Not Again! Two Popular Minnesota Winter Events Postponed Due To Uncooperative Weather

Usually planning a winter event that involves ice and snow in Minnesota isn't much of a challenge. The last two years have proven significantly more difficult.

Organizers of two different popular outdoor winter events in Minnesota have announced postponements due to uncooperative conditions, marking the second year in a row this has happened.

While January is starting off with chilly conditions, the after-effects of the unseasonably warm and rainy weather in the final days of 2024 are leaving these events looking for new options.

Here's a look at both events that have announced postponements and what we know about them so far.

Gunflint Mail Run Postpones January Sled Dog Event

Originally scheduled for Saturday, January 11, the Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race has been postponed to an undetermined future date later this winter.

Organizers shared on the morning of January 1 that they made the "difficult but necessary decision to postpone this year's race" due to what they call poor trail conditions.

READ MORE: Believe it or not, March isn't Minnesota's snowiest month of the year. Here's what is.

They cited the rain during Christmas week as "taking a toll" on the race course, eroding the limited snow that had fallen so far this season. With no significant snow in the forecast between now and the scheduled event date of January 11, the board of directors was forced to press pause on the 2025 event.

According to a social media post about the postponement, organizers say they need another foot of snow in order to hold a safe and successful race. They are hoping that snow will come sometime in the coming weeks, saying they are hoping to reschedule the event sometime in February, with no specific date in mind yet.

The hope is that they are able to hold a postponed event later this winter, as last year's event was canceled due to uncooperative weather.

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Postpones 2025 Race To March

A day after the news of the Mail Run being postponed, it was announced the 40th running of the John Beargeease Sled Dog Marathon will be postponed to a date in March.

In a press release published on January 2, organizers cited unsafe trail conditions after their assessments of the course showed "insufficient snow and icy terrain along the 300-mile course".

The 2025 event was originally scheduled for the end of January, but will now be moved to March 2, 2025. Marathon President Mike Keyport commented, "We are optimistic that by moving the race to March 2, we will be able to host an event that upholds the tradition and standards of the Beargrease".

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The 2024 event was canceled due to a lack of snow, and the hope is that things will be different this year.

The combination of safety concerns for participants and spectators and focus on the best possible race conditions were highlighted as part of the press release for the Beargrease, which is a qualifier event for the Iditarod.

What will the weather bring us this month?

Despite the warm and rainy end of 2024, January is getting off to a chillier start. Arctic air is expected to keep things cold through the middle of January, but that same cold air will play a role in keeping significant snow events at bay, not helping the lack of snow situation.

The Climate Prediction Center's outlook for the next 3-4 weeks shows a general favorability for colder than normal conditions overall (though not extremely cold), which will help in preventing snow melt and provide temperatures to make snow.

The big question is whether or not we'll see any snow come along. The CPC's outlook for the next month points to no significant chances of above-normal snow in Northeastern Minnesota.

That doesn't necessarily mean we won't see some snowstorms (or even lighter snow events that add up over time), but there's no glaring indication of a particularly snowy period ahead for the next month in the area.