IceOutDates.com

Minnesota · Washington County

McDonald Lake Ice-Out Dates

The ice usually goes out of McDonald Lake around April 6 — the first week of April. Earliest ever: March 3 (2024). Latest: April 28 (2018).

McDonald Lake ice-out dates, 1993–2024FebMarAprMay1993: April 121994: April 11995: April 151996: April 191997: April 111998: March 291999: March 302000: March 72001: April 152002: April 142003: April 22004: April 62005: April 62006: April 72007: March 262008: April 202009: April 22011: April 102012: March 182013: April 272014: April 132015: March 292016: March 162017: March 272018: April 282019: April 82020: April 12021: March 242022: April 112023: April 15Usually Apr 62024: March 32024
April 6Usually around
March 3Earliest ever (2024)
April 28Latest ever (2018)
31Years of record (1993–2024)

The 2027 season

Tracking resumes when the ice forms.

Every recorded ice-out

31 years on the books, 1993–2024. Newest first.

YearIce-out date
2024March 3
2023April 15
2022April 11
2021March 24
2020April 1
2019April 8
2018April 28
2017March 27
2016March 16
2015March 29
2014April 13
2013April 27
2012March 18
2011April 10
2009April 2
2008April 20
2007March 26
2006April 7
2005April 6
2004April 6
2003April 2
2002April 14
2001April 15
2000March 7
1999March 30
1998March 29
1997April 11
1996April 19
1995April 15
1994April 1
1993April 12

When McDonald freezes over

McDonald Lake usually freezes over around November 25 — the fourth week of November. Earliest on record: November 7 (2019–20). Latest: December 20 (2001–02).

November 25Usually freezes around
November 7 Earliest on record (2019–20)
December 20 Latest on record (2001–02)
33 Winters of record (1992–2026)

A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2025–26 froze on November 28. Newest first.

WinterIce-in date
2025–26November 28
2024–25November 27
2023–24November 25
2022–23November 16
2020–21December 1
2019–20November 7
2018–19November 10
2017–18December 7
2016–17December 8
2015–16December 18
2014–15November 13
2013–14November 22
2012–13November 24
2011–12November 30
2010–11November 23
2009–10December 4
2008–09November 18
2007–08November 23
2006–07December 1
2005–06November 30
2004–05November 24
2003–04November 25
2002–03November 26
2001–02December 20
2000–01November 19
1999–00December 6
1998–99December 17
1997–98November 12
1996–97November 12
1995–96November 9
1994–95November 25
1993–94November 25
1992–93November 14

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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