What is the water temperature at when there is ice on top of the water, several inches thick.?

Answer 1

Ice only begins to form on a pond when the ponds temperature reaches freezing. As the water temperature at the surface cools it sinks and warmer water rises. This process continues until the pond water has been well mixed and reaches the freezing temperature. This is why ice forms from the top down.

Answer 2

the water below the surface is 33 degrees depending on the depth of the water, it gets warmer in deaper water, I live on a boat so i monitor this on a regular basis, speaking of this i must go out and clear some ice,,,,,dam its cold out