Warmer Temperatures Could Affect Start of World Championship for Bobsled and Skeleton
By Samantha-Rae Tuthill, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
Feb 12, 2012; 3:42 PM ET
The FIBT Bobsled and Skeleton World Championships are coming to the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, N.Y., Feb. 17-26, and the warmer-than-normal temperatures have raised some concerns.
"The temperatures in Lake Placid have been about 5 to 10 degrees above normal since Jan. 1," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "Usually daytime highs are below freezing this time of year. This year they have had many days above freezing, making for softer ice."
"Warmer temperatures are certainly a challenge," said Tony Carlino, Manager of the Olympic Sports Complex & Olympic Jumping Complex. "Our track is covered with shades from start to finish so rain does not directly affect the ice, but ambient air temperatures do."
If it's rainy or humid, the moisture in the air can cause frost to build up on the ice. If it's too warm, the melting ice can also cause frost and will slow the competitors down. A lot of work goes in to keeping the track at peak-performance level. Any frost build up below 1/16 of an inch can be sprayed off the track, but if it's thicker than that it must be scraped off. A special ammonia blend is used to spray down the track to make sure the surface of the ice stays at the right consistency.
"The maintenance and ice preparation of the track is very labor intensive. We roller chisel the entire track, 1,600 meters, by hand with 4 inch chisels, and spray the water daily," said Carlino.
The welcome sign going into Lake Placid. Photo from the United States Olympic Committee.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Dan Dombek, the training period should start with good conditions. After coming off of a cold weekend with temperatures in the single digits to teens, Monday will stay below freezing. Temperatures will begin to warm to just above freezing on Tuesday, but a few forecasted snow showers should help keep track conditions cool. He warns that problems could occur later in the week, however. Temperatures will begin to moderate into the upper 30s and potentially lower 40s for Wednesday and Thursday, and perhaps Friday, the first day of the competition.
Temperatures should drop back down to more favorable levels for most of the competition, but there is potential for next Friday to be above-freezing.
"The process is very complicated," Carlino explains. "We try to follow the dew point, humidity and air temperature. All of this information will determine at what temperature we will send out the ammonia. Too cold also causes frost, so as you can see, it's a delicate balancing act."
Dufner Closes out Byron Nelson with Birdie on 18 for Second Win in Three Weeks
With that long birdie on the final hole, Dufner avoided a playoff.
Outdoor > Golf
More Than 150,000 Methane Seeps Appear as Arctic Ice Retreats
Methane seeps in Alaska alone are releasing 250,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere each year, 50 to 70 percent more than previously estimated.
Outdoor > Beach & Marine
