What a Difference Cold Weather Makes
Christmas Day on Squam Lake, New Hampshire. Photo by Randy rice
We have had a great start to the 2014 ice season. Comparing average November+December temperatures for this and last year in the East and Mid-western parts of the ice belt, we are averaging about 6 degrees colder this year and more like 8 degrees for December only.
Graphs and data from Weatherunderground.com
The December temperature history for Burlington (VT) is typical of what occurred across the ice belt. Days with temps over 45 degrees are hard on new ice. We had five in December last year and one this year.
So far, November and December have had 60% fewer bad ice accidents than we had in the same two months last year. There is no doubt in my mind that much of that improvement is related to colder temperatures and a lot less ice being weakened by warm spells.
Bob