Minnesota · Becker County
Cotton Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Cotton Lake around April 23 — the fourth week of April. Earliest ever: March 24 (2012). Latest: November 23 (2010).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
20 years on the books, 1994–2026. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | April 21 |
| 2025 | April 17 |
| 2023 | May 5 |
| 2022 | May 7 |
| 2017 | April 8 |
| 2016 | April 2 |
| 2014 | April 26 |
| 2013 | May 12 |
| 2012 | March 24 |
| 2011 | April 29 |
| 2010 | November 23 |
| 2009 | April 24 |
| 2008 | May 6 |
| 2007 | April 23 |
| 2006 | April 13 |
| 2004 | April 17 |
| 2002 | April 16 |
| 1997 | April 28 |
| 1995 | April 25 |
| 1994 | April 18 |
When Cotton freezes over
Cotton Lake usually freezes over around November 24 — the fourth week of November. Earliest on record: November 20 (2011–12). Latest: December 7 (2001–02).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2025–26 froze on November 29. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | November 29 |
| 2024–25 | November 23 |
| 2012–13 | November 24 |
| 2011–12 | November 20 |
| 2010–11 | November 23 |
| 2008–09 | November 21 |
| 2007–08 | November 26 |
| 2006–07 | November 30 |
| 2003–04 | December 4 |
| 2001–02 | December 7 |
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.