Environmental / Weather

Looks Like August, Feels Like April

Environmental / Weather, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , ,

We’re now about about two months away from the Summer Solstice, and it looks like late August with the chill of April. Makes sense of course, as the sun is exactly where it would be in late August. The differences range from the water temperature (brrr!), to the absence of leaves on the trees. It will be nice to be on the water when it’s warmer, but don’t tarry. The boating season is too short not to be enjoying an August sun in April. This is a view of Parry Sound’s Big Sound from the Rotary Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail with Two Mile Point to the left. (April 2016)

Redwood1890-20160423-20160420-_DSC2823-copy

State of the Sound Report – 2015-05-17

Environmental / Weather, Information/Reports, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Life is good, the water is cold but that isn’t deterring some boaters. We had a strange front roll in across the Big Sound mid-afternoon yesterday. The sky was partially cloudy and patches of blue showing through with a fog like condition hovering over the surface of the water. A few minutes later it passed; the sky didn’t clear up but the fog/mist lifted.

Boating into Mid-Day Mists.

Redwood189020150516-_DS61549_DxO-2‘Clic on the pic’ for a better view’.

 

 

State of the Sound Report – 2015-04-29

Environmental / Weather, Parry Sound Area, , , ,
Redwood189020150429-_DSC9790_DxO

The Samuel Risley heading out of Parry Sound on the 29th. I don’t know where it was headed but the navigation aids on the stern may be a hint. I have been told that the Coast Guard is responsible for the commercial navigation aids in Georgian Bay with private contractors responsible for the small craft navigation aids.

JB – Communications Officer

State of the Sound Report – 2015-04-22

Environmental / Weather, Information/Reports, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Redwood189020150421-_DSC1007_DxO
Full speed ahead captain, we’re clear of ice.

Commander Mason, John Mason, was pretty much on the money when he predicted April 21st for the Big Sound to be ice free, although he did qualify it with a possibility of it being a week earlier or later. I haven’t seen anyone out on the water yet but the contractors will want to get started as soon possible with projects on the islands and areas accessible only by water.

JB – Communications Officer

State of the Sound Report – 2015-04-12

Environmental / Weather, General/Travel, Parry Sound Area, , , ,

Redwood189020150412-_DSC9451_DxOThis photo was taken a few hours ago and shows the extent of the open water. We received a considerable amount of rain in the past 48 hours and today it’s above 10°C (50°F), so things may move quickly. Commander Mason at the last meeting of the Parry Sound Squadron Bridge promised the Big Sound would be clear by April 21st, plus or minus one week. It won’t be a week early, but hopefully no later than the 28th. If you can’t play on the ice it may as well be gone.

‘Clic on the Pic’ for a larger view.

State of the Sound Report – 2015-03-30

Environmental / Weather, Information/Reports, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Redwood189020150328-_DSC9047_DxOA familiar benchmark for the condition of the Big Sound, PS2 is now ‘bathed’ in ice rather than snow. We have had a few days a little above freezing followed by quite a bit more below freezing at night. Add in a little rain, not too much, and the Big Sound is turning into a skating rink. It’s been too cold to suggest there is much thinning of the ice, but the insulating layer of snow has been removed. It’s still weeks until boating season. The creeks and rivers are starting to open up so there will soon be some cold season kayaking possible.

State of the Sound Report – 2015-03-12

Boating News, Environmental / Weather, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Not fit for skiing, ice fishing or boating, the Big Sound is a mess. We’ve had about three days of above freezing daytime temperatures and it has basically turned the snow on top of the ice into slush with a crust. It’s pretty much impossible to walk, ski or snowshoe on the Big Sound and snow machines send up a spray as they shuttle around trying to get the ice shacks off the ice. The ice is still nice and thick so it will still be too many weeks before the Big Sound is fit for boating. This the time of the season where you wished you had a hovercraft or one of those air boats used in the swamps of Louisiana.

Making Tracks on the Big Sound (2015-03-11)

Redwood189020150311-_DSC9779_DxO

State of the Sound Report – 2015-03-06

Environmental / Weather, Information/Reports, Parry Sound Area, , ,

Redwood189020150306-_DSC9432_DxOThe Big Sound still pretty much looks like Antarctica. We are expecting a few days of above freezing by the beginning of next week. It could be a cruel hoax, but the thaw has to arrive at some point. It promises to be a slow start to the boating season. Out at Hole in Wall last Saturday the ice was about 60 cm (24 in.) thick, great for sledders and skiers.

What I haven’t seen yet on the Big Sound is snow skiing, in the style of water skiing. Not only should it be possible it should be reasonably safe. A quick internet search turned up a couple of images of sled skiing but not much else. Hmm, I may need to make friends with sledders if the snow and ice insist on hanging around.

JB – Communications Officer