Waukewan is ice-free; Winnipesaukee, not quite

LACONIA — Ice-out is close, but it’s not there yet.

Lake Winnipesaukee is declared to be free of ice when an overflight shows that the Mount Washington cruise ship has clear water to make it to its five ports: Weirs Beach, Wolfeboro, Meredith, Alton Bay and Center Harbor.

Dave Emerson, president of Emerson Aviation, declared “ice-in” on Jan. 4, one of the earliest freezes in years.

This week is the most common time for ice-out to be declared. It could happen tomorrow, he said.

Emerson said that yesterday there was still ice on the north side of Rattlesnake Island, in the Broads, in Weirs Bay and in Meredith Bay.

“Most of the ice is between Rattlesnake Island and Cow Island and all the way over to east Alton,” Emerson said.

Rain is in the forecast for today and tomorrow, so that should speed up the thaw.

“The rain is going to be around 50 degrees and that will really melt what’s exposed to the top of the water,” he said.

Wind also helps the process along.

“When the wind comes up, it’s like stirring a drink with ice cubes in it,” he said. “The moving water will melt the ice faster.”