Minnesota's Historical Lake Ice-Out Dates
Check out the new version of the median ice out page with earliest and latest ice outs too.
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.
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Bronson | Kittson | April 15 |
March 24, 2012 |
April 27, 1996 |
27 |
| Detroit | Becker | April 20 |
March 23, 1910 |
May 17, 1950 |
116 |
| Red (Lower) | Beltrami | April 27 |
April 1, 2012 |
May 17, 1996 |
23 |
| Sallie | Becker | April 18 |
March ?, 2012 |
May 7, 1979 |
33 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Bemidji | Beltrami | April 26 |
April 2, 2012 |
May 22, 1950 |
76 |
| Itasca | Clearwater | April 23 |
March 26, 2012 |
May 18, 1950 |
71 |
| Kabetogama | St. Louis | April 28 |
April 1, 2012 |
May 18, 1996 |
29 |
| Lk. of the Woods | L.O.W. | April 29 |
April 8, 2000 and 2012 |
May 16, 1996 |
28 |
| Leech | Cass | April 27 |
April 2, 2012 |
May 23, 1950 |
77 |
| Pokegama | Itasca | April 24 |
March 27, 2012 |
May 10, 1996 |
34 |
| Rainy | Kooch. | May 3 |
April 6, 2012 |
May 22, 1950 |
82 |
| Winnibigoshish | Cass/Itas. | April 24 |
March 30, 2012 |
May 10, 1996 |
17 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Fall | Lake | April 27 |
March 27, 2012 |
May 19, 1950 |
62 |
| Gunflint | Cook | May 7 |
March 23, 2012 |
May 26, 1966 |
38 |
| Island | St. Louis | April 25 |
April 1, 2012 |
May 8, 1996 |
22 |
| Lax | Lake | April 28 |
April 5, 2000 (2012 missing) |
May 13, 1996 |
35 |
| Saganaga | Cook | May 3 |
April 2, 2012 |
May 16, 1996 |
22 |
| Shagawa | St. Louis | April 27 |
March 27, 2012 |
May 16, 1996 |
48 |
| Vermilion | St. Louis | April 29 |
April 2, 2012 |
May 23, 1950 |
93 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Artichoke | Big Stone | April 7 |
March 15, 2000 |
April 22, 2001 |
22 |
| Big Stone | Big Stone | April 9 |
March 18, 2012 |
April 26, 1951,'75 |
61 |
| Minnewaska | Pope | April 13 |
March 21, 2012 |
May 7, 1950 |
107 |
| Osakis | Todd | April 16 |
March 13, 1878 |
May 14, 1950 |
144 |
| Otter Tail | Otter Tail | April 15 |
March 24, 2012 |
May 4, 1996,98 |
25 |
| Traverse | Traverse | April 9 |
March 18, 2012 |
April 21, 2008 |
16 |
| West Battle | Ottertail | April 16 |
March 21, 2012 |
May 5, 1996 |
23 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Green | Kandiyohi | April 16 |
March 20, 2012 |
May 7, 1951 |
83 |
| Gull | Crow Wing | April 21 |
March 26, 2012 |
May 18, 1950 |
53 |
| North Long | Crow Wing | April 20 |
April 1, 2010 (2012 missing) |
May 3, 1979 |
29 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Big Sandy | Aitkin | April 20 |
March 26, 2012 |
May 4, 1996 |
59 |
| Forest #3 | Washington | April 7 |
March 18, 2012 |
April 23, 1996 |
42 |
| Knife | Kanabec | April 12 |
March 21, 2012 |
April 23, 1995 |
25 |
| Prior (Lower) | Scott | April 7 |
March 14, 1987 |
April 26, 1975 |
30 |
| Medicine | Hennepin | April 9 |
March 18, 2012 |
May 1, 1965 |
69 |
| Mille Lacs | Mille Lacs | April 24 |
March 26, 2012 |
May 15, 1950 |
56 |
| Minnetonka | Hennepin | April 13 |
March 11, 1878 |
May 5, 1857 |
136 |
| Rush | Chsago | April 11 |
March 19, 2012 |
April 24, 1996 |
19 |
| Waconia | Carver | April 12 |
March 15, 2000 |
May 1, 1941 |
63 |
| White Bear | Ramsey | April 12 |
March 19, 2012 |
May 4, 1950 |
85 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Sarah | Murray | March 30 |
March 6, 2000 (2012 missing) |
April 16, 2001 |
13 |
| Shetek | Murray | April 5 |
March 8, 2000 |
April 24, 1962 |
46 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Budd | Martin | March 29 |
March 6, 2000 |
April 15, 1993/08 |
30 |
| Clear | Waseca | April 2 |
March 7, 1931,'00 |
April 27, 1951 |
103 |
| Sakatah | Le Seuer | March 29 |
March 11, 2000 |
April 17, 2008 |
13 |
| Shields | Rice | April 4 |
March 7, 1931 (missing 2012) |
April 27, 1951 |
105 |
| Sisseton | Martin | April 3 |
March 13, 1990 (Missing 2012) |
April 26, 1951 |
50 |
| Swan | Nicollet | April 2 |
March 15, 2012 |
April 26, 1997 |
19 |
| Tetonka | LeSueur | April 4 |
March 14, 1987 |
April 26, 1975 |
37 |
| Lake Name | County | Average Ice-Out |
Earliest Ice-Out |
Latest Ice-Out |
Years of Data |
| Pepin | Goodhue/Wabasha | April 9 |
February 29, 2000 |
May 20, 1843 |
88 |
One of the longer term lake ice-out data sets available for the Midwest comes from Lake Monona and Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. The record begins for Monona in 1851.