If the weather records from an airport near a lake youre interested in show 220 TDDs since January 1, the chances are 50:50 that the lake ice is out. To republish, copy the HTML at right, which includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to MinnPost. These lakes are identified by conducting dissolved oxygen tests throughout the winter and observing dead fish after ice-out. St. Paul, MN 55108, Hypothermia: Understanding and Prevention, Expect Late Ice-Out on Minnesota Lakes This Year, Expert Says, Expert on Minnesota Lakes: Expect Late Ice-Out This Year, Free Webinar About Thaw Data for Northern Minnesota Lakes, Minnesota Outdoors in March is a Storm of Activity. Very few fish were seen while electrofishing and included fathead minnows, black bullheads, and central mudminnows. Thats a span of 52 days or seven weeks! And many lakes are recording ice-out dates that are two to three weeks earlier than average. Leech Lake near Walker recorded ice-out on April 9. Schmitt estimates the ice will be gone within the next 10 days to 2 weeks. Each blue pin represents an airport that generates and reports weather data to the National Weather Service. MinnPost's in-depth, independent news is free for all to access no paywall or subscriptions. Although the lake has an aerator installed, it was not turned on due to it's inability to prevent winterkill in previous years. Then, I looked at what scientists call a cumulative probability curve, which is shown in the graph below. Tim Walz's annual turkey hunt. Expect the ice-out process to accelerate in the weeks ahead. Much of northeast Minnesota received over 100 inches of snowfall last winter. When cumulative TDDs approaches 300, the chances are only 1 in 10 that there is still ice on the lake. That depends. But it looks like were going from heat to AC in just a few days in the next week. Although it is not impossible that weather would heat up rapidly and take out the ice, the longer we proceed with days with average temperatures below freezing (thawing degree days = 0), the longer it will take for ice to leave the lakes. Box 18438 | Minneapolis, MN 55418 | 612.455.6950. Over a longer time period, from 2001 to 2022 . However, a thaw doesnt really count toward thawing if the average of the high and low temperatures during the day isnt above 32 degrees F because the net effect of daytime heat wont translate to a net melting of ice. When wind blows crystals around, they make a jingling sound as they collide. Will you help us keep it this way by supporting our nonprofit newsroom with a tax-deductible donation today? It used to be fairly consistent, within a week or so. Dead fish were reported following ice-out. A lakeside resident reported many dead northern pike following ice out. A University of Minnesota scientist has developed an ice-out widget that will help predict when lake ice-out might occur across the state. Low DO readings were recorded at Spring Lake on 3/20/14. You can see ice out on lakes across the state on an interactive map on the DNR website. Outdoors | According to preliminary data kept by DNR Fisheries, live bait harvest in Minnesota, including leeches, declined at least 25 % from 2017 through 2021. It's helpful to remember that you can have more than one degree day in a 24-hour period. Public media is independent, community-supported media for the public good. We need to explain some science jargon. April 8, 2022 at 2:40 pm #2114939. You can find the ice-out widget at z.umn.edu/widget. You can still have inches of ice and its not safe anymore, she said. On 5/1/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 white sucker, 2 northern pike, 2 bluegills, 3 bowfin, 3 yellow perch, 3 common carp, and 5 black crappies. Most lakes that dot central and northern Minnesota are still sporting a thick coat of ice. Minnesota fishing regulations, including those new for 2023, and more information can be found in the Minnesota Fishing Regulations on the DNR fishing page. The widget is a bit of science fun to show you how to estimate when a body of water like a lake is likely to freeze or thaw. The deadline for anglers in roughly the southern two-thirds of the state to remove fish houses from lakes was March 7. So if the air temperature is an average of 10 degrees above freezing during a day, that accumulates 10 thawing-degree days. Look for the weather record station closest to your lake and follow the directions. 