IceOutDates.com

Minnesota · Stearns County

Big Watab Lake Ice-Out Dates

The ice usually goes out of Big Watab Lake around April 12 — the second week of April. Earliest ever: March 19 (2012). Latest: May 7 (2013).

Big Watab Lake ice-out dates, 1977–2024MarAprMay1977: April 111978: April 111979: April 211980: April 181981: March 291982: April 231983: April 211984: April 121985: April 151986: April 111987: March 271988: April 91989: April 201990: April 101991: April 91992: April 71993: April 201994: April 141995: April 191996: April 251997: April 211998: April 61999: April 72000: March 242001: April 222002: April 162003: April 132004: April 72005: April 82006: April 82007: April 152008: April 282009: April 172010: April 22011: April 172012: March 192013: May 72014: April 252015: April 112016: March 282017: March 252018: May 42019: April 212020: April 112021: April 32022: April 252023: April 28Usually Apr 122024: March 192024
April 12Usually around
March 19Earliest ever (2012)
May 7Latest ever (2013)
48Years of record (1977–2024)

The 2027 season

Tracking resumes when the ice forms.

Every recorded ice-out

48 years on the books, 1977–2024. Newest first.

YearIce-out date
2024March 19
2023April 28
2022April 25
2021April 3
2020April 11
2019April 21
2018May 4
2017March 25
2016March 28
2015April 11
2014April 25
2013May 7
2012March 19
2011April 17
2010April 2
2009April 17
2008April 28
2007April 15
2006April 8
2005April 8
2004April 7
2003April 13
2002April 16
2001April 22
2000March 24
1999April 7
1998April 6
1997April 21
1996April 25
1995April 19
1994April 14
1993April 20
1992April 7
1991April 9
1990April 10
1989April 20
1988April 9
1987March 27
1986April 11
1985April 15
1984April 12
1983April 21
1982April 23
1981March 29
1980April 18
1979April 21
1978April 11
1977April 11

When Big Watab freezes over

Big Watab Lake usually freezes over around December 8 — the second week of December. Earliest on record: November 22 (1978–79). Latest: January 14 (2011–12).

December 8Usually freezes around
November 22 Earliest on record (1978–79)
January 14 Latest on record (2011–12)
45 Winters of record (1977–2025)

A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2024–25 froze on December 12. Newest first.

WinterIce-in date
2024–25December 12
2022–23December 8
2021–22December 8
2020–21December 15
2019–20December 2
2018–19November 28
2017–18December 24
2016–17December 15
2015–16December 28
2014–15November 25
2013–14December 8
2011–12January 14
2010–11December 3
2009–10December 12
2008–09December 6
2006–07January 1
2005–06December 7
2004–05December 18
2003–04December 3
2002–03December 3
2001–02December 21
2000–01December 7
1999–00December 21
1998–99December 22
1997–98December 20
1996–97November 26
1995–96November 28
1994–95December 8
1993–94November 26
1992–93December 5
1991–92November 25
1990–91December 18
1989–90December 3
1988–89December 9
1987–88December 17
1986–87December 5
1985–86November 25
1984–85December 5
1983–84December 2
1982–83November 27
1981–82December 15
1980–81December 11
1979–80December 12
1978–79November 22
1977–78November 26

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.

All Minnesota lakes →