It's so warm in Alaska, the famous Iditarod dog-sled race had to ship in snow

[octoberlib]

For the first time in the history of the event, organizers of the Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska will have to ship in snow due to unseasonably warm weather.

The traditional start to the famous, 1,000 mile race from Anchorage to Nome begins with a ceremonial trot through downtown Anchorage — but this year race officials will have to improvise to make it work.

The organizers will import 300 cubic yards of snow from Fairbanks — which is 350 miles to the north — via the Alaska Railroad to be distributed prior to the event on Saturday.

"It's been a warm and snow-free winter," Sullivan said. "It's been in the 40s all week."

http://www.businessinsider.com/iditarod-ship-in-snow-2016-3

[Glassunion]

1. I thought that they had to move the start to the north of Anchorage a while back?

I think I was misinformed.

Still shitty

[octoberlib]

3. No, you're right. This is from a Jan 2015 article.

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Heeding concerns over hazardous sections of trail experienced in last year's Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska, officials have spent the off-season clearing tree stumps and are considering an alternate route, the race director said.

A lack of sufficient snow on parts of the trail in central Alaska has also contributed to organizers considering a route change.

They would move the official start to Fairbanks, some 300 miles (480 km) north of the traditional location in Willow, a small community about 80 miles (130 km) north of Anchorage, in southern Alaska

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-concerns-over-trail-hazards-prompt-rethink-of-alaska-iditarod-route-2015-1.


For some reason , they changed their minds.

[xenoturkey]

6. Yes, it has been moved before, including last year.

Feels like its becoming common.

[gratuitous]

2. Well, we know what isn't to blame, right?

All those "not a scientist" Republican office-holders will suddenly develop instant expertise to state categorically that no snow in Alaska, like, totally happens all the time.

[KansDem]

7. Maybe Sen. Inhofe can toss some more snowballs?

?t=35

[gratuitous]

8. How's his arm?

Can he reach Anchorage from Washington? Or does he have David Wright's arm? (Go Royals.)

[KansDem]

4. Why not use sleds with wheels?

C'mon, this isn't "rocket science!"

[xenoturkey]

5. Its been very warm. Almost all the ice melted a couple of weeks ago.

I know a couple people who are already putting on their summer tires!

[edgineered]

9. Can't they put up a wall to keep the snow in?

Why not put up a wall?
Why can't they they put up a wall?
Maybe they should put a wall around it.

These are becoming my canned answer to many wingers when they complain.

[jtuck004]

10. It's dead. We have permanently altered the climate. Maybe you could have street fairs instead.

Because there is no way we are gonna stop driving over to Starbucks as a country. Neither are the Chinese, or the rest of our neighbors that share this spaceship.


Our future looks nothing but warmer, certainly through the lifespan of the Boomers, and probably their kids as well. Too bad.

The climate of the people.



The story below is just more about the shipping in of snow.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/us/iditarod-shipping-snow-irpt/index.html

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

11. We've been having a warm, snow free winter in Maine too. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

12. This is just for the ceremonial start in Anchorage.

We've been told that there is good snow cover from Willow to Nome, so there shouldn't be any problem with the actual race. Last year they had to move the start of the race to Fairbanks. Year before that, trail conditions were horrible. Race officials are saying that actually this year shouldn't be too bad.

Anchorage has had very little snow this year. I have friends who have daffodils and crocuses coming up already and our grass is greening up. The past three winters here have been warm and relatively snowless.

[Angel Martin]

13. I wish they would come to Ottawa and take some of ours

we had more than 20 inches on Feb 16 alone.


regarding the overall warming question, and the accuracy of warming models, here is a recent paper with Michael Mann as coauthor that discusses the reality of the warming slowdown.

http://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate2938.epdf?referrer_access_token=rO_LAj7Squh3f_qt6natqdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OqExA1EwYluYLwiaayT9ble9FcNagQ1ss5L1V0KiWd-xzbFQjp8p3e-nUsgU7jNuUykRRWZpgMltUfROWf3xSKeGSSY7TvMiWdaeBCmNzlbQKCodQ3ivWje8eZYAs8Dr1uu8L-i3CHt8f_jYiil5eUpRpdxdWDCSCvqts_NYB_l8yUG-b6Qu0dtrZLMnaUyec%3D&tracking_referrer=www.nature.com