Minnesota lakes have 2 fewer weeks of ice cover versus 50 years ago. Blame climate change.
Ice-in dates across the state are, on average, coming nine days later than they were in 1967, according to new data released by the Minnesota DNR and MPCA. On the other end, ice-out dates are coming about five days earlier. "That means two fewer weeks each winter for ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling across our state’s lakes," the agencies said.