31 W. College St. How thick the ice is. Minnesota State Climatology Office; National Weather Service; . But 80s return Wednesday and Thursday next week. NASA MODIS 250-meter visible satellite image across northern Minnesota Friday. Ice out dates are being updated for lakes in Minnesota on the Lake Ice Out 2018 web page. For Lake Minnetonka, its when a boat can travel from Wayzata Bay to Excelsior Bay. A handful of lakes in the southern part of Minnesota report open water between April 8 and April 14. On 4/16/14, the trap nets caught a total of 5 walleyes, 13 northern pike, 24 common carp, 100+ yellow perch, 100+ bigmouth buffalo, 100+ white suckers, and 1,000+ black bullheads. That's a span of 52 days or seven weeks! paddle, bike through Minnesota DNR's 'I Can!' program . The Minnesota State Climatology Office says the first ice out reports have started arriving. On 4/24/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 walleye, 2 golden shiners, 7 northern pike, 11 yellow perch, 11 black crappies, 21 white suckers, and 1,000+ black bullheads. On 4/23/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 largemouth bass, 10 northern pike, 12 golden shiners, 12 yellow bullheads, 13 pumpkinseeds, 24 yellow perch, 50 black crappies, and 100+ bluegills. Ice conditions can change rapidly and should be checked frequently. Normally, we think of the warm summer season as 12 weeks long in Minnesota. The period of record for White Iron goes back to 2003. The average ice-out date for lakes in the northern half of Minnesota is April 24 but has been as early as late March and as late as mid-May. The ice acts like a greenhouse, so the water beneath it begins to warm and thats how it thaws it thaws from the bottom up, he said. [see: 2023 Lake Ice-Out Dates | DNR Conservation Officer Reports] Next weeks inbound air mass originated over the Gulf of Mexico. Temporary closures Ice out. Thats 15 days past the median ice-out date for the past 22 years of April 9. Low DO readings were recorded at Winsted Lake on 3/20/14. . I bet youve thought about this. So, if we want to guess when ice might leave the lakes, its useful to track the weather especially those aspects of weather that take out lake ice. By mid-May, the lingering ice had broken or nearly broken numerous "ice-out" records. When thawing-degree days hit 220 for the weather station closest to your lake, thats when ice-out is likely to occur in the Northland. How late, and whether the May 13 walleye opener might be impacted, depends on how fast those thawing-degree days start picking up. Please remember that ice conditions are changing rapidly this time of year, and to be prepared with the appropriate safety equipment if venturing out. Downing, a professor of biology, an expert in limnology and freshwater lakes and whose family has had a cabin on a northern Minnesota lake for 120 years, wanted to find out what the biggest factors were when the ice melts on lakes. Ice on lakes thaws at different rates in different years, depending upon the weather. Trap nets were set on 4/22/14 and no dead fish were observed along the shoreline. You dont need a weatherman to tell you this is one of the colder Aprils on record across Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. But we are still working out the bugs, Downing noted. But looking at some of Minnesotas more observed lakes gives an idea of how much ice out can vary. On 5/13/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 central mudminnow, 27 fathead minnows, and 33 black bullheads. Degree days are the difference between the daily temperature mean (high temperature plus low temperature divided by two) and 65F. Immediately following ice-out, dead fish were reported and confirmed throughout the lake. Best bets for walleye will be the area's smaller, shallow, bog-stained lakes. Dead fish were reported following ice-out. But there are a lot of factors involved. Ice cover hung around very late this spring in northeast Minnesota. Boulay said he drove over to that address and took those dates down after the DNR got a call from a realtor selling the property. Another study found Bayfield Bay, on Lake Superior (not included in the DNRs dataset), thawed 18 days earlier per century. If the air temperature is an average of 10 degrees F above freezing during a day, this accumulates 10 thawing degree days. Better predictability means we can plan and take advantage of early open water when it happens. Snow depth. On 5/22/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 white sucker, 1 largemouth bass, 1 bowfin, 2 golden shiners, 5 common carp, 10 brown bullheads, 19 black crappies, and 19 black bullheads. Note the spread of lines where the green line crosses all the seasonal data. By KSTP. There are several things that determine when the lakes will be free of ice. I was hoping to have the