Minnesota · Rice County
French Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of French Lake around March 31 — the fourth week of March. Earliest ever: March 2 (2024). Latest: April 30 (2018).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
12 years on the books, 1988–2026. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | March 26 |
| 2024 | March 2 |
| 2023 | April 13 |
| 2022 | April 7 |
| 2021 | March 24 |
| 2020 | March 31 |
| 2019 | April 7 |
| 2018 | April 30 |
| 2016 | March 15 |
| 2014 | April 15 |
| 1995 | March 20 |
| 1988 | April 1 |
When French freezes over
French Lake usually freezes over around December 2 — the first week of December. Earliest on record: November 19 (1997–98). Latest: January 4 (2023–24).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2025–26 froze on December 1. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | December 1 |
| 2023–24 | January 4 |
| 2022–23 | November 21 |
| 2021–22 | December 6 |
| 2020–21 | December 1 |
| 2019–20 | December 2 |
| 2017–18 | December 7 |
| 2002–03 | December 3 |
| 1997–98 | November 19 |
| 1990–91 | December 2 |
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.