Iditarod will use imported snow for race
The Iditarod will use imported snow during Saturday’s race, reportsThe Washington Post’s Niraj Chokshi.
On Thursday, the Alaska Railroad delivered seven cars of snow for the 1,000-mile sled dog race in Anchorage.
“There just isn’t enough snow to make due, so they needed some more to supplement it,” said Alaska Railroad spokesman Tim Sullivan. “This is a very unusual circumstance.”
The race’s ceremonial 11-mile beginning will be abbreviated to three miles because of the lack of snow. The shortened start will also use the imported snow.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, 2016 produced the fifth-warmest Alaskan January on record, as temperatures were recorded at 15 degrees above the state’s average.
• Iditarod shortens ceremonial start because of lack of snow
Last month, Anchorage had the only February day in more than 50 years with zero inches of snow.
