Warm, Cold, Warm

February 26th through March 3rd, 2024

Lake Lucerne
Last week was the mirror image of the week before. It started off warmer than normal. Around mid week, temperatures dropped. The -4°F low on Friday morning was particularly unwelcome. During the weekend, the area recovered and then some, back into the 50s°F.
Lake Lucerne
At the start of the week, the 33 day old bottle rocket war forts were still sorta identifiable. They were completely gone by week's end.
Lake Lucerne
The lake ice continued to push up onto the shore.
Lake Lucerne
In some spots, the push has made tiny ice caves for smaller action figures.
Lake Lucerne
Before the cold and wind came back, we flew about a mile down the west shore to see the new "fish sticks"
Lake Lucerne
The DNR claims they're better than cribs. I maintain they are not as much fun to dive on.
Lake Lucerne
Before the end of February, there was one more push for a rould of golf.
Lake Lucerne
The ice in the unmarked holes could have been overcome. The spotty snow, frozen ground, and fairway puddles not so much. February, no golf for you!
Lake Lucerne
From Wednesday to Thursday, the temperature dropped 50°F. Then the sky cleared and we lost another 10°F by Friday morning.
Lake Lucerne
The result of the warm then cold made the lake one great skating rink.
Lake Lucerne
The warm came back for the weekend. By Saturday, puddles were back on the lake.
Lake Lucerne
Nobody wanted to trek out onto the slick, soggy surface to get a lake ice thickness check, so we had a tiny campfire instead.
Lake Lucerne
With the littoral areas of Lucerne rapidly deteriorating, getting out onto the ice may not be unsoakerly possible unless we get another dreaded cold snap.
Lake Lucerne
Knott Lane is mostly snow free, but really squishy. Walking the lane is fraught with micro-soakers and mudded up shoes.
Lake Lucerne
March, "in like a lion and out like lamb" we've been told by those that like to collect and ocasionally spew a cliché. March 2024 came in like a lion with its sub-zero temperatures and strong wind, but the lion of March was short lived. The January-ness of the month lasted but two days. Huzzah! The concensus of those that have picked a date in this year's ice-out contest is for an early one. The death of Winter at the start of March speaks well of early ice-out predictors' wisdom. But, it ain't out yet. An ugly cold snap or a visit from one of the remaining Horseman of the Snowpocalypse may yet reward those for their bold, late open water picks. All will be made clear in the next several weeks.


-Nemo's packing away the ice skates and getting out the canoe.