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 !