Minnesota's Historical Lake Ice-Out Dates
The definition of lake ice-out varies from lake to lake, and individual to individual. For some, ice-out occurs only when the lake is completely free of ice. For others, ice-out is defined as the moment when navigation is possible from point A to point B. And yet for others, ice-out is when 90 percent of the lake is ice free. Due to the variable definitions of this rather subjective observation, the State Climatology Office attempts to contact the same individuals each year to maintain a consistent record. The table below summarizes historical lake ice-out averages and extremes for Minnesota lakes with 10 or more years of record.
In addition to differences in ice-out observation techniques, the variable period of record and variable length of record makes lake to lake comparisons of averages and extremes problematic. Differences in lake size, lake depth, and lake geometry also generate a large amount of variability among lakes in close proximity. In spite of these inherent problems, the tables below demonstrate a recognizable pattern in average lake ice-out across Minnesota, and also call attention to years of very early or very late lake ice-out.
Northwest
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Bronson |
Kittson |
April 15
|
April 1, 2000
|
April 27, 1996
|
22 |
| Detroit |
Becker |
April 20
|
March 23, 1910
|
May 19, 1908
|
113 |
| Red (Lower) |
Beltrami |
April 27
|
April 12, 2000
|
May 17, 1996
|
18 |
| Sallie |
Becker |
April 18
|
April 3, 2000
|
May 7, 1979
|
27 |
North Central
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Bemidji |
Beltrami |
April 26
|
April 11, 1945,'73
|
May 22, 1950
|
71 |
| Itasca |
Clearwater |
April 23
|
April 9, 1945,'81
|
May 18, 1950
|
68 |
| Kabetogama |
St. Louis |
April 28
|
April 13, 1998
|
May 18, 1996
|
20 |
| Lk. of the Woods |
L.O.W. |
April 29
|
April 8, 2000
|
May 16, 1996
|
19 |
| Leech |
Cass |
April 27
|
April 9, 1945
|
May 23, 1950
|
72 |
| Pokegama |
Itasca |
April 24
|
April 6, 2000
|
May 10, 1996
|
32 |
| McKinney |
Itasca |
April 19
|
March 31, 2000
|
May 6, 1996
|
38 |
| Rainy |
Kooch. |
May 3
|
April 13, 1998
|
May 22, 1950
|
78 |
Northeast
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Fall |
Lake |
April 27
|
April 10, 1945
|
May 19, 1950
|
58 |
| Gunflint |
Cook |
May 7
|
April 15, 1976
|
May 26, 1966
|
33 |
| Island |
St. Louis |
April 25
|
April 5, 2000
|
May 8, 1996
|
14 |
| Mitawan |
Lake |
May 1
|
April 18, 1955
|
May 20, 1950
|
21 |
| Shagawa |
St. Louis |
April 27
|
April 14, 1998
|
May 16, 1996
|
37 |
| Vermilion |
St. Louis |
April 29
|
April 10, 1945
|
May 23, 1950
|
86 |
West Central
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Big Stone |
Big Stone |
April 9
|
March 22, 1987,'00
|
April 26, 1951,'75
|
52 |
| Le Homme Dieu |
Douglas |
April 20
|
April 1, 1981
|
May 1, 1965
|
11 |
| Minnewaska |
Pope |
April 13
|
March 23, 2000
|
May 7, 1950
|
95 |
| Osakis |
Todd |
April 16
|
March 13, 1878
|
May 14, 1950
|
137 |
| Ottertail |
Ottertail |
April 15
|
April 3, 2000
|
April 28, 1996
|
15 |
| West Battle |
Ottertail |
April 16
|
March 31, 2000
|
May 5, 1996
|
16 |
Central
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Diamond |
Kandiyohi |
April 13
|
March 17, 1987
|
May 5, 1950
|
63 |
| Fish Trap |
Morrison |
April 15
|
March 26, 2000
|
April 30, 1996
|
13 |
| Green |
Kandiyohi |
April 16
|
March 22, 1987
|
May 7, 1951
|
76 |
| Gull |
Crow Wing |
April 21
|
April 2, 2000
|
May 18, 1950
|
45 |
| North Long |
Crow Wing |
April 20
|
April 8, 1987
|
May 3, 1979
|
31 |
| Ox |
Crow Wing |
April 23
|
April 9, 1973
|
May 5, 1975
|
22 |
East Central
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Big Sandy |
Aitkin |
April 20
|
March 31, 2000
|
May 4, 1996
|
51 |
| Bone |
Washington |
April 11
|
March 15, 2000
|
April 29, 1965
|
59 |
| Forest |
Washington |
April 7
|
March 18, 2000
|
April 23, 1996
|
19 |
| Knife |
Kanabec |
April 12
|
March 27, 2000
|
April 23, 1995
|
16 |
| Prior (Lower) |
Scott |
April 8
|
March 14, 1987
|
April 26, 1975
|
28 |
| Mille Lacs |
Mille Lacs |
April 24
|
April 2, 2000
|
May 6, 1996
|
42 |
| Minnetonka |
Hennepin |
April 11
|
March 11, 1878
|
May 8, 1856
|
129 |
| Waconia |
Carver |
April 12
|
March 15, 2000
|
May 1, 1941
|
57 |
| White Bear |
Ramsey |
April 11
|
March 21, 2000
|
May 4, 1950
|
78 |
Southwest
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Shetek |
Murray |
April 5
|
March 8, 2000
|
April 24, 1962
|
39 |
South Central
| Lake Name |
County |
Average Ice-Out
|
Earliest Ice-Out
|
Latest Ice-Out
|
Years of Data
|
| Budd |
Martin |
March 29
|
March 6, 2000
|
April 15, 1993
|
18 |
| Clear |
Waseca |
April 2
|
March 7, 1931,'00
|
April 27, 1951
|
96 |
| Lemay |
Rice |
April 4
|
March 7, 1987
|
April 26, 1975
|
21 |
| Shields |
Rice |
April 6
|
March 7, 1931
|
April 27, 1951
|
103 |
| Sisseton |
Martin |
April 3
|
March 13, 1990
|
April 26, 1951
|
50 |
| Tetonka |
LeSueur |
April 2
|
March 14, 1987
|
April 26, 1975
|
33 |