MADISON, Wis. — It’s one of the greatest mysteries occurring in the Madison area every winter — when will Lake Mendota and the four other surrounding lakes freeze over?
Lake Mendota typically freezes around Dec. 20, but climate experts say you should really expect the unexpected.
Playing off the uncertainty, the Clean Lakes Alliance, a non-profit that protects the lakes in the Yahara River Watershed, is kicking off its 9th annual Mendota Freeze Contest.
People are asked to guess the official ice-on date for Lake Mendota. All those who correctly guess the date will be entered to win a $1,000 gift card prize. You can click here to enter and view contest rules.
“When the lakes freeze, they become our largest parks,” said Clean Lakes Alliance founder and executive director James Tye. “In a year when we all need large, outdoor areas to spread out and avoid gathering, having frozen lakes will give our community a great outdoor escape.”
According to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, which makes the official ruling on ice cover, Lake Mendota always freezes over, even if for a short period.
Last year, a warm spell near the end of December kept Lake Mendota open through 2019. The lake was officially declared frozen on Jan. 12, 2020 and declared open on March 22.
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