Dog sled race challenging because of a lack of snow

A lack of snow saw the ceremonial start to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage cut short, despite snow being shipped in from Fairfax, Alaska.

The race, which is scheduled to last nine days, over 1600 km, is heading for the Gold Rush era town of Nome on Alaska's western coast.

Meanwhile California is dealing with flooding rain and snow across the drought ravaged state.

BBC Weather's Tomasz Schafernaker reports

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