University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: wisconsin climatology

Guest Post: Madison’s Lakes are Thawed for Spring

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It’s no joke- the April Fool’s Day view in Madison was one of open water, retreating ice and a few brave American coots and other waterfowl already taking advantage. That’s right, our “ice-on” season is over. Lake Mendota logged 86 days of ice cover, while Lake Monona was frozen for 97 this year – both …

Lake Mendota’s Freeze Earliest in… well…Three Years

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As you now probably know, the Wisconsin State Climatologist’s office has officially called it – Lake Mendota achieved “ice on” this Monday, December 16th. And that means our iconic lake has frozen twice in the same calendar year! (Not all that unusual, but still cool.) While the freeze comes nearly a month earlier than the …