Where's the snow? Not in Alaska's largest city

One week before Thanksgiving, much of the nation is digging out from snowstorms, but the ground is bare in Alaska's largest city.

This time of year, Anchorage normally has nearly 17 inches of snowfall. Instead, it's seen less than 4 inches—and that has melted in unseasonably warmer weather.

In fact, a light rain fell this week, only to later freeze into a slick layer on roads and trails.

National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Dixon says the same system that is pushing frigid conditions from the north to the Lower 48 states is bringing warmer conditions to Alaska from the south. He says it should be winding down over the weekend.

Without snow in Anchorage, local skiers are hitting the trails on roller skis, and local high school cross-country ski teams are practicing by running and hitting school gyms.

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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