If you are wondering what the ice conditions are on Lake Winnebago, Andy Gratton sends the not so good news. Someone told me last week that Winnebago looked like “Armageddon ice” and it’s easy to see why. But, as we know, ice is always changing so maybe Winnebago will come in for some good spring sailing.
Via Andy Gratton: This area was about 10 acres of 2′ to 3′ tall chunks like this. There are many areas on Winnebago that look like this. I would call ice in this photo a zero, maybe even a negative number. It’s a rough ride even when the chunks are only 4″ tall.
Via IRIYRA Secretary Ron Rosten, the 2018 Renegade Championship regatta has been postponed. Please check back on Sunday, January 14 for the next update.
Like Charlie Brown waiting for the Great Pumpkin, iceboaters wait for the Great Zamboni, a rainy weather system that makes the snow disappear off the ice followed by cold that freezes the track. Keep your eyes on Thursday’s weather system because there’s a possibility that Wisconsin could have an abundance of sailable ice.
Where are they sailing this weekend? Green Lake, WI, Lake St. Clair near Detroit, Michigan, and Ashumet Pond in Mashpee, MA on Cape Cod
From NOAA’s Forecast Discussion: for southern Wisconsin:
The models do show low pressure sliding northeast across Wisconsin
either later Wednesday night or Thursday. The GFS is quicker and
further south with the low track than the ECMWF. Both models do
bring the warm sector into at least southeast Wisconsin during
this period. Thus, it looks like good chances for mainly rain later Wednesday night into Thursday morning, before cold air advection brings a transition to light snow southeast across the area Thursday afternoon into the evening.
This may change, depending on where the low tracks, and would
affect the precipitation types as well. This may have some impact
on travel in northern and western Wisconsin, and perhaps here if
the low track shifts to the south. Cold air advection behind the
low would then bring colder temperatures back into the region for
Friday into Saturday.
From the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections: “Lake Mendota ice rink” Photographer: Meuer, William Date: 1919-02 ,
While we wait for the Great Zamboni and for the big Wisconsin lakes of Green and Geneva to come online, enjoy these images Peter Fauerbach found in the University of Wisconsin Digital Collection.
The forecast looks encouraging for iceboating in Wisconsin.
Jack Ripp’s MISS FORTUNE on Lake Monona,, January 18, 1952.
A man identified as “Grede” lays in an iceboat on Lake Mendota. 1916-02-26
Madison-style stern-steerer on Lake Mendota in 1895
The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club has been sailing Madison’s lakes since the 1860s.
