Lakes making ice

[stinkstar]

With the colder temps coming in later next week, how long does it take with minimal snow cover to get swamps and lakes to firm up?? I know it's a vague question with alot of variables.. just curious on input.

 

[garageguy]

It will take a while, maybe two weeks or more of below freezing Temps during the day. There is zero frost in the ground and two weeks ago it was in the 60's and above. When it flips,, it will flip hard but it's going to take some time to draw the frost down.

 

[pclark]

I looked back in my records on first freeze back to when we bought our place 9 years ago:

2015 12/1
2016. 11/16
2017 11/23
2018. 11/15
2019. 11/14
2020. 11/21
2021. 11/21
2022. 11/22
2023. 11/29

Water temperature definitely getting lower, some of the swamps have very thin ice as of this morning. No ice on lakes yet, guys still fishing. Once we get some cold calm nights the lakes will start to freeze, maybe by mid December we’ll have a few inches of ice or more. Supposed to get cold starting Tuesday.

 

[euphoric1]

Looks like what I'm seeing is some pretty cold ice making temps, but.... and I am not complaining but seeing a favorable weather pattern for some possible substantial snow, especially in the U.P. guess at this point beggars cant be choosers, would be nice for solid freeze before snow but early substantial snow would be nice too. Fingers crossed for the businesses in the north woods and enthusiasts alike. I'm hoping for a mid december mad dash to the north woods or U.P. to get some miles on my new toy!! fingers crossed for all waiting on mother nature!!

 

[SledTL]

I would bet that there is walkable ice within 2 weekends. Bays started to already get ice in Northern MN this past weekend. Some of the typical early locations say they are going to allow people out after thanksgiving. The swamps are FILLED with water here. Definitely need this cold before snow.

 

[Highflyer]

I would bet that there is walkable ice within 2 weekends. Bays started to already get ice in Northern MN this past weekend. Some of the typical early locations say they are going to allow people out after thanksgiving. The swamps are FILLED with water here. Definitely need this cold before snow.

I agree. The next week will have ice on small lakes.

 

[Highflyer]

Small lakes in Northern Wisconsin are already starting to ice over. This should go quickly given the forecast for the next 10 days.

 

[goofy600]

This was Tuesday, back bays froze over and then we left Wednesday some of the edges of rest of the lake starting to freeze up.

 

[goofygus]

Ice came in overnight on our lake (Big Chetac, south of Hayward)