Dillon Reservoir recorded its second-latest freeze on the record books following warm start to winter

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People skate, slide and play hockey out on the ice forming on Dillon Reservoir recently. To see your photos featured in print or online, email submissions to share@summitdaily.com.
Stephen Johnson/Courtesy photo

At the start of January, Denver Water estimated the Dillon Reservoir would not freeze over until the end of the month. That prediction held true, and the reservoir had its second-latest freeze on record.

The reservoir froze over Jan. 26, according to Jimmy Luthye, the senior media relations coordinator at Denver Water. Luthye wrote in an email that the latest freeze on record was for the winter of 1980-1981, when the reservoir froze Jan. 31.

This year’s freeze beat out the previous second-latest freeze by a few days, as in the winter of 2017-2018, the reservoir froze on Jan. 24.



Luthye previously wrote to Summit Daily News that warm temperatures in early winter and high winds in December led to the reservoir’s late freeze. The average freeze date, according to Luthye, is Dec. 25. Denver Water records for freeze and thaw dates start in 1966.

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