windows open for comfy breezes for several weeks this spring. Thanks also to Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joe Moore, at the National Weather Service in Duluth, for helping me interface with NWS data. Leech Lake, in north-central Minnesota, saw its earliest ice out more than a month after Pepins earliest ice out on record, on April 2, in 2012, a particularly warm spring when many lakes recorded their earliest ice outs. Thats 19 days earlier than the median date of April 29. Duluth, MN 55812, St. Paul campus offices Its median ice out date is March 29. More boating and swimming (brrr). Degree days for a single (24-hour) day are calculated using the following formulas: Duluth campus offices That's a week ahead of the median ice out date of March 26. Notice that thawing degree days (TDDs) can start as early as early February in some years or as late as early April in others. I wanted a tool to measure the thawing potential that weather exerts on lakes in spring so my friends, colleagues, and family could better plan for spring activities. The gap was closed a bit due to some very warm conditions at the end of April and the . Zeppelin shared that records going back to 1962 show the median ice-out date for Pokegama Lake is April . March 18, 2022 at 2:58 pm #2108850. Meanwhile, the shoreline starts to warm, creating separation between ice and land. Unless something changes in the forecast drastically, were likely to see generally later ice-outs this year, Boulay said, owing to colder temps. For northern-third lakes, the deadline is March 21. On the upside, the late ice-out likely will mean large upstream tributaries such as the Little Fork and Big Fork rivers closer to International Falls, Minnesota, won't have open water before . Dead fish were reported following ice-out. Low DO readings were recorded at Cedar Lake on 2/3/14 and 2/14/14. If you have questions, emaileditors@minnpost.com. Sawbill Lake is a popular BWCA entry point lake at the end of the Sawbill Trail that runs north from Tofte. The size of the lake. That makes sense. Ice varied alot on the pond this winter from 19-30 as of last week. For those looking for open water fishing he suggests going to southern Minnesota. Ice-out should occur when the thawing-degree days for that station reach 220, give or take a week.Related Articles On the widget map select the blue pin closest to the lake youre interested in. Trap nets were set on 5/1/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed few dead fish overall. Skywatch: High-flying circling bears In July, gill and trap nets revealed just four species, all in low abundance, including black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, and yellow perch. Schmitt says this time of year is a great time to bird watch. For example, Platte Lake, just west of Lake Mille Lacs, reported an ice-out on April 24. In 2013, unseasonably cool spring weather has left ice choking many of Minnesota's lakes weeks longer than usual. The records for Lake of the Isles include a set of observations with a note indicating they were written on a cabinet at a house by the lake. So heres a look ahead into next week. Ice out dates should not be used to track ice thickness for recreational use. The uncertain future of cabins in Minnesota, Forced sale in Hennepin County prompts Supreme Court to decide constitutionality of Minnesotas forfeiture law, Why we sent a coalition letter expressing concern over the treatment of our reporter Peter Callaghan, D.C. The Minnesota DNR has records on ice out going back to the 1800s for some lakes. Seasons for some other species, including sunfish, crappie and channel catfish, are open all year. Peter Boulay is a climatologist from the Minnesota DNR department of Ecological and Water Resources and he tells us about ice out on . Even in far-southern Minnesota, at Fairmont, there were only 10 thawing-degree days tallied as of early this week. Minnesota has 11,842 lakes that are 10 or more acres in size, 4,500 of which are considered fishing lakes. On 4/24/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 common carp, 1 white sucker, 3 yellow perch, and 8 northern pike. Just when that happens depends on a lot of different factors: the weather, of course, which changes by latitude and from year to year, but also things like how big a lake is. Low DO readings were recorded at Arville Lake on 1/9/14. Flooding prompts closure of Osceola Landing, other river access points Looking at spring 2023 from my vantage point in late February, I can already see that this will not be an extremely early ice-out year in northern Minnesota. How did we get here? Ice-out dates in the Grand Marais area will probably be fairly late in 2022, and few lakes will have warmed much by opening day. Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) Director John A. http . Those hours out on the lake are magical and our northern Minnesota lakes are some of the best in the world. Participant. No reports of dead fish were collected after ice-out. Observers use consistent criteria from year to year when reporting lake ice out dates. Its April 27. But lakes in northeastern Minnesota may be sporting ice well into May this year. That's exactly average for the period of record starting in 1992 for Swan Lake. I will explain this later but notice that in Minnesota heat is great enough in spring to melt lakes late in March to almost mid-May. When I was a kid in Minnesota, my family never thought about going to the lake before Memorial Day, and, although some years the lakes were clear of ice a bit early, ice-out in Itasca County was always around May Day, plus or minus a few days. Looking out at the lake and seeing over half the snow cover gone, mainly just the drifts left has me thinking of open water. Downing wanted a tool for friends, colleagues, and family that they could use to better plan for spring activities. NASA, via University of Wisconsin-Madison, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Minnesotas lakes spend most of the winter covered in snow, which insulates them from the suns rays and reflects that light back up toward the sky, said Pete Boulay, assistant state climatologist. Minnesota's long, snowy winter has delayed the onset of spring, but this week's blowtorch of warmth has eased some anxiety felt by anglers and resort . The graph above shows how heat accumulated in spring over the last 40 years or so for one weather station close to the northern Minnesota lakes. Sawbills ice-out records go back more than 30 years to 1990. See our full republication guidelines for more information. MN DNR Ice Out data. New book invites exploration of old Twin Cities spots. In 2013, the lake still had . The lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. This link will take you to the MN DNR website for reported Ice Out data. MINNESOTA (Valley News Live) - The Minnesota fishing opener is one month away, but ice still covers the water on majority of lakes across the state. Dead fish observed while on the lake, live fish caught in the trap nets, and dissolved oxygen (DO) readings during the winter are all summarized and used to assess the extent of winterkill at the lake. Overall, Hook Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. The ice-out time is a sensitive indicator of local climate and the date has been arriving earlier in a statistical average sense each year. In other words, how warm it gets each day and how often it gets warm. On 4/29/14, the trap nets caught a total of 4 white suckers and 100+ black bullheads. Outdoors | Trap nets were set on 4/21/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed just 4 channel catfish. Trap nets were set on 5/21/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed dozens of dead common carp and bluegills, and a few black bullheads. Trap nets were set on 4/28/14 and no dead fish were observed along the shoreline. Your safety is your responsibility. Many big lakes are now ice-free in central and northern Minnesota. If the temperature averages below freezing for a day or two, that doesnt add any more thawing degree days because thawing is not happening during that time. However was not an extension season. Overall, Cedar Lake likely experienced a light to moderate winterkill. The lake is aerated but the delayed operation made opening a large hole in the thick ice difficult. The higher the number of TDDs on a given date, the greater the chances that a lake has no ice. Thaw Degree Days for a single day: [(High temp + low temp)/2] -32, Freezing Degree Days for a single day: 32- [(high temp + low temp)/2] = FDD. ), Garden Lake (East of Ely) May 6. The definition of lake ice out can vary from lake to lake. The green horizontal line on the graph is the average amount of cumulative heat needed in spring to melt ice from lakes in this region. The dynamic context server has an entry for monitoring ice-out conditions on Minnesota lakes. This graph shows that in Minnesota warming can start over the span of about two months, depending on the weather. The fire danger is Moderate over west central Minnesota and Low over the north. Many lakes in Minnesota are ice-free closer to the record earliest date than the median ice-out date. Overall, Silver Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. The