Minnesota · Becker County

Bad Medicine Lake Ice-Out Dates

The ice usually goes out of Bad Medicine Lake around April 22 — the fourth week of April. Earliest ever: April 6 (2021). Latest: May 11 (1979).

Bad Medicine Lake ice-out dates, 1974–2026AprMay1974: April 281975: May 61976: April 141977: April 191978: April 251979: May 111980: April 271981: April 81982: April 281983: April 241984: April 181985: April 211986: April 121987: April 131988: April 181989: April 281990: April 251991: April 201992: April 251993: April 211994: April 221995: April 301996: May 91997: April 281998: April 101999: April 222000: April 122001: April 282002: April 232003: April 152004: April 212005: April 142006: April 132007: April 252008: May 92015: April 152016: April 142017: April 82018: May 22019: April 272020: April 292021: April 62023: May 52024: April 9Usually Apr 222026: April 212026
April 22Usually around
April 6Earliest ever (2021)
May 11Latest ever (1979)
45Years of record (1974–2026)

The 2027 season

Tracking resumes when the ice forms.

Every recorded ice-out

45 years on the books, 1974–2026. Newest first.

YearIce-out date
2026April 21
2024April 9
2023May 5
2021April 6
2020April 29
2019April 27
2018May 2
2017April 8
2016April 14
2015April 15
2008May 9
2007April 25
2006April 13
2005April 14
2004April 21
2003April 15
2002April 23
2001April 28
2000April 12
1999April 22
1998April 10
1997April 28
1996May 9
1995April 30
1994April 22
1993April 21
1992April 25
1991April 20
1990April 25
1989April 28
1988April 18
1987April 13
1986April 12
1985April 21
1984April 18
1983April 24
1982April 28
1981April 8
1980April 27
1979May 11
1978April 25
1977April 19
1976April 14
1975May 6
1974April 28

When Bad Medicine freezes over

Bad Medicine Lake usually freezes over around December 1 — the first week of December. Earliest on record: November 19 (1996–97). Latest: December 20 (2015–16).

December 1Usually freezes around
November 19 Earliest on record (1996–97)
December 20 Latest on record (2015–16)
41 Winters of record (1973–2025)

A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2024–25 froze on December 11. Newest first.

WinterIce-in date
2024–25December 11
2022–23December 1
2019–20December 2
2017–18November 22
2015–16December 20
2008–09December 4
2007–08November 30
2006–07November 30
2005–06November 30
2004–05December 14
2003–04November 25
2002–03November 25
2001–02December 19
2000–01December 5
1999–00December 16
1998–99December 19
1997–98November 22
1996–97November 19
1995–96November 22
1994–95December 6
1993–94November 26
1992–93November 27
1991–92November 25
1990–91November 29
1989–90November 25
1988–89November 28
1987–88December 6
1986–87December 2
1985–86November 21
1984–85December 3
1983–84December 2
1982–83November 26
1981–82December 8
1980–81December 2
1979–80December 1
1978–79November 28
1977–78November 24
1976–77November 27
1975–76December 2
1974–75December 3
1973–74December 6

Records: Minnesota DNR ice-in records. Last checked August 2026.

Late ice is unpredictable — no date on this page says the ice is safe.

Records: Minnesota DNR ice-out records. Last checked August 2026.

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