Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Edge of the Ice

The cold keeps on keeping on in these parts. A few reports, below.
  • As of Sunday, it was our 16th day in February of -20C or lower. The average is closer to 4 days.
  • Tue at 6 am. -24C. SSE 10km/h. W/c -32. Turning windy (S 20-40), cloudy w/ 30% chance of a flurry. High -10. Snow starts 8pm. 2-3cm. Low -12.
  • We just set a record for cold in Ottawa. The previous record was -20.9C in 1989. 

However, Sunday went up to a balmy -4C, so with cabin fever running wild, I went out to snap a few. I headed to the park to get some photos of the ice, specifically the edge of it. Past the bridge, the river is a lake, so it freezes over very well: so well that all sorts of vehicles can be driven onto it for ice fishing.

But as it narrows and increases in velocity, there comes a point where it no longer freezes over. This point seems to me to extend a little further this year than most but probably not too much. You can see the edge in the first three photos.




However, there is more floe ice further downstream this year. In this photo, you can see a semi continuous cover about midway into the picture and also a pretty wide extent of ice extending from the bank in the foreground.


Here's a shot directly across the river where the amount of open water is quite narrow.


Shortly after this there are rapids and falls, and the ice disappears. Here, I repost several recent photos to show how different the river becomes in the heart of the town.



Beyond this there will be alternate ice and open water depending as the velocity slows or increases. I should go out and take some more pictures, but on my earlier walk I discovered that it was darn nippy out, so I will refrain.


14 comments:

Tabor said...

Stay safe and off the ice!

TexWisGirl said...

brrr. 4 times the # of days 'normally' that cold. yuck!

Country Gal said...

Lovely photos ! It has been brutally cold here for over a week and a half our temps have been -25C to -35C and lower with the wind chills -40C Now one has to realize that the weather network and channel is based mainly on where it is in the main cities and cities are warmer then the country side with it's open areas and valleys , the cities have the concrete and brick buildings and pavement to trap any warmth from the land or sun in the cities there for they are a tad warmer . Thanks for sharing , come on spring . Have a good day and stay cozy !

Linda Kay said...

AC your photos are great today on the blog, and thanks for the ice info! I love the shot of the underpass.

Wendy said...

Do you live in Ottawa? Ha - I was there on Sunday - the "warm" day of minus 4. Visiting my son and his family (Orleans). It was a beautiful day!

Nice shots of the river/lake. What is it about water, whether frozen or not that draws one to take pics?

Just don't walk on it - I did one year and fell through (posted about it a while ago).

Warmer days ahead. :-)

Unknown said...

You have such a good eye. I especially like the photo taken in town, but then I am a townie.

ADRIAN said...

I'm glad you got out. These look interesting.

Shammickite said...

I love looking at the frozen lakes but I am very reluctant to walk on the ice. I prefer to look from the warmth and safety of my car. I went out to the ice fishing huts on Lake Simcoe one winter and I was terrified the whole time about the ice cracking.

Donna said...

Cool photos but extremely cold looking!
It's snowing HERE now...
hughugs

EG CameraGirl said...

It's beautiful now but I 'm wondering what will happen if it melts all at once! Yes, Sunday was a balmy day, wasn't it?

Hilary said...

It sure has been miserably cold. But you've got me thinking about walking on the lake here. I took a long walk with my younger son, late last winter and now my older son will be up next week. I think it's time to take that stroll with him.. if it in the minus single digits. It gets pretty windy in some parts of this lake.

Enjoying your photos and admiring your determination to get out there despite the cold.

troutbirder said...

I've always bee scared to drive on river ice. You never know....

Mara said...

Only ice fishing then on the safe parts? No skating??

Here in my little corner of the world it is raining, very windy (some call it a little storm) and generally quite unpleasant. Mind you, it saves on the heating bill!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Despite the cold and snow here in New England we have been getting out for walks, but mostly to downtown Nashua and without a camera, except the one in my cell phone. Therefore, ai was thankfuk ro see your shots, AC and glad you had a good weather day.