Winter II: The Wrath of March

Last week started off warm. Winter may not have been declared dead, but was clearly in a deep coma and hooked up to a vent. Talk of pier placement, golf, and an early ice-out filled the air. That wouldn't last the weekend.

In addition to the warm at the start of the week, the eagle's nest on Metonga got a small bit more egg-y.

Some celebrated the egg-yness with a good old fashioned worm hunt.

Others chose to un-chill and attack their reflection for hours until Mrs Nemo moved her car back into the ice house.

At mid-week, temperatures in the 60s°F pushed the lake closer to a breakup.

The area behind the islands opened and it was hoped that the rest of the lake would follow soon.

On Friday, the warm started to slip back into cooler, but the NCC golf course officially opened. What the course lacked in green and foursomes, it made up for with Marchy openness.

The lack of ice on the water hazards made ice-out on Lucerne seem closer.

By the weekend, the open water on the north shore of the lake was almost boat floatable.

The entire lake had taken on a more cracked, matted look.

During the weekend, the sky took on a "Change is comming and you're not gonna like it" look. There was a little rain.

The little rain turned into a little snow.

Sunday's strong wind had snow devils dancing up and down the lake.

The open water around the lake's edges has yet to refreeze, but given the weather, it's just a matter of time.

Northern Wisconsin weather in March can, and usually is, strange. Spring, the equinox one not the meteorological one, is scheduled early this year (March 19th). It's a pity that it's unlikely that ice-out on Lucerne will follow suit. To be golfing on Friday and then 48 hours later be hunkered down watching snow devils cross the lake can be unsettling. What is more disturbing is driving past an ice free Lake Wabikon and realizing that Lucerne will not be shedding its icy cocoon any time soon. The silver lining in this ice-out interruptus is, if you have not yet entered the annual ice-out contest, there are plenty of later paying dates still available. Huzzah!

-Nemo not swimming anytime soon

Winter II: The Wrath of March

March 11th through 17th, 2024