A Spring Lacking In Warmth

April 27th through May 3rd, 2026

Lake Lucerne
It started with clouds. Then rain. There were no picnics on Monday.
Lake Lucerne
By Tuesday, most of the clouds and all of the rain moved on.
Lake Lucerne
Monday's rain event pushed the lake up by 0.3 inches.
Lake Lucerne
The rain also dropped the fire danger to Low. This created an unconditional ethical obligation to have campfires around the lake despite the wetness of the wood.
Lake Lucerne
Sunsets after the rain had their charm, but we've seen better.
Lake Lucerne
Nights after the rain were very well lit thanks in no small part to a moon that fulled on Friday.
Lake Lucerne
There was some rain later in the week. Accumulations for these later events were near zero.
Lake Lucerne
There was a touch of winter close to the weekend. Lucerne was cursed with a few flurries during the day, but a low temperature of 23°F one morning was particularly unwelcome.
Lake Lucerne
Last week's cold didn't seem to bother Metonga's two newest peeps. FYI: Metonga's eagle-cam link on the front page currently works even if it says it doesn't.
Lake Lucerne
Last year, two geese (and later their larvae) infested the north end of the lake. We are starting this year off with 5 pair. Watch your step.
Lake Lucerne
By Sunday, it warmed up enough for comfortable golf if you didn't mind an occasional rumble of thunder.
Lake Lucerne
There were also some mid-round sprinkles.
Lake Lucerne
All the rain and melt this spring has pushed water hazards well into the surrounding rough.
Lake Lucerne
The hazard on seven was occasionally pushed up a bit further by muskrat induced water displacement.
Lake Lucerne
Late in the week, it became apparent that more and more trees are starting to get their leaf on.
Lake Lucerne
A small group of fishermen was spotted cleaning their hooks after Saturday's opening of fishing season.
Lake Lucerne
With trees leafing, the opening of fishing season, and several piers planted along the shoreline, the northwoods are getting an early summer-like feel. After putting a hand or foot into the lake, that feel quickly recedes. The water temperature jumped from the mid-40s°F to 51°F on Sunday evening. Dipping a toe into a mid-40s°F Lucerne and a 51°F Lucerne produces the same sort of scream. The former may be a little higher pitched, but for all practical purposes, they produre similar amounts of hilarity for those watching from the shore. We're hoping to have it warm up to 62°F by the first ski show scheduled for June 3rd. That should help keep the acts up and the screeching down.


-Nemo finds a pair of geese annoying, 5 pair an ecological disaster.