old/late season ice and its quality?

 I know the season isnt over yet but I was curious about late season ice and its quality. Is late season ice like early season ice? For instance early season ice may be thin but its still climable; is it the same for late seasosn ice? Or, when you see thin ice in the late season, do you weigh-your-options a little more? Are there red flags that say hey, this chunk of ice is done for the year? Is there a certain duration of x-degree weather that should be a big warning? I figured there are a few of us that could benefit from the experience of veteran climbers. Thanks for any discussion.