Rain, warmer temps into next week will accelerate lake ice-outs
After slow start, Twin Cities area lakes now ice-free
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It’s the time of year when our Land of 10,000 Lakes changes from ice to water. Ice-out is progressing slowly north this spring. That’s what we’d expect given our harsh winter and reluctant spring so far.
NASA’s MODIS Terra image (above) Wednesday shows the big lakes in central and northern Minnesota are still ice-covered.
Here’s an update on where the ice-out process stands as of April 26.
Twin Cities lakes
Lakes around the greater Twin Cities are now ice-free. The ice went out on most lakes about five days later than the median date this year. Here’s the ice-out data for a few select bellwether Twin Cities lakes:
Bde Maka Ska, April 14 (median is April 9)
White Bear Lake, April 18 (median is April 14)
Lake Minnetonka, April 19 (Median date is April 13)
Ice-out progressing slowly north
Ice is out on most lakes now from the Twin Cities to just south of Brainerd. Ice-out was reported Tuesday on Mile Lake, which straddles the border of Cass and Crow Wing counties near Baxter.
Warmer days ahead
Our inbound rain along with temperatures in the 50s, 60s and possibly 70 degrees next week should accelerate the ice-out process.
It won’t be long before many of us will be boating on our favorite lake again.
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