't resist!). Had an odd dream last night about walking on the ice - floating blocks that were about a foot thick and maybe 3 feet square. Weird dream for sure!

03-23-2014, 12:30 PM	#2
LadyoftheLake Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: MA and NH Posts: 18 Thanks: 31 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Look like Ice Out could challenge May 12 in 1888 I really hate to even think about how late Ice Out could be this year. This has been the longest coldest winter without any warm days in my memory. There weren't many March guesses, so that shows that we are doing our research. This entire month of March is what is pushing out the Ice Out date. Any guesses before April 20 is greatly reduced because of our March weather. The ice is still covered with snow and the sun is not able to get to the ice. My guess this year was May 3, but I think that could be too early. If I had to guess today I would guess May 13, just to see if that old May 12 date will be broken. I sincerely hope that this is not going to be a cooler than normal summer. Happy Boating whenever it starts ! __________________ There is no better place to be on a beautiful day, then on a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee

03-23-2014, 01:06 PM	#3
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,130 Thanks: 201 Thanked 421 Times in 239 Posts	What I have observed is that WHEN it starts to thaw is not so important as the conditions. A week of warm weather, heavy rain, lots of wind can break the ice down surprisingly fast. We have had a cold March. If we got rebound temps at the beginning of April, say daytime temps 50 to 60 degrees and no freezing at night, things could turn around amazingly fast. 1991 had a record string of days: Starting on April 5th - 67, 69, 71, 80, 76, 71. In 1976: Starting on April 17th - 78, 87, 88, 91, 77. Imagine what effect that would have. Once holes start to open, wind and rain can rip up the ice fast. So, ice out? Who knows. Typical ice out is around April 20th, I believe. That's 4 weeks out. A lot can happen by then.

03-23-2014, 02:12 PM	#4
Legionnaire70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 119 Thanks: 25 Thanked 31 Times in 21 Posts	Just pulled my shack off of Alton Bay today, yesterday when I drilled holes the ice was still 27" thick.. Ice out? Well... It will be a while!!

03-23-2014, 03:05 PM	#5
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	It really doesn't matter to me. The weather will change and the ice will melt. We will all enjoy our summer, and, life will carry on. The lake is beautiful to me all times of the year, and whenshe wakes up, she wakes up..(the anticipation is killing me and my boat is behind a 6 foot snow bank

The Following User Says Thank You to jetlag100 For This Useful Post:
Oregonrain (03-24-2014)

03-24-2014, 10:43 AM	#6
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	They are saying there will be a drop of 46 millibars to under 950 millibars just off the coast on Tuesday and into Wednesday. They usually think a 24 Millibar drop ( called a bomb) is big. The "Perfect Storm" was at around 924 millibars. Near hurricane force winds are expected just off shore. Not a good day to be out fishing I guess. Can't wait to see it's track or if we get much snow out of this one.....

03-24-2014, 11:38 AM	#7
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,570 Thanked 1,601 Times in 821 Posts	I remember riding my motorcycle to the Lobster Pound that weekend 2 years ago- hard to believe today!!

03-26-2014, 09:25 AM	#8
meredith weekender Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Meredith / Manchester Posts: 373 Thanks: 87 Thanked 83 Times in 56 Posts	Even with these cold temperatures, the ice is melting. Our dock camera has shown some great progress over the last week.

03-26-2014, 09:46 AM	#9
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	I was amazed to see rivers of water running down our private road on Monday afternoon, despite the thermometer stating 15 degrees at the time. The rays of the sun are very strong.

03-26-2014, 08:41 PM	#10
pontoonbarge Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Windham, NH Posts: 42 Thanks: 86 Thanked 18 Times in 9 Posts	Maybe the US Coast Guard will lend us an ice breaker. That'd be fun! http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg9/icebreake...icebreaker.pdf