Forecast for Nome Alaska this morning as the Iron Dog racers set off from Nome ..... the guys carry safety gear in the event they break down & have to “hunker down”, but hope all are safe racing today & make it to the checkpoint(s).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Blizzard Warning
AKZ213-240300-
/O.EXT.PAFG.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-170224T0300Z/
St Lawrence Island and Bering Strait Coast-
Including Gambell, Savoonga, Brevig Mission, Teller, Wales,
and Diomede
452 AM AKST Thu Feb 23 2017
...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AKST THIS EVENING...
* SNOW...5 to 10 inches.
* BLOWING SNOW...reducing visibility to less than one quarter
mile.
* WINDS...northeast to east 30 to 40 mph gusting near 60 mph.
* WIND CHILL VALUES...around 55 below.
* TIMING...Blizzard conditions continue through early this evening
and will tonight as winds and snow diminish.
* IMPACTS...Visibility will be very poor and snow will
accumulate into drifts. Whiteout conditions should be
expected. Travel and outdoor activities will be difficult.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions in
blowing snow with strong winds and very poor visibilities are
occurring or expected.
The first team is off from Nome at 12 p.m. EST ..... in a blizzard (see earlier post for conditions - awful!), headed for the White Mountain checkpoint. I’m watching the teams on GPS & I’m actually feeling somewhat nervous for them.