Mille Lacs Lake Ice-Out

Mille Lacs Lake ice out can be a nerve racking time of year for property owners on the lake.  They hope for warm sun and light winds so the ice just quietly disappears.  But many times strong spring winds blow moving the unstoppable ice on shore consuming anything in its path and all one can do is hold their breath and hope for the best.

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.

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.

Mille Lacs Lake Ice Out per MN Climatology Working Group:

• Average Date:  April 24th
•  Earliest Date:  April 2, 2000
• Latest Date:  May 5, 1965
• Years of Data:  54 years

Today there is still a good cover of ice but it is softening every day.  Bays are opening up and its pulling away from the shorelines on the big lake.  There has been some wind and some movement of the ice sheet so piles of jagged ice have appeared in some locations.

Warm weather is on its way and everyone is looking forward to open water.  Although the movement of the ice can be an extraordinary thing to see, let's just hope Mother Nature is kind and the ice departs the lake in a calm, quiet manner.