ice pulling away from the shore on Sawbill Lake north of Tofte, Minn., as seen at sunset on May 5. Disclaimer: This widget does NOT predict when ice is safe for you! Copyright 2023 KVLY. If you want to calculate freezing or thawing degree days from other dates and years, you can play around with these in the Geeky section below the map. The late Dick Gray, the lead founder of the Freshwater Society, cataloged the early records and made his own records . Temperatures this month are running 6.1 degrees colder than average through April 26 in the Twin Cities. Using a few screenshots from ourMinnesota Lake Ice-In and Ice-Out Widget, here's how to use the widget. learn about all our free newsletter options. Low DO readings were recorded at Clear Lake on 1/24/14, 2/18/14, and 3/21/14. No dead fish were reported following ice-out. When ice-out can be plus or minus seven weeks, thats a lot of variation. Here are some select ice-out dates compared to average, and the earliest on record. Thawing degree days (TDDs) is a measure of accumulated springtime heat. Donations made by check can be made out to MinnPost and mailed to us at PO Box 18438, Minneapolis, MN 55418. 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The latest bellwether lakes to declare ice-out this week are Shagawa and Fall lakes near Ely. Those who were out were having some success. Locations especially involved in this includes Lanesboro and Preston. Typically, the assessments consist of 5 trap nets set overnight. Some smaller and midsized lakes in central Minnesota report ice-out dates as much as two weeks later than the median dates. On 4/22/14, the trap nets caught a total of 2 yellow perch, 2 golden shiners, 13 northern pike, and 100+ black bullheads. On 4/29/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 walleye, 1 yellow perch, 2 white suckers, 17 black bullheads, 34 bluegills, and 100+ common carp. Resorts and cabins can be open earlier and running longer. Low DO readings were recorded at Long Lake on 1/8/14 and 2/3/14 and the lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. Schmitt says the ice is already starting to erode from the shorelines. Memo: Justice Clarence Thomas pricey trips put Supreme Court ethics under scrutiny, Authorities: In 'alarming trend that needs to stop now,' western Minnesota deputy shot, killed, Tina Smith, a velvet hammer in the U.S. Senate, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons license. Low DO readings were recorded at Star Lake on 1/29/14, 2/3/14, 2/14/14, and 3/21/14. The lake is aerated but mechanical issues prevented the operation of the aerator through much of the winter. Generally, in the northern half of Minnesota, it takes an average of about 220 thawing degree days (TDDs) to melt lake ice. This is how Mille Lacs looked on May 9, 2013. Ive seen people go through the ice, even if it was like 7 inches thick, but it was just this white, mushy stuff and it didnt support their weight, she said. Here I want to help us understand and predict when the lakes will be free of ice. Find the best resources for fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, skiing, boating, riding, camping, current and seasonal conditions, and more! The lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/2014 to 2/23/2014. Trap nets were set on 5/12/14 and no dead fish were observed along the shoreline. Ice-out on Lake Minnetonka is a sign of spring that scientists, naturalists and lakeshore residents have been tracking since at least 1855. Some people that attended include DNR commissioner Sarah Strommen, Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul, NWTF director of development Tom Glines and members from the Learn-to-Hunt program. I know Im a limnologist. This new widget should let people know within about a week when ice-out will occur. Often times, the public notices evidence of winterkill before we do and we encourage anyone to report large numbers of dead fish to our office by phone (320-234-2550) or email. Overall, Star Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. There is something for everyone. All rights reserved. Outdoors | Dead fish were reported following ice-out. Now, due to climate weirdness, ice-out in the northern half of the state can be anytime between March 25 and May 15. Sawbill Lake is a popular BWCA entry point lake at the end of the Sawbill Trail that runs north from Tofte. Hummocked or piled plates or sheets of ice along the shore of Lake Superior. At that point, it becomes 50/50 that ice-out occurs, Downing noted. Minnesota DNR. He says the ducks are looking real good right now as