Time to fill?

[krisling]

I was hoping I might be able to get some advice concerning when I should fill my rink. I'm definitely getting anxious about filling it and want to do it sooner than later. However, I do not want to mess this up seeing it is my first rink. Here is the forecast for my area for the next week and a half or so:
(All in fahrenheit)

12/24 - 34/15
12/25 - 24/18
12/26 - 38/23
12/27 - 34/20
12/28 - 36/27
12/29 - 43/22
12/30 - 23/9
12/31 - 17/11
1/1 - 23/10
1/2 - 23/10 (snow in forecast)
1/3 - 22/10 (snow in forecast)
1/4 - 24/13 (snow in forecast)
1/5 - 28/18
1/6 - 31/20

It looks pretty obvious to start on the eve of 12/29, but I wasn't sure if the snow would mess anything up. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[kevmac]

The quicker you fill it, the quicker it will freeze and you won't have to worry about the snow in the forecast.

[Joe]

Yep, go ahead and fill now. I have friends in CT who filled a couple weeks ago and despite some snow, they've skated and been generally fine. If you waited until 12/29, you should have enough ice to stand on and shovel by 1/2. That said, I never trust anything in a forecast more than 5-7 days out...the computer models are so iffy that far out.

I'm up in NH and I filled two rinks today. Filling another two Thursday, my last two of the year (out of 23).

[krisling]

Thanks for the advice. I will be filling tomorrow night!