Ice Out

[windswept]

Will the infamous Ice Out contest be occuring this year!
It's about that time.

Windswept

[ken]

Was just thinking the exact same thing (and checking the lake cam to see the progress).

[webmaster]

By the time I thought about getting organized to post guesses, and arrange to put the monitor out on the ice, it was too late!

Normally I take guesses from mid-Feb to mid-March. It looks like ice out will happen in Mid March!

The water temps are climbing and are about a month ahead of normal schedule.

There's always next year...

[Ellypointster]

Looks like we have ice-out.

[webmaster]

The Lakes Region experienced record early ice-out this year. On Winnipesaukee, the earliest ice-out previously recorded was March 28th 1921. Ice-out on Winnipesaukee was declared at 2:00PM, March 24th this year, breaking the 1921 record.
We declared Ice-Out for Merrymeeting at 3:48 PM on Wednesday, March 24th.
You can follow the progress on Merrymeeting through these short videos.
Friday, March 19 - first signs of movement of the larger ice pack.
Saturday, March 20 - a beautiful, warm day! Skim ice melts off open areas, lots of movement and the ice gets noticeably darker as it becomes water-logged.
Sunday, March 21 - another unusually warm day. "Rivers" begin to open in the ice pack, but otherwise not much activity or change in the ice. Interesting cloud movement as the different elevations move in different directions at the same time.
Monday, March 22 - More pack "rocking", rain starts. Otherwise, not much change
Tuesday, March 23 - Pack has shifted and changed overnight. Rain and wind break it down more, becoming more slushy. First open water showing in distance But ice is still hanging in there
Wednesday, March 24 - Rain clears, ice recedes, and the sun comes out! We have ICE-OUT. The last traces on the camera appear to have melted from Broad Cove at 3:48 PM.