MADISON LAKES ICE SUMMARY

State Climatology Office


 

MENDOTA

MONONA

WINGRA

THIS YEAR 2002-03

Date lake froze

4 Jan

9 Dec, 4 Jan

2 Dec

Date lake opened

3 Apr

15 Dec, 22 Mar

24 Mar

Duration, days

89

83

112

LAST YEAR 2001-02

Date lake froze

2 Jan, 4 Mar

1 Jan

24 Dec

Date lake opened

12 Jan, 15 Mar

26 Feb

14 Mar

Duration, days

21

56

80

MEDIAN DATES AND DURATION OF ICE COVER

Median Freeze Date

20 Dec

15 Dec

29 Nov

Median Opening Date

5 Apr

31 Mar

25 Mar

Median Duration, days

105

104

116

RECORD DATES FOR LAKE TO FREEZE

Earliest Freeze Date

23 Nov 1880

22 Nov 1880

2 Nov 1913

   Second Earliest

25 Nov 1857

23 Nov 1857

5 Nov 1991

Latest Freeze Date

30 Jan 1932

30 Jan 1932

29 Dec 1877

   Second Latest

14 Jan 1890, 2000

14 Jan 1890, 2000

24 Dec 2001

RECORD DATES FOR LAKE TO OPEN

Earliest Opening Date

27 Feb 1998

26 Feb 2002

26 Feb 1998

   Second Earliest

7 Mar 2000

27 Feb 1998

2 Mar 1882

Latest Opening Date

6 May 1857

4 May 1857

29 Apr 1881

   Second Latest

3 May 1881

1 May 1881

19 Apr 1975

RECORDS FOR DURATION OF ICE COVER, NUMBER OF DAYS AND SEASON

Shortest Duration

21, 2001–02

49, 1997–98

70, 1877–78

   Second Shortest

47, 1997–98

52, 1999–00

77, 1999–00

Longest Duration

161, 1880–81

160, 1880–81

164, 1880–81

   Second Longest

151, 1856–57

151, 1856–57

145, 1887–88

RECORDS FOR DURATION OF ICE COVER, NUMBER OF DAYS AND SEASON

Range of Years

1852-2003

1851-2003

1877-2003

Number of closings

149

150

65

Number of openings

149

149

66

Number of durations

148

149

52

Long-term variation in ice duration on Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota Ice Records

Long-term variation in ice duration on Lake Monona

Lake Monona Ice Records

 Long-term variation in ice duration on Lake Wingra


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Latest revision: 26 November 2003

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URL Address: https://www.aos.wisc.edu/oldsco/lakes/icesum03.html