More Wintery

December 16th through 22nd, 2024

Lake Lucerne
Last week started off warm-ish. There was peeking grass, fog, and snow melt puddles that dominated the lakescape. That would change.
Lake Lucerne
The temperature dropped. The snow started on Wednesday.
Lake Lucerne
Forecasters told hysterical tales of white doom as the major chunk of storm approached. After the weather passed, the bar's deck told a different, more subdued story.
Lake Lucerne
The bar's wild turkeys didn't seem to care.
Lake Lucerne
We took "advantage" of the weather to drive a loaner car to Council Bluffs to pick up Mrs. Nemo's repaired KIA. The storm hit Minnesota harder. The interstate's condition around Minneapolis added an hour to a 9.5 hour trip.
Lake Lucerne
By Friday, the interstates were cleaned up. Potawatomi Trail not so much.
Lake Lucerne
West Shore Drive was pretty bad, too.
Lake Lucerne
Knott Lane was the most un-cleaned of all.
Lake Lucerne
By Sunday, the only task left was to check the ice thickness on the north end.
Lake Lucerne
The ice is unusually clear this year.
Lake Lucerne
The ice is just shy of 5 inches thick. We have reports of thicker ice, up to 9 inches, on the south end.
Lake Lucerne
The water is still crystal clear, cold.
Lake Lucerne
The cold dropped into the sub-zero (°F) range by the weekend. Sub-zero cold is not welcome in December, but it's not uncommon. We'd like thicker ice for the 34th Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War, and this sub-zero stint should make that happen. When the top inch or two of snow is removed from Lucerne, you can see down over ten feet. It's weird standing on a solid, clear surface above the lake bottom. A little creepy, too. The ice seems thick enough for snow-machines, but none have been spotted nor heard yet.


-Nemo vows no involuntary swimming this winter.