The cold spell earlier this month in historical perspective represented the third coldest ever March 1-10 in the modern state records. Only 1943 and 1960 were colder in early March. This exacerbated already thick lake ice and deeply frozen soils. Last week, we noted that the deep soil frost will take some time to thaw this spring. Similarly lake ice, now up to 50 inches thick in some places, will take a good long time to disappear as well, as it did in those other years with a cold March like 1943 and 1960. In addition, ice dams may be a problem on some Minnesota rivers.