When Will The Ice Go Out? Post Your Guess!


As of March 1, 2004, the snowmobile trails are closed, with mud in the fields and Spring in the air. Now's the time to post your best guess as to when the ice will melt from Johnson Lake.


Will it be April First? Maybe a bit earlier or later? Post your guess in the comment section below this story for fun -- and maybe for a prize if we can come up with one.

In some years, the change has been quick and dramatic. In 2001, the lake went from mostly ice-covered to open water in just a matter of hours on a warm, sunny weekend. I remember that year for being first at putting in the dock for the season and for kayaking around the edge of the ice before it disappeared. This shot was taken on April 14th. The sun melted the ice nearest the shore first -- probably because the sand absorbs lots of heat.





Photo by Jon Okerstrom


What are the factors? The amount of snow and depth of the ice formed during the winter of course. Also, strong winds from the south can churn small areas of open water into larger ones and send what's left of the ice crashing onto the beach. Heavy rains can melt ice with amazing speed. I know -- my local lake in East-central Iowa is already open as of this weekend, March 6-7, 2004.

So, post your guess. I'll post one too. One thing though. We'll ask the winner to predict the weather for the major summer holidays. And we hope they forecast warm sunshine!

Posted: Sun - March 7, 2004 at 09:10 PM      

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