Ice timing (formation or ice-on and clearance or ice-off) for Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, USA (1927-2022)

Lakes are sentinels of environmental change. In cold climates, lake ice phenology–the timing and duration of ice cover during winter–is a key control on ecosystem function. Ice phenology appears to be driven by a complex interplay between physical characteristics and climatic conditions. Under climate change, lakes are generally freezing later, melting out earlier, and experiencing a shorter duration of ice cover; however, few long-term records exist for large, high-elevation lakes which may be particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Here, we provide an ice phenology data over the last century (1927-2022) for North America’s largest high-elevation lake—Yellowstone Lake.