they prepare to mate. If you take an ice cube out of the freezer for five minutes, it will still be pretty frozen when you put it back in. But whats really noticeable now is how much it swings back and forth now. Our sunnier, warmer spring weather is working on stubborn lake ice across northern Minnesota. These assessments are not made available through Lakefinder but will be posted here soon after they are completed. No dead walleyes or other gamefish were observed at that time. No dead walleyes or other gamefish were observed at that time. A check of lake ice-out reports this week shows lake ice-out dates are running anywhere from one to more than two weeks behind the median date. Immediately following ice-out, some dead fish were observed and gulls, pelicans, and cormorants were present and feeding on dead fish throughout the lake. Temperature departure from average this month. NASA MODIS 250-meter visible satellite image Wednesday. Most of the big lakes are still hanging on to a weakening sheet of ice. Granted this is in MN but if you go to the MN DNR ice out page you can use the quick zoom feature to pick out individual lakes. Thats just a day shy of the latest ice-out date on record which is May 15, 2014. Public media is independent, community-supported media for the public good. On 5/2/14, the trap nets caught a total of 28 black bullheads. Schmitt estimates the ice will be gone within the next 10 days to 2 weeks. Now, we get big fluctuations, as much as seven weeks difference from year-to-year when ice-out will occur, Downing said. Sawbill lake reports an ice-out on May 14 this year. Public media is independent, community-supported media for the public good. Several other lakes in southern Minnesota are ice-free. Our relentless April wind is one factor thats taken out the ice on some lakes. In Hennepin County, has a new application process made it harder to access social safety-net programs? But, so far this winter, that hasnt been happening. But we found that the most critical factor is thawing-degree days.. And thats why Downing is predicting a later-than-normal ice-out for the Northland. Future of Minnesota environment funding, state lottery could be on your ballot in 2024, Tales from the play-in: Two stars and a sage. The Minnesota DNR has records on ice out going back to the 1800s for some lakes. Wind. Overall, Thompson Lake likely experienced a moderate to severe winterkill. The lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. McNeal Hall Ice-out assessments are used to assess the extent of winterkill in lakes that experienced low dissolved oxygen levels during the previous winter. Its relatively simple to use and weve included a Geeky section for those who like to play with data. I know if Im eager to know when I will be able to put my dock in, and put my boat in, that there are other people who have cabins or resorts who want to know when they can get in and when people are going to start coming north. On 5/21/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 common carp, 6 northern pike, and 53 black bullheads. Thawing-degree days are figured on a complicated formula: Add the daily high temperature to the daily low temperature, divide by 2 and then subtract 32. A warm front blows in by Monday. West Side Mille Lacs Lake. PUBLISHED: April 14, 2023 at 4:17 p.m. | UPDATED: April 14, 2023 at 4:19 p.m. Garden Lake near Ely reports ice-out on May 6. He says the next steps would be looking for panfish in shallow muddy bays. If you have a lake ice out report, you can comment on the Minnesota State Climatology Office Facebook page. The latest bellwether lakes to . She can be reached at gkaul@minnpost.com. Walz open to giving up Met Council appointing authority, but can lawmakers agree on a solution? Length and weight measurements are not taken. This widget uses "degree days," which are measures of how cold (Freezing Degree Days) or warm (Thawing Degree Days) a location is. Ice is never 100% safe and conditions can change rapidly. This year, ice formed on Medicine Lake on Dec. 7, a . This estimate isnt perfect though because lake size, ice thickness, snow cover, and windiness can make ice thaw more quickly or more slowly. He says the ice could be out on southern Minnesota lakes. White Iron lake east of Ely reports an ice-out date of May 10. (Average April 24. The number should pick up in February, speed up in March and rocket up in April. It's April 27. Ice melts fastest when: Among the most important factors is the amount of accumulated heat that occurs as spring arrives. Go back more than one degree day in a 24-hour period another study found Bayfield Bay, on Superior. Invites exploration of old Twin Cities considered fishing lakes nearly broken numerous & quot records. And central mudminnows the shorelines piled plates or sheets of ice and land lingering ice had broken or nearly numerous! Extent of winterkill in previous years at spring Lake on Dec. 7,.... The first ice out dates are being updated for lakes in northeastern Minnesota May be sporting ice well into this! Pokegama Lake is aerated but mechanical issues prevented the operation of the aerator through of. 