sardog1
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Mark Twain said, "There are lies, there are damned lies, and then there are statistics." Somebody else whose name escapes me said, "If you put your head in the oven and your feet in the freezer, on average you'll be comfortable."
The wisdom of these sages is worth remembering when you contemplate venturing onto the ice this winter, and I mean particularly this winter. You might hear how we're close to normal for heating degree days so far, which is true. But the formation of safe ice is a different cat all together.
I'm expecting unsafe ice for several weeks into the future right now, and in some spots it may never be safe this winter. That's because of the temperature and precipitation patterns we've experienced this December. Let's use Concord, NH, as an example, 'cuz the relevant climatic records are handy.
Over the period Dec. 1 through Dec. 21 (yesterday), the lowest temperature was 2 degrees F on the 9th. The highest was 60, on the 15th, and 52 the next day. That's just a week ago. And since then, we've laid a thick blanket of insulation over the water surfaces that happened to have refrozen, slightly, just before this weekend's storm. And this week, NH may have highs in the 40s with a chance of rain that will percolate through the snow. This is not the prescription for making strong, safe ice.
Ask the locals about the safe and not so safe routes. Choose alternative routes when prudent. Think, "What if?", before attempting the crossing and have a plan ready for getting out and getting rewarmed. Bring the ice picks and the rope. In other words, don't let the averages catch up to you this winter.
The wisdom of these sages is worth remembering when you contemplate venturing onto the ice this winter, and I mean particularly this winter. You might hear how we're close to normal for heating degree days so far, which is true. But the formation of safe ice is a different cat all together.
I'm expecting unsafe ice for several weeks into the future right now, and in some spots it may never be safe this winter. That's because of the temperature and precipitation patterns we've experienced this December. Let's use Concord, NH, as an example, 'cuz the relevant climatic records are handy.
Over the period Dec. 1 through Dec. 21 (yesterday), the lowest temperature was 2 degrees F on the 9th. The highest was 60, on the 15th, and 52 the next day. That's just a week ago. And since then, we've laid a thick blanket of insulation over the water surfaces that happened to have refrozen, slightly, just before this weekend's storm. And this week, NH may have highs in the 40s with a chance of rain that will percolate through the snow. This is not the prescription for making strong, safe ice.
Ask the locals about the safe and not so safe routes. Choose alternative routes when prudent. Think, "What if?", before attempting the crossing and have a plan ready for getting out and getting rewarmed. Bring the ice picks and the rope. In other words, don't let the averages catch up to you this winter.
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