Sign of spring: Lake Pepin is first in Minnesota to declare ice-out
April 21, 2018 at 8:20PM
![A thin ice sign marks the area under the bridge separating Grays Bay and Wayzata Bay. ] (Aaron Lavinsky | StarTribune) Over the course of a particularly Minnesotan 24 hours, three vehicles have gone through the ice on Lake Minnetonka. Authorities are warning drivers off of the thin ice, which has become tempting during this week's freeze. We'll be taking a look at how this year compares to other years in terms of ice safety (and accidents), and what draws drivers to make this treacherous trek in](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/NNTLJTL3UFXVZW72FCMTA3AJRA.jpg?&w=712)
Sign of spring: First ice-out declared this season
Just maybe, finally, spring is on its way in Minnesota.
The state's first ice-out report was recorded Friday on Lake Pepin, signaling the start of the meltdown — though it arrived three weeks later than the median ice-out of March 31.
This year's extended winter has drastically delayed ice-out on the state's lakes. The spring milestone is usually recorded on southern Minnesota lakes at the end of March or early April, with Budd Lake, a small lake near the Iowa border, often one of the first to have open water. Instead, Budd Lake will set a record this year for its latest ice-out, breaking the record set on April 15, 2008.
Ice-out is one of Minnesota's much-anticipated signs of spring and marks the nearing of the boating season. Lake restaurants and organizations hold annual contests to predict ice-outs.
Lake Pepin's latest ice-out was set in 1843 on May 20.
To check all ice-out reports, go to dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out.
KELLY SMITH
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