Lack of snow delays ski slopes from opening

December 15, 2011|WSBT-TV Report

ELKHART – This warmer weather and lack of snow has some people worrying that we will not have a white Christmas, but for some local businesses it's affecting their "green".

With the temperatures we are having people are not ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, or any other winter activities. Not only do ice rinks not make money but they have to run compressors to keep the ice frozen too.

The local cities in the area are not the only businesses that are affected. There is no snow at Swiss Valley up in Michigan. The ski area needs temperatures to dip to at least 24 degrees and continue going down to even think about making snow.

So far it has been too warm and now too wet. Owners are hopeful that in the next week or two they will be able to get snow made.

“And if we do that, we can get the teens and single digit numbers,” said Jim Wiseman, owner of Swiss Valley. “We can crank on pretty good and we have had it from green grass to fully open in 30 hours.”

Wiseman is not worried yet. Ideally they are open by December 10. Since we have passed that date and it is now reaching up to 50 degrees outside, he is hoping they will be open by Christmas break.

The latest they have opened before was January 20 but let’s hope that does not happen this year.

Other local tubing areas like St. Pat’s Park in St. Joe County are not open yet either. They need a natural base before they even begin to make snow and they need some freezing temperatures too.

Christmas Break is a big money maker for them so they are hoping the weather will cooperate in the next week.

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