St. John river ice has gone out!

The water has been high all month, and there was a strong west wind all yesterday and last night, and the ice just upped and left. The cable ferries are all stopped, as several have broken their cables. This mornig, I watched as the the cap of ice that regularly sits on the dock ruins in my front yard until march just broke away from shore and hiked it downstream - amazing! I wonder how many rocks it took with it this time.

It is the first time it has ever happenend in January. Nobody has ever seen it happen this early before. It has been a very mild winter this year, with little snow on the ground, several bouts of rain, and temperatures way above normal. Has anyone been surprised by the jet stream shown on the weather channel for the last weeks? It's way down south.

Is this a portent of the coming global warming? Or is it just an anomolous freak? Will I be able to launch early, or will it freeze again?

Terry K

a couple of local business owners that i help with winter fishing tournaments have had to cancel ice tournaments and one big charity tournament that normally runs at the end of january is being changed to an open tournament in march - no ice.

i was down at the yantic river yesterday which is normally frozen over this time of year and no ice at all - none.

if my arm wasnt in a sling, i would have taken the ranger out for a ride yesterday.