Around Loon Lake April 10, 2014 - The Thaw Arrives

The much anticipated thaw has arrived at Loon Lake. Southward facing slopes have lost most of their snow and there are many birds returning from the South - we saw the Kingfisher two days ago and there are numerous Robins in the bush. 

Highways in the area are good with bumpy sections and the roads on each side of Loon Lake are good. The Loon Lake road is clear of snowpack as far as the winter turn-around; beyond that point there is considerable snow. The Gregory Lane is clear from the highway to the end of Moccasin Trail. 

Small streams are starting to run. Snow in the bush is about 15" deep. The ice is just starting to move away from the shore along some south facing shorelines. The lake is very slushy and while I do not know the ice thickness, I was told yesterday that the ice thickness on Miskwabi Lake this past weekend was three feet thick! 

The water level in Loon Lake is visibly rising and there is flow in the Burnt River.

Moderate temperatures with considerable rain forecast for the weekend prompted the issuance of a flood watch in the Kawarthas, just South of our area.

The temperatures and precipitation forecast for this weekend have not caused any warnings to be issued as of this posting.