Let's see what condition the ice is in

Nenana Ice Classic 2009
Ice Conditions
Updated April 27, 2009 (photo says March 27)
The last ice measurement we took was on April 23 the ice was 42.7 inches thick. There will be no more ice measurements this year due to the ice conditions. There is water on top of the ice on the banks of the Tanana River. There are no open holes yet on the Tanana River.

The Nenana River went out late Saturday afternoon, and the water flow is cutting into the Tanana River ice. The Nenana River runs into the Tanana River about 1/2 downstream from where the Tripod is standing on the Tanana River.
The ice on the Tanana River generally breaks up about 2 weeks to 10 days after the Nenana River goes out.
The 5 day forecast for the week of April 27th is daytime temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees and between 38 and 41 degrees in the evenings. If temperatures reach 70 and stay warm we will start seeing more action with ice melt and the ice could go out as early as this coming weekend.
Again there will be no more ice measurement this year, however we will continue to update photos every other day.

Puddle Walkin'

~From the Fairbanks News Miner

Photo by John Wagner


Joel Hales, 11, trudges through a deep puddle bordering the Pioneer Park parking lot on his way home from school Monday afternoon, April 28, 2008, despite chilly temperatures in the 30’s. When asked what his parents say when he comes home wet and muddy, Hales replied, “They get used to it.” According to the National Weather Service, expect cloudy skies for the rest of the week with sporadic rain and snow and highs from 40 to 55 degrees.


Check here for the latest break up conditions: nenana ice classic

Ice Goes Out

Mountains in this picture appear closer than they are.



Ice Conditions

The current conditions on the Tanana River are as follows:


The Tanana River officially went out on April 27th, 2007 at 3:47 pm Alaska Standard Time.


We are still entering guesses in to our database, when that has been completed and we have finished checking everything, we will begin the process of contacting the winners.


Thank you for playing Nenana Ice Classic 2007.


The Jackpot for 2006 was $270,500.00. The Jackpot for 2007 is $303,272.00.

They won't be contacting me But I did guess the right day! Congrats to the winners!

Boats Breaking Out

And a lost shovel shows up! Nice warm day on Prince William Sound.

Its also nice in the interior where the Ice Conditions are as follows as of April 19th.

WE ARE NO LONGER TAKING ICE MEASUREMENTS DUE TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE ICE!!
The current temperature highs are between 40 and 50 degrees during the day. During the evening it is cooling down to around 25 to 32 degrees. During the day the ice and snow on top of the ice are melting. When it cools off in the eveings, the water refreezes. There is a lot of water on top of the ice on the banks. We are starting to see signs of the ice rotting between the Tripod and the river bank. We expect the Nenana River to go out sometime within the next couple of days. The Nenana river is located 1/4 mile down river from where the Tripod is sitting on the Tanana River. The Tanana River usually goes out about a week to 10 days after the Nenana River. If the Nenana River goes out within the next couple of days the Tanana is sure to follow. Both rivers are very low, a good rain would definately help move the ice out.

Nenana Ice Classic

7 Chances to win!

Its time once again for all Alaskans to play the Nenana Ice Classic ! At $2.50 a ticket we try and guess the exact minute the ice goes out on the Tanana River in Nenana, Alaska. There is a tripod set in the ice and when the ice breaks up, knocking over the tripod and tripping the wire, it stops the clock. Alaskans have been playing this guessing game since 1917 making this year the 91st year for the Nenana Ice Classic .

The earliest the ice has gone out is April 20th in 1940 at 3:27pm and the latest a month later on May 20th in 1964 at 11:41AM. Lots of leeway there. Lots of variables, too. Educated guesses for this years breakup are for the second week in May. Contest closes on April 5th, 2007. All times are Alaska Standard Time and not Alaska Daylight Savings time as the Tripod was placed before we reverted to ADST.

I'm going to spread my 7 guesses out from late April to early May. Pay out is June 1, 2007.