"An earlier than average ice out has been called for 2016. The Messenger made the official call on April 5 between noon and midnight. The average ice-out date is April 23 with the record earliest on March 26, 2012 and the record latest on May 16, 2013." "Due to the significant cloud cover, a clear satellite photo was unavailable on the official ice-out day however sources from the north and south ends of the lake confirmed what the Messenger saw – very little ice on the lake. The long-standing definition of ice out on Mille Lacs is when a boat can travel from Isle Bay to Garrison Bay without hitting ice which appeared to be possible. The rain and winds on April broke up the southern ice that was shown on the April 4 satellite image."
