IceOutDates.com

Minnesota · Otter Tail County

Little McDonald Lake Ice-Out Dates

The ice usually goes out of Little McDonald Lake around April 20 — the third week of April. Earliest ever: April 5 (2000). Latest: May 11 (1996).

Little McDonald Lake ice-out dates, 1977–2025AprMay1977: April 191978: April 201979: May 101980: April 221981: April 101982: April 281983: April 251984: April 161985: April 231986: April 231987: April 151988: April 191989: April 271990: April 231991: April 241992: April 181993: April 231994: April 181995: April 281996: May 111997: April 281998: April 101999: April 172000: April 52001: April 282002: April 162003: April 162004: April 182005: April 162008: May 62014: April 292015: April 152016: April 62017: April 72018: May 42019: April 272020: April 272021: April 72022: May 92023: May 62024: April 7Usually Apr 202025: April 202025
April 20Usually around
April 5Earliest ever (2000)
May 11Latest ever (1996)
42Years of record (1977–2025)

The 2027 season

Tracking resumes when the ice forms.

Every recorded ice-out

42 years on the books, 1977–2025. Newest first.

YearIce-out date
2025April 20
2024April 7
2023May 6
2022May 9
2021April 7
2020April 27
2019April 27
2018May 4
2017April 7
2016April 6
2015April 15
2014April 29
2008May 6
2005April 16
2004April 18
2003April 16
2002April 16
2001April 28
2000April 5
1999April 17
1998April 10
1997April 28
1996May 11
1995April 28
1994April 18
1993April 23
1992April 18
1991April 24
1990April 23
1989April 27
1988April 19
1987April 15
1986April 23
1985April 23
1984April 16
1983April 25
1982April 28
1981April 10
1980April 22
1979May 10
1978April 20
1977April 19

When Little McDonald freezes over

Little McDonald Lake usually freezes over around December 6 — the first week of December. Earliest on record: November 21 (1996–97). Latest: January 2 (2023–24).

December 6Usually freezes around
November 21 Earliest on record (1996–97)
January 2 Latest on record (2023–24)
43 Winters of record (1977–2026)

A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2025–26 froze on December 7. Newest first.

WinterIce-in date
2025–26December 7
2024–25December 12
2023–24January 2
2022–23December 4
2021–22December 7
2020–21December 15
2019–20December 2
2018–19November 21
2017–18December 12
2016–17December 15
2015–16December 25
2014–15November 27
2013–14November 28
2008–09December 7
2007–08December 2
2004–05December 16
2003–04December 11
2002–03November 27
2001–02December 20
2000–01December 11
1999–00December 21
1998–99December 21
1997–98December 20
1996–97November 21
1995–96November 28
1994–95December 6
1993–94November 28
1992–93December 7
1991–92November 25
1990–91December 10
1989–90December 3
1988–89December 1
1987–88December 1
1986–87December 5
1985–86November 24
1984–85December 6
1983–84December 3
1982–83December 9
1981–82December 12
1980–81December 2
1979–80December 11
1978–79November 30
1977–78December 3

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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