Noted: The state Climatology Office, which maintains a list of dates for the ice status of Lakes Mendota, Monona and Wingra back into the mid-19th century, reports the official call is made after personal observations, including those at the Washburn Observatory at UW-Madison.
Climatology Office manager Lyle Anderson said his office has made the call for the last 30 years, trying hard to follow the observational practices that would have been used during the 19th century, but because the rules have been handed down orally, thereâ??s some question how scientific itâ??s been.