It could turn into a Christmas local ski hills would sooner forget as a lack of snow is forcing them to miss out on the most lucrative time of the winter.
There's simply not quite enough to get the lifts and tow ropes running and Hart Ski Hill manager Gene Doucette is holding out little hope of getting the break he needs.
"We need about another three inches at least and it's not looking like it's going to be before Christmas, that's for sure," Doucette said Monday.
With the students out for Christmas break, Doucette said the lack of snow is representing a missed opportunity.
"It's very important because we'd be operating day and night rather than just nights during the week," Doucette said. "It's a big hit for us not to be open during the Christmas break."
Tabor Mountain Ski Resort owner Fern Thibault said the hope was to see his hill open by Wednesday but now has doubts.
"We need a little more, I think," he said. "We're looking at about another 15 centimetres."
By Sunday, about 18.5 cm fell in the Bowl area after the cold snap gave way to warmer weather over the weekend.
Otway Nordic Centre partially opened on the weekend but could also use more of the white stuff. Although the lower trails have been rolled to allow for freestyle or skate skiing, there's still not enough to set a track for classic.
"We need usually about four inches of snow to get a track in place and we're not quite at that baseline," general manager John Bowes said.
The upper trails, meanwhile, remained untouched.
Depending on how cooperative the weather is, he said trail groomers could even be out on Christmas Day getting things in shape.
On the bright side, the cold snap is over.
Although the temperatures during the two-week run did not set any records, the weather the city endured was out of the ordinary. Overnight lows dropped below -20 C during 10 of those days, when the normal for the month is just four days, Environment Canada meteorologist Ross MacDonald said.
As well, an air quality advisory that accompanied much of the snap was ended Saturday morning.
Looking ahead, MacDonald said it will be warmer for at least the week, with highs near and even above the freezing level with snow falls of five centimetres at the most.
"We might actually have a quiet Christmas weekend in terms of weather," MacDonald added. "We'll see a little bit of snow this week but on Christmas Day, if people have anywhere to get to, it shouldn't be too too bad."
