Local News

Earliest ice-out ever declared on Lake Winnipesaukee

“Usually I take my vacations now, and then ‘ice out’ is when I get home. But not this year.”

Emerson Aviation

March 18, 2024

1 minute to read

An official ice-out has been declared on Lake Winnipesaukee, a sure sign that spring is around the corner in the Granite State.

The declaration was made by Emerson Aviation on Sunday at 4:37 p.m. An “ice-out” means the lake is free of ice enough for the MS Mount Washington steamship to navigate all five ports, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.

According to the company, it is the earliest ice-out on record. The previous record was March 18th, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.

Matthew Gianunzio, a pilot and flight instructor at Emerson Aviation, made the declaration on Sunday, according to NHPR. Dave Emerson, the owner of Emerson Aviation, told the station he usually makes the determination and has been doing so since 1979, but he was on vacation this year when the call was made.

“Usually I take my vacations now, and then ‘ice out’ is when I get home,” he told the station. “But not this year.”