WeatherBlog 16 2024/25 | Whining about the weather

Current situation and outlook

There is little to report. Today (Wednesday), a marginal low with an associated cold front can still be felt in the eastern Alps. The precipitation will subside during the course of the day. The snow line is quite low, but with around 20 cm in the more favorable locations, the amounts will remain manageable. After the last snowfall of this kind (relatively cold, manageable amounts) almost two weeks ago, the WeatherBlog had to realize that the fluffy snow is excellent camouflage for malicious sharks, although it glistens very nicely. We are therefore relying on purposeful pessimism, keeping expectations low and are happy if they are positively exceeded after all.

The general weather situation is still characterized by low pressure over the northwest Atlantic and Greenland and an Azores high, which is persistently holding out against it. The frontal zone is deflected to the north by the Azores High, so that the strong Atlantic current with embedded disturbances in the Alps will have little effect. The weather is expected to be rather cool (seasonal average) and slightly unsettled over the next few days. There are no major snowfalls in sight.

From Fairbanks, this year's route leads west to the coast of the Bering Sea, with a detour to the south to reach the usual total distance of around 1000 miles (~1600km). Finally, the teams turn slightly north to the end point in Nome. The mushers usually start with 14 dogs and need between 8 and 15 days to complete the race. There are no roads along the route for the most part, so supply flights are carried out by the volunteer "Iditarod Air Force". The Air Force, consisting of small bush planes, brings food for people and dogs, spare sled parts and whatever else is needed to checkpoints along the route. Injured dogs or people may also be airlifted away. The animal and human participants brave snowstorms and cold, often camp along the way and are largely on their own away from the checkpoints.

While the race route is sometimes adjusted due to the snow situation - as was the case this year - weather-related breaks or interruptions are very rare. Only if the Iditarod Air Force is unable to fly at all for a longer period of time are there extended mandatory breaks at the checkpoints.

In Alaska, as in the Alps, complaining about the weather is only appropriate when it's too warm in winter!