Minnesota · Itasca County
Johnson Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Johnson Lake around April 22 — the fourth week of April. Earliest ever: April 9 (1981). Latest: May 8 (1996).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
28 years on the books, 1981–2008. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2008 | May 6 |
| 2007 | April 23 |
| 2006 | April 24 |
| 2005 | April 18 |
| 2004 | April 21 |
| 2003 | April 22 |
| 2002 | April 20 |
| 2001 | April 28 |
| 2000 | April 22 |
| 1999 | May 1 |
| 1998 | April 12 |
| 1997 | April 26 |
| 1996 | May 8 |
| 1995 | April 21 |
| 1994 | April 20 |
| 1993 | April 22 |
| 1992 | April 19 |
| 1991 | April 18 |
| 1990 | April 22 |
| 1989 | May 1 |
| 1988 | April 22 |
| 1987 | April 9 |
| 1986 | April 15 |
| 1985 | April 19 |
| 1984 | April 13 |
| 1983 | April 23 |
| 1982 | April 28 |
| 1981 | April 9 |
When Johnson freezes over
Johnson Lake usually freezes over around November 25 — the fourth week of November. Earliest on record: November 12 (1998–99). Latest: December 21 (1989–90).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2007–08 froze on November 23. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2007–08 | November 23 |
| 2006–07 | December 2 |
| 2005–06 | December 2 |
| 2004–05 | December 12 |
| 2003–04 | November 25 |
| 2002–03 | November 13 |
| 2001–02 | November 13 |
| 2000–01 | December 9 |
| 1999–00 | November 16 |
| 1998–99 | November 12 |
| 1997–98 | November 24 |
| 1996–97 | November 16 |
| 1995–96 | November 13 |
| 1994–95 | November 13 |
| 1993–94 | November 25 |
| 1992–93 | November 28 |
| 1991–92 | December 9 |
| 1990–91 | December 3 |
| 1989–90 | December 21 |
| 1988–89 | November 17 |
| 1987–88 | November 21 |
| 1986–87 | December 18 |
| 1985–86 | November 22 |
| 1984–85 | November 28 |
| 1983–84 | December 1 |
| 1982–83 | November 25 |
| 1981–82 | November 26 |
| 1980–81 | November 21 |
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.