Minnesota · Cass County
Rainy Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Rainy Lake around April 15 — the third week of April. Earliest ever: March 30 (2016). Latest: May 3 (1996).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
27 years on the books, 1985–2023. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2023 | May 1 |
| 2020 | April 18 |
| 2019 | April 23 |
| 2018 | April 30 |
| 2017 | April 5 |
| 2016 | March 30 |
| 2015 | April 11 |
| 2008 | April 27 |
| 2007 | April 21 |
| 2006 | April 2 |
| 2005 | April 10 |
| 2004 | April 17 |
| 2003 | April 15 |
| 2002 | April 13 |
| 2001 | April 26 |
| 2000 | March 31 |
| 1999 | April 9 |
| 1998 | April 8 |
| 1996 | May 3 |
| 1993 | April 19 |
| 1992 | April 7 |
| 1991 | April 9 |
| 1990 | April 22 |
| 1989 | April 27 |
| 1987 | April 8 |
| 1986 | April 10 |
| 1985 | April 16 |
When Rainy freezes over
Rainy Lake usually freezes over around November 21 — the third week of November. Earliest on record: November 6 (1993–94). Latest: December 8 (1998–99).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2023–24 froze on November 28. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2023–24 | November 28 |
| 2022–23 | November 20 |
| 2018–19 | November 13 |
| 2017–18 | November 10 |
| 2015–16 | November 28 |
| 2013–14 | November 22 |
| 2007–08 | November 24 |
| 2006–07 | November 19 |
| 2005–06 | December 1 |
| 2004–05 | November 24 |
| 2003–04 | November 8 |
| 2002–03 | November 13 |
| 2001–02 | November 29 |
| 2000–01 | November 21 |
| 1999–00 | December 7 |
| 1998–99 | December 8 |
| 1997–98 | November 16 |
| 1995–96 | November 11 |
| 1994–95 | November 29 |
| 1993–94 | November 6 |
| 1990–91 | November 28 |
| 1989–90 | November 17 |
| 1987–88 | November 21 |
| 1986–87 | November 11 |
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.