‘It’s tragic’: Locals weigh in on unusually warm winter ahead of major ski holiday, President’s Day Weekend
Matthew Draxton
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With the weather recently, folks in Downtown Bend were seen swapping their heavy coats for light jackets. The unusually warm weather this February has lead to a lack of snow that has disrupted local winter sports and slowed downtown business activity.
While locals typically expect snow on the ground this time of year, some have been seen wearing shorts or paddle boarding on the river Thursday. The unseasonable temperatures resulted in the temporary closure of the Hoodoo ski area last week.
Jill Neal, a resident of Sisters who frequently visits Hoodoo, said the current lack of snow is disappointing but not unprecedented for the region. She recalled previous years where winter recreation was limited. “This isn’t the first time, I’ve seen Bachelor not open,” Neal said. “I’ve seen it where they’re golfing Black Butte in February.”
The lack of snow has also impacted the local economy in Downtown Bend. Sage Goldstein, an employee at Bellataza, said the unpredictability of the weather has kept some visitors away. “There’s a lot of people who come to Bend for Mt. Bachelor for snow skiing and snowboarding. They haven’t been here as much this winter because of that.”
Bend resident Kellen Elliot, whose father works at Mt. Bachelor, said, “it’s tough to see them not being able to get the business that we usually do here.”
The manager of Clementines Boutique, who declined to be on camera, also reported that foot traffic has been slower than normal this winter.
John Fisher, a local resident, said the community feels the ripple effects when the mountain resorts are not fully operational. “People are feeling that down here, they’re fewer tourists and, especially if you’re working,” John said. “Our economy feels it when the mountain’s not doing well.”
Beyond the immediate impact on tourism, some residents are raising concerns about the long-term environmental and agricultural effects of a dry winter. Marty Nelson, a local resident, said his friends in the agriculture community are worried about future water supplies. “They’re all concerned about the water and the irrigation system,” Nelson said.
Goldstein added that the winter snowpack is a critical resource for the upcoming summer months. “One of the big reasons that we we pray and we hope for snow is because when it melts off, that helps us with fire season,” Goldstein said. She noted that a lack of melting snow could negatively impact the severity of the fire season.
Despite this, residents remain optimistic and hopeful. Neal predicts, “we’ll get a big dump in March,” while Nelson chanted, “Come on snow!”
Matthew Draxton spoke with some tourists visiting the region, who declined to be on camera, and who opted for shopping instead of snowshoeing during their trip.