Minnesota · Stearns County
Watab Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Watab Lake around April 10 — the second week of April. Earliest ever: March 12 (2024). Latest: May 3 (2013).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
50 years on the books, 1976–2025. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | March 29 |
| 2024 | March 12 |
| 2023 | April 19 |
| 2022 | April 22 |
| 2021 | March 30 |
| 2020 | April 8 |
| 2019 | April 19 |
| 2018 | May 1 |
| 2017 | March 28 |
| 2016 | March 17 |
| 2015 | April 5 |
| 2014 | April 23 |
| 2013 | May 3 |
| 2012 | March 20 |
| 2011 | April 13 |
| 2010 | April 1 |
| 2009 | April 15 |
| 2008 | April 24 |
| 2007 | April 14 |
| 2006 | April 4 |
| 2005 | April 7 |
| 2004 | April 6 |
| 2003 | April 13 |
| 2002 | April 16 |
| 2001 | April 20 |
| 2000 | March 19 |
| 1999 | April 3 |
| 1998 | April 4 |
| 1997 | April 20 |
| 1996 | April 25 |
| 1995 | April 19 |
| 1994 | April 13 |
| 1993 | April 19 |
| 1992 | April 6 |
| 1991 | April 6 |
| 1990 | April 8 |
| 1989 | April 19 |
| 1988 | April 8 |
| 1987 | April 1 |
| 1986 | April 9 |
| 1985 | April 12 |
| 1984 | April 11 |
| 1983 | April 15 |
| 1982 | April 20 |
| 1981 | March 28 |
| 1980 | April 8 |
| 1979 | April 23 |
| 1978 | April 13 |
| 1977 | April 10 |
| 1976 | April 8 |
When Watab freezes over
Watab Lake usually freezes over around November 25 — the fourth week of November. Earliest on record: November 5 (1996–97). Latest: December 19 (2015–16).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2020–21 froze on November 30. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2020–21 | November 30 |
| 2017–18 | November 23 |
| 2016–17 | December 9 |
| 2015–16 | December 19 |
| 2014–15 | November 15 |
| 2013–14 | November 23 |
| 2012–13 | December 6 |
| 2011–12 | December 2 |
| 2010–11 | November 29 |
| 2009–10 | December 5 |
| 2008–09 | November 21 |
| 2007–08 | November 30 |
| 2006–07 | December 1 |
| 2005–06 | November 25 |
| 2004–05 | December 1 |
| 2003–04 | November 25 |
| 2002–03 | November 14 |
| 1997–98 | November 17 |
| 1996–97 | November 5 |
| 1995–96 | November 6 |
| 1994–95 | November 29 |
| 1993–94 | November 27 |
| 1992–93 | November 29 |
| 1984–85 | November 17 |
| 1982–83 | November 15 |
| 1981–82 | December 5 |
| 1980–81 | November 25 |
| 1979–80 | November 26 |
| 1978–79 | November 23 |
| 1977–78 | November 19 |
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.