My grandkids were skating on Ball Pond at the boat launch end. It is shallow at less than five feet out for a couple of hundred yards to where the pond gets wider so it freezes first and is safe now. The rest of the pond is controlled by springs so I would not trust the center of the pond. The outlet cove might be safe along the shore out to about fifty yards from shore. I don't like to be the first one on the ice though so be careful.

Lady almost died, fell in on Bolton Lake this week. She was really lucky. Be careful out there- Warm stretch coming too.

Here we go!

Thanks for the report.

Long range Hartford, CT forecast.

I hope this forecast holds true. I would love to camp out on Gardner, and with those numbers, it could be a posibility.

Drove by Lake Williams in Lebanon today. Still open water in places due to the wind. I'm sure some ponds are safe but be careful on larger bodies of water!

I posted a while ago about first ice at Gardner, cannot locate that post, but basically water is at its densest at 34 degrees, below that it becomes less dense. So as lakes cool down the water turns over as denser water sinks until the entire lake cools to 34 degrees. After that the water below 34 degrees collects at the surface as ice forms at 32 degrees. But all bets are off when a strong cold wind is blowing. The wind and resultant waves mix water colder than 34 degrees deeper and the lake super cools below 34. As soon as the wind dies down ice will very rapidly form until temperatures are again in balance. Wind is a good thing on open water because you will end up with more ice at the same air temperatures than would be produced with quiet air.

Well over 50 years ago, Gardner Lake was open. An arctic blast came Thursday temperatures in the teens and around zero Thursday and Friday night. Winds were high, white caps on the lake. Friday evening the lake was still open but the wind finally died down. My brother and I took a chance and showed up Saturday morning and found the lake frozen over. Checking the ice, 8" had formed overnight as the super cooled water came back into balance. The ice was absolute glass with no cracks or bubbles all the way out to the island. We had the lake to ourselves until afternoon.

Looking at the forecast, I expect good ice throughout Connecticut this weekend and for certain next week.

Interesting stuff as always CITH !

I stand corrected, memory getting dim on detail issues. This makes sense as the thermal mass of water could not have formed 8" on Gardner overnight if the difference was only two degrees instead of 7 degrees.

I cautionary note, if you will be venturing onto flash frozen ice you will not be able to tell how thick the ice is and beware of spring water spots where the ice will be thinner. That day on Gardner lake the 8" ice was completely invisible. With full sunshine the experience was surreal. We were walking on glass, water absolutely clear, every detail on the bottom clear as we walked over deeper water. We chopped at the ice with a spud every 25 feet or so to confirm the ice was safe on the way out.

How about Bantam lake?

Can anyone report here what Highland looks like ? locked up..open..etc.

Took a ride this morning..

DO NOT go by this report. ALWAYS use your chisel and check for yourself..

Bantam along 209 had 4-5 inches solid, clear ice.. Both sides off Pt. Folly had 4-5 inches of solid, clear ice.

Tyler... 6 plus inches off the ramp.

My buddy who lives in Danbury texted me that CW is skimmed over, he didn't check the ice for thickness.

A friend who lives on Ball Pond just sent me this pic. (skaters are on the ice).

Moodus about 6 inches today. edges fine to right of launch.


On the way home went by Messerschmidt pond in Guilford, and there were people ice fishing.

you're right, Westbrook. They even have a public boat launch now. https://portal.ct.gov/deep/boating/boat-launches/messerschmidt-pond-boat-launch