Open water in Edmonton area

slap_shot_12 · #1 04-13-2021, 08:47 AM

After a few years of my kid hounding me I finally broke down and bought a boat. We're super excited to get out and give it a try but I don't know where we might be able to use it right now. Is there a way to find out when lakes around Edmonton have open water without actually driving there?

Thanks in advance.

Scott N · #2 04-13-2021, 09:43 AM

Try this website:

https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentin...howDates=false

The link provides recent satellite photos and should open up over Edmonton. Pan the map and look at the lakes you're wondering about, and you should be able to see if there is ice or not. On the top menu bar, there is a calendar icon that will allow you to pick the day the pics were take if there is cloud cover. The map is updated every 2-3 days.

nimrod · #3 04-13-2021, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott N

Try this website:

https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentin...howDates=false

The link provides recent satellite photos and should open up over Edmonton. Pan the map and look at the lakes you're wondering about, and you should be able to see if there is ice or not. On the top menu bar, there is a calendar icon that will allow you to pick the day the pics were take if there is cloud cover. The map is updated every 2-3 days.

Thanks for this link, any chance can you show me where I can show the map on the satellite view

nimrod · #4 04-13-2021, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott N

Try this website:

https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentin...howDates=false

The link provides recent satellite photos and should open up over Edmonton. Pan the map and look at the lakes you're wondering about, and you should be able to see if there is ice or not. On the top menu bar, there is a calendar icon that will allow you to pick the day the pics were take if there is cloud cover. The map is updated every 2-3 days.

Thanks for this link, any chance can you show me where I can show the map on the satellite view

Willowtrail · #5 04-13-2021, 11:56 AM

I use this map daily to check, cloudy days suck

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

Dean2 · #6 04-13-2021, 12:15 PM

Big Lake by St Albert is very shallow, lots of weeds. It is one of the first lakes to open up every year. Until it is ice free the only thing you might find is a small trout lake like Hasse that opens before Big Lake.

haggis57 · #7 04-13-2021, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimrod

Thanks for this link, any chance can you show me where I can show the map on the satellite view

Click on the icon at the top right corner which opens the Datasets menu. "De-select" the satellite and the display will change to regular map. Locate the lake you're interested in then "re-select" to top satellite from the Datasets menu.

nimrod · #8 04-13-2021, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haggis57

Click on the icon at the top right corner which opens the Datasets menu. "De-select" the satellite and the display will change to regular map. Locate the lake you're interested in then "re-select" to top satellite from the Datasets menu.

Thanks for the info works great, but to much clouds over the lake I want to see.

Dean2 · #9 04-13-2021, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimrod

Thanks for the info works great, but to much clouds over the lake I want to see.

Use the date function and go back one day at a time. You will usually find a clear day within a day or two of today.

nimrod · #10 04-13-2021, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

Use the date function and go back one day at a time. You will usually find a clear day within a day or two of today.

Thanks again found what Im looking for. back 2 days

slap_shot_12 · #11 04-14-2021, 05:29 PM

Those are great resources, I never even thought to check something like that. Much appreciated.

BigRackLover · #12 04-15-2021, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willowtrail

I use this map daily to check, cloudy days suck

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

Indeed they do suck. But awesome resource otherwise. Thanks.

Willowtrail · #13 04-15-2021, 07:36 PM

My lakes aren't ready yet but some are getting close. Have a few people wanting on the water sonar training around Edmonton. Hopefully another week or two.

Had some clear days the last few days to track

Zip-in-Z · #14 04-15-2021, 07:47 PM

In case anyone is wondering .... still a ways to go here.

D.

.

SNAPFisher · #15 04-15-2021, 08:28 PM

Wow, early ice off this year. No one has to worry about the May long...
I wonder if even Maligne...

BigRackLover · #16 04-18-2021, 01:03 PM

Saturday night wind help any lakes bust open?

Zip-in-Z · #17 04-18-2021, 01:22 PM

Sylvan looks a little white this morning.

D.

SNAPFisher · #18 04-18-2021, 02:15 PM

Buffalo looks close to full open. Gull North East is open but only a bay maybe.
Pigeon solid, Wab solid, etc. Won't be long now. Too bad the weather is going to dip down again this week.

smitty9 · #19 04-18-2021, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willowtrail

I use this map daily to check, cloudy days suck

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

What am I missing here? When I zoom in, it goes completely blurry; no focus or sharpness. Must be doing something wrong.....

Seems like a good tool otherwise...

Is there a particular "layer" you like?

Smitty

Willowtrail · #20 04-18-2021, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty9

What am I missing here? When I zoom in, it goes completely blurry; no focus or sharpness. Must be doing something wrong.....

Seems like a good tool otherwise...

Is there a particular "layer" you like?

Smitty

I can’t get zoomed right in but enough to see what’s going on on the lakes. Buffalo is close to wide open and Sylvan and Gull are next. Need a few days of warmth to break it up. Pigeons northeast shore is turning blue too

Mr Flyguy · #21 04-19-2021, 10:02 AM

Thanks for posting this. I focused in on a few of the trout lakes in the Stoney Plain area and sure enough, lakes with aerators , e.g., Muir Lake, showed blue patches but otherwise still iced over.

SamSteele · #22 04-19-2021, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty9

What am I missing here? When I zoom in, it goes completely blurry; no focus or sharpness. Must be doing something wrong.....

Seems like a good tool otherwise...

Is there a particular "layer" you like?

Smitty

Sentinel Playground has a clearer image, but they only take pictures every 2-3 days or so. EOSDIS is every day, but not as high res.

SS

YeeHaw · #23 04-19-2021, 11:27 PM

Stopped in at a few lakes west of Edmonton. Star, Mayatan, Jackfish, were all covered and open approximately 20 feet out. Black and rotten ice on all, but doubt it will be long, especially if we get some good winds.

SNAPFisher · #24 04-20-2021, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willowtrail

I can’t get zoomed right in but enough to see what’s going on on the lakes. Buffalo is close to wide open and Sylvan and Gull are next. Need a few days of warmth to break it up. Pigeons northeast shore is turning blue too

Yeah, Buffalo looks 100% open today. Nice dark blue now. Gull ice looks like it is moving around. This North wind followed by South wind will help break it up.

smitty9 · #25 04-20-2021, 10:06 PM

Seems like it becomes easier to tell if you use the Sentinel Playground Infrared layer.

Is it my imagination, or does Wabamum still look to be covered (mostly) with ice while the waterbody immediately south of it is completely ice free?

swampy45 · #26 04-21-2021, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty9

Seems like it becomes easier to tell if you use the Sentinel Playground Infrared layer.

Is it my imagination, or does Wabamum still look to be covered (mostly) with ice while the waterbody immediately south of it is completely ice free?

Cooling Ponds for the Powerplant's stay open year round.