Oh, No — No Snow! Winter Tourism Takes A Hit In Michigan Heat Wave

MARQUETTE (WWJ) - We're having a heat wave, and while some in Michigan are loving it, the state's ski slopes have been left high and dry by warmer temperatures.

GoSkiMichigan.com reports more than 50 of the state's ski areas are closed this week. It's even too warm for snow-making machines to make up for the lack of white stuff.

High temps will top out in the 50s this week in metro Detroit, and AccuWeather says the unseasonably warm weather may continue through the end of December.

Meantime, they're still holding out hope for a white Christmas in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan for the winter tourism season.

On Tuesday, Jason Schneider, Executive Director of the Marquette Chamber of Commerce, said it's 40 degrees.

There's no snow in the city, and really not much anywhere.

"There is no snowmobiling, no cross-country skiing, no fatbiking — at least on the snow, that is," Schneider told WWJ's Beth Fisher. "So...recreationally it's fairly difficult. A lot of the outdoor retailers, whether it's Downwind Sports or Gander Mountain, they're running into issues because all of their inventory is built for this time of year, and it's just not moving."

Schneider hopes people still visit and hike the trails instead of snowmobiling.

Executive director of the Indian River Chamber of Commerce, Amanda Baker, said business is already down about 10 percent in the area.

"We do notice a difference," Baker said. "It's a little low right now and if we don't get that snow by the Christmas break. That's when we usually notice the big bump, and that's when we'll really be feeling it if it's not here."

She's been watching the forecast.

"Maybe we'll get some snow coming down on Monday. It'll still be a little warm, so it might be a rain-snow mix — but hopefully those temperatures will drop and it'll turn into snow," she said. "It would be sad to not have snow for Christmas, that's for sure."

When the snow does come, WWJ Newsradio 950 will have the latest information. Keep it tuned for the forecast during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. Get complete weather details including live, local radar now, HERE.

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