Despite the La Niña winter this year, snowfall has declined since the snowstorms of early autumn, challenging winter sports venues around the U.S., the Associated Press (AP) reports via News Republic.
The autumn snow, combined with expanded investment in snowmaking equipment, allowed many major resorts to open early in Colorado and Vermont. As of January 5, however, the National Weather Service told the AP that only 19 percent of the country was covered in snow, which is less than half of the average over the past five years. This weather pattern means tough times for ski resorts as the lack of wintry conditions means fewer late bookings.
Nevertheless, the AP reports that long-range forecasts expect either normal or above-average snowfall for the northern U.S. during the rest of the season.
Read the AP’s full story at News Republic here.
