Minnesota · Itasca County
Prairie Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Prairie Lake around April 23 — the fourth week of April. Earliest ever: March 30 (2012). Latest: May 11 (2013).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
16 years on the books, 1996–2026. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | April 24 |
| 2025 | April 21 |
| 2023 | May 5 |
| 2022 | May 7 |
| 2020 | April 23 |
| 2018 | May 4 |
| 2017 | April 9 |
| 2015 | April 14 |
| 2014 | May 3 |
| 2013 | May 11 |
| 2012 | March 30 |
| 2007 | April 23 |
| 2005 | April 17 |
| 2004 | April 20 |
| 2002 | April 21 |
| 1996 | May 3 |
When Prairie freezes over
Prairie Lake usually freezes over around November 19 — the third week of November. Earliest on record: November 6 (2004–05). Latest: December 20 (2015–16).
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 30 |
| 2023–24 | November 28 |
| 2022–23 | November 21 |
| 2018–19 | November 10 |
| 2017–18 | November 8 |
| 2015–16 | December 20 |
| 2006–07 | November 19 |
| 2004–05 | November 6 |
| 2003–04 | November 8 |
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.