Candled ic

Another cold gloomy morning,boathouse roof is white with snow. I was on East side of the day market a couple posts back, yesterday at 14:00 I picked up this piece of ice 200 yards to West same marker and by 17:00 all that ice gone! We are ice free between French Narrows and SE tip of Queer island, the Elbow is also clear ice, report there is open water on South side Hay Island West of Eagles Pass. Saw picture of a boat in Holstrom marsh., Flag is barely moving this morning, high +3 , cloudy only 14 km wind  so not best forecast for melting ice.

Couple additions

 I forgot to mention Laurenson Lake is open as well Malachi, they both open around same time , when this happens we are anywhere from 2 to 8 days behind them. Loons have been back for couple weeks, yesterday say first Robin and Pelican, Sunday I killed couple skitters. Friends in Bigstone said open water in front their place, ice pushed up onto Hay Island., I’ll be out in boat later today when we warm up to our forecast high plus 2, the snow I mentioned in previous post well gravel paths white !

Big changes due to wind

 

At 17:00 Monday I couldn’t get more than couple hundred yards from our dock, ice was candled and 6” thick. An hour later strong South winds had large chunks ice drifting past our dock, also 1/8” rain. Then during night the strong gusty North West wind picked up and by morning we were ice free to North..This picture is the day marker at Bald Island, from here I travelled North into Andrew Bay open water almost all way to Queer Island, the wind blew most night but has let up this morning, it’s currently-2c and snowing 

The crack to East Allie

 The crack I use as a guide appeared at 16:00 May 01, this is the 3 rd latest date in 20 years.With minus temperatures at night we are still making ice in mornings. Our water intake is 10-15’ deep yesterday water temperature was +4c , still leaning towards May15-16. I lowered a boat yesterday and have her running ready to see how far I can get once the Narrows clear , approximately one week ? The water bomber was out flying around yesterday but not enough open water around Barrier Island to fill tank. About 10 years ago we had early spring and lots open water, bomber would pick up a load in The Elbow and his circuit brought him over our way and they were dumping tank on target South side East Allie, our own private air show. Actually worried we will have a fire ban if we don’t get some rain our island very dry.

On April 30 th In 2014 I could canoe across to East Allie without touching ice and lake was open May 19.

Today on April 30 There is still a little ice it looks honeycomb and with some wind should disappear in couple days. On morning of 28 th we made 1/4” ice on open water, tonight is colder at -5 so expect 3/8”ice to form ? On 26 th I went to Barepoint by ice boat and Strawberry was froze over , on 28 th she opened up approximately 150’ wide. There were a few small puddles of open water 5-6’ diameter on East side of Queer otherwise solid ice. The long range forecast has minus temperatures up till May 06 and warmest daytime is only 13,  lake level has risen close to 2” since opening around our dock. Normal height for this time of year but we have had very little precipitation. Hopefully make Barepoint by May 15-16 th ?
 

 

Ice

 This is the channel I spoke about, when a crack develops that I can canoe across without touching ice it averages 14 days to Barepoint.