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Conditions were calm and beautiful for flying along the Iditarod Trail from Nikolai to McGrath on Wednesday. But weather changes were expected, with a high pressure system idled north and a low pressure system moving up from the Bering Sea.
The big southerly wind flow on Wednesday brought uncommonly warm temperatures and very big, wet snowflakes to McGrath. No one can be certain which influence will dominate the race this week. Many waited out the weather in McGrath overnight Wednesday, as the mushers headed west toward checkpoints in Ophir and Iditarod.