Red Lake, Ontario, ice-out unlikely to be early

With a snow pack that measured four feet most of the winter, it is unlikely that Red Lake, Ontario will see an early ice-out.
Last year the ice-out tied a record when it occurred April 20.
Northwestern Ontario had what was really a historically average winter but since climate change started happening seemed unusually cold and snowy.
The result was three feet of lake ice but also a heavy snow pack that must be melted off before the ice will begin to disappear.
Also, the white slushy ice that results from heavy snow is more reflective and is slower to melt than "blue ice" that occurs during winters with little snow.
The unknown factor is predicting ice-out is the weather over the next month.
Warm weather -- with no more snowfalls -- will hasten the procedure. Every snowfall sets it back.
The average ice-out for Red Lake is May 8. My guess is this year it won't be any earlier than that.
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