It may turn out to be a record-breaking year for Alaska's Annual Ice Classic contest.

Although there are beginning to be open holes above the tripod area on the Tanana as well as open holes below, temperatures continue to dip below freezing at night in the area, keeping the ice from deteriorating enough to let go its hold. Those holes forming above are not in the main channel of the river.

Nightime temperatures are not slated to go above freezing for another four days. Forecasts are calling for the nightime temp to hit 32 degrees on Monday, which is coincidentally the latest that the tripod has tripped in the history of the classic.

Although today’s temperature in the area is expected to get as high as 54 degrees, that is expected to drop down to the high 30s in coming days and not forecasted to rise until Sunday when it should reach 45 degrees. Monday, it is expected to reach 52 degrees during the daytime. Friday’s forecast calls for snow and rain.

The ice on the Nenana River below the Tanana River tripod site went out on May 8th.

The record latest breakup occurred on May 20th at 11:24 am in 1964. The next earliest was on today’s date, May 16th, in 1945, when the ice went out at 9:41 am.

This year’s Ice Classic Jackpot is $318,500.