Eagle Lake Ice-Out

Analysis of ice-out data for Eagle Lake, WI since 1999.
Pike Chain
Climate/Weather
Limnology
Vis
Author

Derek H. Ogle

Published

Feb 3, 2023

Modified

May 7, 2023

Summary
  • Eagle Lake, in Bayfield County, is 163 acres with a maximum depth of 52 feet.
  • Ice-out dates recorded from 1999 to 2022.
  • Average ice-out date is Apr 18.
  • Range of ice-out dates is approximately eight weeks from Mar 15 (in 2011) to May 11 (in 2012) (see Figure 1).
  • There are weak indications for a slightly later ice-out date in the last decade (see Figure 2).
  • Ice-out dates were mostly similar to those from a nearby similarly-sized lake (see Figure 3).

 

Ice-Out Dates

Figure 1: Eagle Lake ice out dates, 1999-2022.

 

Figure 2: Eagle Lake ice out dates by year. Note no data for 1998.

 

Comparison to Other Lakes

Lake Nebagamon is much larger (986 acres) but with a similar maximum depth (56 ft) as Eagle Lake that is approximately 20 miles nearly straight west of Eagle Lake. With the exception of a few notable years, the ice-out dates between these two lakes are quite similar. Lake Mendota is a very large (9781 acres) and deep (83 ft maximum) lake that is approximately 350 miles south of Eagle Lake. The ice-out dates for Mendota are always before those for Eagle Lake, but they very generally track together.

Figure 3: Eagle Lake ice out dates by year with other lakes shown for comparison.