Staff
Boaters rejoice!
Recent warm temperatures and high winds Tuesday helped result in “ice-out” on the north arm of Rainy Lake as of yesterday (May 15), Gordie Melville of Melaire Ltd. reported this morning.
This was a far cry from last year, when “ice-out” was on April 9—breaking the record previously set in 2010 when “ice-out” occurred April 12.
But looking back over the past 60-plus years, this isn’t the latest the ice has gone out.
It went out May 22 back in 1950.
Meanwhile, the U.S. side hasn’t declared “ice-out” yet.
According to the Falls Daily Journal, the ice still was not officially out there as of 8 p.m. yesterday.
The Daily Journal reported on its website that the ice floe from Blueberry Island on Anderson Bay was impeding boat travel, but it could be opened up by later today.
“Ice-out” is considered official when a boat can travel from Island View to Kettle Falls unimpeded by ice.
Last year, the U.S. saw “ice-out” on Good Friday (April 6).
In 2011, “ice-out” was declared May 2.
