Minnesota · Otter Tail County

Tonseth Lake Ice-Out Dates

The ice usually goes out of Tonseth Lake around April 15 — the third week of April. Earliest ever: March 22 (2012). Latest: May 9 (2013).

Tonseth Lake ice-out dates, 1981–2022MarAprMay1981: April 11982: April 231983: April 171984: April 151985: April 171986: April 121987: April 91988: April 91989: April 231990: April 211991: April 101992: April 51993: April 181994: April 151995: April 211996: April 301997: April 281998: April 71999: April 92000: March 252001: April 252002: April 162003: April 132004: April 72005: April 92006: April 122007: April 192008: May 22009: April 242010: April 22011: April 262012: March 222013: May 92014: April 232015: April 112016: March 262017: April 3Usually Apr 152022: May 32022
April 15Usually around
March 22Earliest ever (2012)
May 9Latest ever (2013)
38Years of record (1981–2022)

The 2027 season

Tracking resumes when the ice forms.

Every recorded ice-out

38 years on the books, 1981–2022. Newest first.

YearIce-out date
2022May 3
2017April 3
2016March 26
2015April 11
2014April 23
2013May 9
2012March 22
2011April 26
2010April 2
2009April 24
2008May 2
2007April 19
2006April 12
2005April 9
2004April 7
2003April 13
2002April 16
2001April 25
2000March 25
1999April 9
1998April 7
1997April 28
1996April 30
1995April 21
1994April 15
1993April 18
1992April 5
1991April 10
1990April 21
1989April 23
1988April 9
1987April 9
1986April 12
1985April 17
1984April 15
1983April 17
1982April 23
1981April 1

When Tonseth freezes over

Tonseth Lake usually freezes over around November 21 — the third week of November. Earliest on record: November 4 (1991–92). Latest: December 9 (2016–17).

November 21Usually freezes around
November 4 Earliest on record (1991–92)
December 9 Latest on record (2016–17)
37 Winters of record (1980–2017)

A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2016–17 froze on December 9. Newest first.

WinterIce-in date
2016–17December 9
2015–16November 27
2014–15November 14
2013–14November 22
2012–13November 23
2011–12November 20
2010–11November 23
2009–10December 5
2008–09November 21
2007–08November 23
2006–07November 30
2005–06November 17
2004–05November 24
2003–04November 8
2002–03November 13
2001–02December 7
2000–01November 21
1999–00November 29
1998–99November 20
1997–98November 12
1996–97November 12
1995–96November 11
1994–95November 30
1993–94November 8
1992–93November 14
1991–92November 4
1990–91November 28
1989–90November 17
1988–89November 18
1987–88November 21
1986–87November 11
1985–86November 13
1984–85November 17
1983–84November 25
1982–83November 13
1981–82November 21
1980–81November 24

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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