It’s Official – Ice-Out Called on Highland Lake on March 27

Early, but not the earliest, since 1992

March 24, 2020 • Saved under Outdoors
By Donna Baker-Hartwell

March 27: A windy night last night broke up the ice on Highland Lake. It’s official: an early morning ice-out was called on Friday, March 27.

Just two weeks ago, I could still see evidence of the winter activity in the etching of snowmobile tracks, skis, and ice fishing gear on the surface of the ice. The ice still appeared thick in the middle, but the shoreline was beginning to open up and water could be seen around the edge. There was one bob house sitting on the edge of the island.

Our family has always considered “ice-out” as there being no ice between the Island and Abbott Point or the public beach. Below are historical ice-out dates, as recorded in our family journals.

• 1992: April 5
• 1993: April 21
• 1994: April 22
• 1995: April 1 (PM)
• 1996: April 15 (half out)
• 1997: April 24
• 1998: April 10
• 1999: April 9
• 2000: April 5
• 2001: April 27
• 2002: March 31
• 2003: April 21
• 2004: April /11
• 2005: Sometime after April 10
• 2006: April 1
• 2007: unknown
• 2008: April 21
• 2009: April 9
• 2010: March 21
• 2011: April 20
• 2012: March 19
• 2013: April 11 (PM)
• 2014: April 19
• 2015: April 17
• 2016: March 16
• 2017: April 16
• 2018: April 24
• 2019: April 19 after noon
• 2020: March 27 (8 AM)