What is the temperature of ice? The answer is that it depends on the temperature under which it forms. It can be anywhere from absolute zero to 32 °F. At 32 °F, of course, it starts to melt. An ice rink will have temperatures anywhere from the mid-teens to the upper twenties, as the type of ice preferred is different depending upon the use. Colder ice is generally used for hockey, while figure skaters generally prefer warmer ice. The National Hockey League specifies that ice temperature should be 25 °F, with ambient temperature of 58 °F and relative humidity between 35 and 40 percent. Still, ice conditions will vary depending upon type and quality of water among other factors.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu