The Last Great Race: 2018 Iditarod

news image
Top Stories
4 Mar 2018 8:16 PM

The Last Great Race: 2018 Iditarod

MUSH! MUSH! The 2018 Iditarod race is well underway, even if the term "mush" isn't even commonly spoken. Saturday, Mushers took to the streets of Anchorage, AK to continue a tradition dating back to 1973, when "The Last Great Race" officially started. The Iditarod was inspired by the 1925 race, via dog sled, to deliver a life-saving drug to the town of Nome, AK. The Iditarod celebrations kicked off today, in Anchorage, AK , as they do the first Saturday of March each year. Although the celebration starts in Anchorage, AK, the official 2018 start line is located in the town of Willow, AK,  about 81 miles north of Anchorage. In years past, due to the lack of snow in southern Alaska, the race has started as far north as Fairbanks, AK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzlnPQSxzf8&feature=youtu.be   As far as temperatures go, this year's opening event temperature in Anchorage, AK topped off at 26°. Within the past three years, the warmest Anchorage Iditarod starting temperature was as high as 42°, well above the average temperature of 33.9° for the month of March.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDtyoO3hE5o&feature=youtu.be   Although temperatures will be relatively warm by Alaskan standards, a heavy band of snow is forecasted to move in from the Bering Sea on Tuesday. If you think snow doesn't sound fun while doing a 1,049 mile outdoor race - remember - you can't pull a sled without snow! For WeatherNation - Meteorologist Josh Cozart  
All Weather News
More
History in Real Time: CAT 5 Melissa Makes Landfall in Jamaica

History in Real Time: CAT 5 Melissa Makes Landfall in Jamaica

Melissa made landfall on Tuesday October 28th

29 Oct 2025 3:00 AM
Rain for the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast

Rain for the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast

An upper-level trough in the jet stream will

29 Oct 2025 2:20 AM
Santa Ana Setup Bringing the Heat into Southern California

Santa Ana Setup Bringing the Heat into Southern California

LOS ANGELES - On Tuesday, temperatures in LA

29 Oct 2025 2:15 AM
Strong Winds, Temperature Changes, and Severe Storms

Strong Winds, Temperature Changes, and Severe Storms

Monday in Texas brought us record-breaking he

29 Oct 2025 2:15 AM
Northwest Parade of Systems

Northwest Parade of Systems

WEST - A series of atmospheric rivers has bee

29 Oct 2025 2:10 AM
Flash Flood Emergency Triggered Sunday in Florida

Flash Flood Emergency Triggered Sunday in Florida

Slow-moving train thunderstorms produced extr

28 Oct 2025 10:15 AM
FORECAST: Halloween Night Shaping Up Okay For Many

FORECAST: Halloween Night Shaping Up Okay For Many

I will never forget the time it snowed in sou

27 Oct 2025 9:20 PM