Lake Hood Ice Conditions

airplane graphic Lakes Hood and Spenard Grooming and Ice Conditions Information:

Lake Hood is now open for Ski Ops with the surface ungroomed.

Lakes Hood and Spenard are groomed by the airport when all of the ice on the lake is a uniform 12 inches thick and there is no overflow. There are 19 test holes located around the lakes. Current ice conditions are available by rolling over the numbers on the map below.

Location: 1
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 2-4"; Water 3" Location: 2
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 2-4"; Water 3" Location: 3
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 2-4"; Water 3" Location: 4
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 1-2"; Water 5" Location: 5
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 2-3"; Water 5" Location: 6
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 4" Location: 7
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 4" Location: 8
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 4" Location: 9
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 4" Location: 10
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 4" Location: 11
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3" Location: 12
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 13
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 14
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 15
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 16
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 17
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 18
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: Crust Ice 3-4"; Water 3-4" Location: 19
Measured: 3/31/12
Conditions: BAD - Crust Ice 1-1.5"; Water 2" Ice conditions map
airplane graphic Lake Hood Seaplane Base Ice Testing Plan:
  • Ice testing of the seaplane base will commence once no open water conditions exist.
    • li>Initial ice thickness measurements will only be taken from the floating dock of the boathouse located at the west ramp until a thickness of 6 inches exists.
  • Only after the ice thickness at the boathouse dock reaches 6 inches and no overflow conditions exists, will measurements be taken at other designated locations.
  • Conditions observed such as: Ice thickness, overflow, snow cover, and surface roughness will be reported to Airport Management and Airport Operations.
  • Airport Management and Airport Operations will use this information along with other available information when issuing NOTAMS.
  • Grooming of the lakes and channels will not commence until the ice has reached a thickness of 12 inches in all areas and is free from overflow.
airplane graphic Lake Hood Decision Matrix:
Surface/Status Known to be save (With no known hazards. This would probably be used on the lake when the surface is groomed.) Known to be unsafe (This could be used for "Men and Equipment on the surface" or other conditions, or when the lake is marginal or worse during freeze-up and break-up.) Condition Unknown (This could be due to recent snowfall, freeze/break-up depending on the amount of open water, or any other time when the conditions were unknown.)
Lake Hood (LHD) Open NOTAM Closed, with reason.

Closed: Ice on surface/minimum ice depth less than 6 inches.

Closed: Soft/rotten/melting ice/overflow.		 Open: Surface condition unknown.
Lake Hood Strip (Z41) Open NOTAM Closed (This would include ~4+ inches of snow since strip is maintained for normal wheel operations year-round.) Open: Surface condition unknown.

Questions? Contact: email iconandy.hutzel@alaska.gov