A winter storm moving in from the eastern Bering Sea is expected to bring strong winds and heavy snow to Western Alaska Monday afternoon into Monday night, creating hazardous conditions for Iron Dog competitors in the middle section of the race.
Bobby Bianco, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Fairbanks, said conditions in the region were relatively calm Sunday but will deteriorate as the system approaches Monday.
“It’s going to be bringing some pretty strong east to southeast wind gusts, especially Monday afternoon up towards Unalakleet and Nome,” Bianco said. “There’s gonna be whiteout conditions at times I would say after about 9 p.m. so it’s definitely going to be a little bit treacherous out there again.”
Bianco said gusts in the Norton Sound area will ramp up to 30 to 40 mph Monday afternoon before increasing to 40 to 50 mph Monday night. Heavy snow is also expected as teams make their way up the eastern Norton Sound coastline toward Kotzebue.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve Tuesday, though Bianco said additional snowfall is possible.
“There will be another resurgence of snow Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately, the winds won’t be as strong with this push. We’re going to be looking at gusts to about 30 miles per hour Tuesday afternoon,” Bianco said.
Bianco estimates another two to four inches of snow near Nome between Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. Racers will be stationary Wednesday for Wrench Day, which gives teams a chance to work on their sleds indoors, before participating in the Halfway Banquet at Nome’s Mini Convention Center at 5:00 p.m.
Bianco said temperatures will likely remain relatively moderate at above zero for most of the week. As teams get underway Thursday for the route back to Fairbanks, Bianco doesn’t expect any major storm systems to impact the race.
“It does look a little bit colder, but we’re talking single digits, teens below zero, maybe. Nothing too extreme,” Bianco said.
For Iron Dog racers and support crews, the primary concern remains heavy snow and strong winds Monday night, particularly along the coast. Whiteout conditions and blowing snow are expected to make travel hazardous before conditions gradually improve midweek.
