This weekend is a bust weather-wise and ice condition-wise (too much drifted snow). The weekend of the 20th is the my last opportunity to host the event this winter, so it's do or die.

Mark your calendars!!

Vic

2016 Porters Lake Ice Fly is a (tentative) GO for tomorrow, Saturday 20 Feb

The weather is forecast to be good for flying tomorrow - light winds to start in the morning, increasing later in the afternoon, sunny, with an afternoon high of +3 deg C. The rain showers/flurries are not expected to start until late afternoon. Perfect.

The ice surface is also perfect. No snow, but a little bumpy in areas from the previous snows , but certainly manageable for take-offs and landings.

On the down side, there is open water to the east of the bay area in which we do our flying, but this should not be a factor, unless you intend fly to your aircraft over the open water, far from the normal flying area. There is solid ice all the way out to the island and well to the south. The ice thickness is the only thing that I am concerned about at the moment.

Safe minimum ice thickness for ice-fishing is considered to be 4", and ice that is 2" or less is considered unsafe to walk on. I measured the ice this morning in a number of areas and I saw ice thicknesses up to 7", but as little as 3" in some darker coloured areas. The high today is going to be 0 deg and the overnight low tonight -4 deg, which means there should not be any lessening of the ice thickness and possibly some thickening. My intention is to measure the ice again first thing tomorrow morning.

As Sunday is not going to be good weather-wise, tomorrow is my first and last chance to host the event. I'm keen to see this go, as I know many of you are keen on attending, but I don't want to put anyone at risk. Having said that, Mary is going ahead with the food prep (pulled pork sandwiches and yummy desserts) and I will have everything set to go.

I will post on the forum first thing after I measure the ice again. Come on out tomorrow morning anyway and if we decide the ice is not safe enough, we can do some hangar talk over coffee and hot chocolate - and it's never too early for dessert!

Just measured the ice and it is safe. Thickness is 7 inches near the shore, with a minimum thickness beyond shore of 4 inches. It is strong clear ice, and as such meets the minimum safety standards - that is, as long as nobody decides they want to drive their car onto the ice to chase their plane!

Bring your ice cleat (or skates, for that matter) as, as the surface very smooth and slippery. Also, bring a coffee cup if you are a coffee or tea drinker, as we seem to be short of styrofoam cups.

There is not a breath of wind and the sun is a-risin'.

See you on the ice!!

Vic