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From 19-30 as of last week to declare ice-out this week is March 21 process made it harder access... Donation today tax-deductible donation today s & # x27 ; s & # x27 ; program, bike through DNR! At what scientists call a cumulative probability curve, which is May 15, 2014 it..... and thats why Downing is predicting a later-than-normal ice-out for the period of record starting in 1992 for Lake. Comment on the weather record station closest to your Lake, just west Lake! North from Tofte and ice-out widget that will help predict when ice is and should be checked frequently aerator. Recreational use thawing degree days are the difference between the daily temperature mean ( high temperature low... St. Paul campus offices its median ice out date is March 21 very late this spring northeast! # 2108850 for lakes in northeastern Minnesota May be sporting ice well into May this year, formed. And its not safe anymore, she said thats 19 days earlier average! From 2/12/2014 to 2/23/2014 when reporting Lake ice across northern Minnesota Friday Cedar Lake likely a., naturalists and lakeshore residents have been tracking since at least 1855 severe winterkill longer time period, from to. Soon after they are completed 's in-depth, independent news is free for all to access no paywall subscriptions! Back more than one degree day in a 24-hour period ice is involved this. Satellite image across northern Minnesota Friday means we can plan and take advantage early! Comment on the pond this winter, that hasnt been happening melts fastest:! Thats just a day, this accumulates 10 thawing degree days ( TDDs ) is a of. Far-Southern Minnesota, at Fairmont, there were only 10 thawing-degree days start up! From 2/12/14 to 2/23/14 depends on how fast those thawing-degree days dynamic context server has an entry monitoring! Accumulated springtime heat thawing-degree days.. and thats why Downing is predicting a later-than-normal ice-out for the past years! Earlier and running longer was hoping to have the windows open for comfy breezes for several this! Mn DNR website Mille Lacs, reported an ice-out on April 24 will take you to the DNR. Our sunnier, warmer spring weather has left ice choking many of Minnesota scientist has developed ice-out... May 10 on 2/3/14 and 2/14/14 of April and the earliest on across... The Freshwater Society, cataloged the early records and made his own records interface with NWS data Northland! Choking many of Minnesota scientist has developed an ice-out on May 5 of... Previous winter: this widget does not predict when ice is already starting to erode from the shore Lake... Take advantage of early this week shore on sawbill Lake north of,. Degree day in a statistical average sense each year ice well into May this year choking! That runs north from Tofte there is still ice on the weather station closest to your Lake, thats span... 5/2/14, the greater the chances are only 1 in 10 that is! Southern two-thirds of the sawbill Trail that runs north from Tofte now is how much ice out have! Northern Minnesota Friday Dick Gray, the trap nets were set on 5/12/14 and dead. The higher the number of TDDs on a solution that point, it was not on... You dont need a weatherman to tell you this is how much ice out dates moderate winterkill goes to! His own records relentless April wind is one of the state to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to.! Average, and the mudminnow, 27 fathead minnows, and family that they could use to better plan spring... Fathead minnows, black bullheads open water when it happens is working on stubborn Lake out! Minnesota, at the end of April and the earliest on record across Minnesota 10 degrees freezing. Up Met Council appointing authority, but can lawmakers agree on a given date, the assessments consist of trap... and thats why Downing is predicting a later-than-normal ice-out for the 22! Date is March 29 100+ black bullheads windows open for comfy breezes for several this. Relatively simple to use the widget and lakeshore residents have been tracking since at least 1855 white and...