The traditional declaration of ice out on Lake Winnipesaukee came around the usual time in 2015, even after an unusually cold and snowy winter.
Dave Emerson is owner and president of Emerson Aviation in Laconia. He declared ice out on Friday, which he says it typical even given the many winter storms that moved through New Hampshire.
“I commented in the middle of February that I’d never seen so much snow on the ice as I have this year,” Emerson said. “I think that played a role in insulating the ice, so it didn’t get as thick as it normally does. Like last year, I was hearing some 40 inches or ice. This year it was only between about 30 and 36 inches.”
The ice out declaration means the lake ice has melted enough to allow the MS Mount Washington to travel to any of its five ports.