JANUARY THAW

CLEARING SKIES, SLIPPERY ROADS

THE LOWER SIOUX RIVER IS COMPLETELY OPEN

Thursday,  10:00 AM.  28 degrees F, wind NW, gusty.  The sky is partly overcast with scattered clouds but is clearing.  The humidity is 75% and the barometer is 30.12" and rising.  It looks like it may be a pretty nice day.
   We are definitely experiencing our usual January thaw.  The lower Sioux River is free of ice to its mouth on the lake, as are the rest of the streams emptying into Chequamegon Bay.  This is a more complete thaw than we had the two previous winters, but this is pretty normal.  We have plenty of winter left ahead of us and it probably won't be long until all is frozen up again.
   There is a lot of snowmobile and other traffic on the ice and I have not heard of any mishaps so far this winter, which is of itself rather unusual.  Perhaps everyone is being more careful during the obviously warm and melting conditions.