Northwest North Carolina can expect a mild winter this year, forecasters predicted yesterday.
That's good news for those concerned about their heating bills but not so good news for skiers, who may have to make do with man-made snow on the slopes.
The regional forecast for December through February is for mostly dry conditions with above-average temperatures and less-than-average accumulations of rain, snow or sleet, said Michael Halpert, the deputy director of the National Centers of Environmental Prediction in Camp Springs, Md.
During a typical winter, the average daytime temperature is 37 degrees and nights tend to get down into the 20s, according the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va. On some winter days, temperatures can reach into the 50s.
Allan Reppert, a meteorologist for AccuWeather, said he doesn't expect too much snow to fall in North Carolina. The temperatures might be lower than normal in December, but they might rise in January through early February.
Other areas may not be as lucky. Joe Bastardi, a specialist in long-range forecasts for AccuWeather, is predicting one of the coldest winters in many years for much of the eastern United States.
Piedmont Natural Gas Co. of Charlotte announced earlier this week that winter heating costs for its customers should remain flat compared with last winter's costs. Customers likely will not see an increase in their rates, said Loree Elswick, a company spokeswoman.
The mild winter might affect the ski industry and businesses that sell winter clothes and snow-removal equipment. Last year's mild winter hurt sales at Triplett & Coffey of Boone, which sells snow-removal equipment and salt spreaders, said Bill Triplett, a co-owner of the business.
"It didn't plumb ruin our business, but it didn't help it," Triplett said.
However, some ski-shop and resort operators said they are optimistic that they will do good business this winter.
Bill McMinn, an employee at the Farmers Ski Shop, which sells winter clothes on Depot Street in Boone, said he predicts that his store's sales will not be affected by a mild winter.
"It was warm and mild last year also," McMinn said. "But it gets cold and windy in Boone."
Drew Stanley, a spokesman for the Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock, said that many seasonal forecasts are inaccurate. Regardless of predictions of a mild winter, his business is prepared to make snow on its slopes when temperatures dip below 32 degrees.
The ski mountain enlarged its snow-making reservoir for the 2008-09 skiing season, Stanley said. Its snow machine can produce 3 to 4 feet of snow, with drifts between 6 to 8 feet.
Sugar Mountain Resort in Banner Elk is selling more ski passes now than it sold last year, said Darlene Mitchell, a resort employee. She also doubts the predictions of a milder winter.
"The old-timers say it is going to be one of our coldest winters," Mitchell said.
■ John Hinton can be reached at 727-7299 or at jhinton@wsjournal.com.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement