Sure is cold

[bigugli]

Looking from the top of the escarpment this morning, got to see a rare sight. After 4 days of deep cold, L Ontario is ice covered as far as the eye can see. It's only a skim coat, and the first real storm will shake it apart.

[MCTFisher9120]

Does anybody have a picture?

[BUSTER]

The lake has a natural seiche rhythm of eleven minutes. The seiche effect normally is only about ¾ inches (2 cm) but can be greatly amplified by earth movement, winds, and atmospheric pressure changes.

Because of its great depth, the entire lake rarely freezes in winter. During the winter months, the lake typically develops an ice sheet covering between 10% and 90% of the lake area depending on the severity of the winter. Ice sheets typically form along the shoreline and in slack water bays, where the lake is not as deep. During the winters of 1877 and 1878, the ice sheet coverage was up to 95–100% in most of the lake.

When the cold winds of winter pass over the warmer water of the lake, they pick up moisture and drop it as lake effect snow. Since the prevailing winter winds are from the northwest, the southern and southeastern shoreline of the lake is referred to as the snowbelt. In some winters the area between Oswego and Pulaski may receive twenty or more feet (600 cm) of snowfall. Also impacted by lake effect snow is the Tug Hill Plateau, an area of elevated land that is about 20 miles (32 km) to the east of Lake Ontario. Tug Hill's elevation, along with ample moisture from the lake, creates ideal conditions for snowfall. The "Hill", as it is often referred to, typically receives more snow than any other region in the eastern United States. As a result, Tug Hill is a popular location for winter enthusiasts, such as snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. The combination of lake-effect snow often reaches inland to Syracuse, which often takes the crown for the most winter snowfall accumulation of any large city in the United States, though other cities in the world receive more snow annually (such as Quebec City, which averages 135 inches (3,400 mm), and Sapporo, Japan, which receives 250 inches (6,400 mm) each year and is often regarded as the snowiest city in the world). Smaller towns in Michigan's Upper Peninsula like Houghton or Calumet do receive more snow.

The lake also produces microclimates, they have the effect of delaying the onset of fall frost (particularly on the south shore) allowing for tender fruit production in a continental climate. Cool onshore winds also idiot early bloom of plants and flowers until later in the spring season, protecting them from possible frost damage. Foggy conditions (particularly in fall) can be created by thermal contrasts and can be an impediment for recreational boaters.

In a normal winter, Lake Ontario will be at most one quarter ice-covered, in a mild winter almost completely unfrozen. Lake Ontario has completely frozen over on only two recorded occasions: during the winter of 1874–75, and in February 1934

[Jer]

frozen...just like my water intake from my well this morning.

 

After three hours of pouring boiling water down the line and repeatedly priming the pump, I finally have water again.

 

Every time this happens I swear I'm gonna dig that line up in the spring and bury it deeper...then it doesn't freeze for 3 or 4 years and I forget.

[Billy Bob]

NOW where are all those nut cases that believe in Global Warming.....

[mercman]

it was so cold here, my dogs were trying to walk without touching the ground.Thank God i watch them closely in this weather. Never leave them alone for more than a minute.My Pom is more affected than my Lab. Smaller feet freeze faster than big hairy paws

[DRIFTER_016]

Cold?

-17 isn't cold. It's cool. not cold.

My puppy would rather be outside at those temps he wants in at -20 or so.

Cold is what I woke up to on Friday morning.

-40.

[GBW]

Does anybody have a picture?

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=o&page=1

[camillj]

Was listing to chay (Barrie) yesterday and heard them say .. its -27 but it feels like -34 ... I was in a little fleece and quite comfortable .... I say bring it on ... it IS winter after all

 

And opening day on Lake Joe is only a few weeks away

[Billy Bob]

I have noticed over the years that the colder the winter the better the fishing once spring arrives.... :thumbsup_anim:

[bigugli]

I have noticed over the years that the colder the winter the better the fishing once spring arrives.... :thumbsup_anim:

Quite right. A colder winter has also been tied to better egg viability, spawns in perch, etc...

[DRIFTER_016]

Damn Dave! How thick is the ice on your fishing grounds now?

 

It was 3 feet two weeks ago, the last time I made it out.

[dnb_cbr]

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=o&page=1

 

they clearly ask not to link to that page, as their servers can't handle it.

[livinisfishin]

Boohoo ..I wouldn't have known about that site if it weren't for that link. Thanks for posting it!

they clearly ask not to link to that page, as their servers can't handle it.

[cuzza]

they clearly ask not to link to that page, as their servers can't handle it.

 

They ask not to hotlink the images (thereby displaying the image on this forum) which does load up their servers, a link to the page containing the images (which you then open yourself) doesn't affect anything

 

Those are some cool pictures GBW!

[irishfield]

Say what... what kind of crap server are they running... all my linked pictures are on my own website.. which is hosted on our son's own servers.

[GBW]

glad to help out guys. I will not fish Simcoe if I see any open water from those pic's.