Planning on hitting the slopes at a Vail Resort this weekend in Ohio? Not so fast.
Mother Nature has not been kind to Ohio's ski resorts so far this December.
Relatively warm temperatures and a lack of meaningful snow has scuttled Vail Resorts plans to open Alpine Valley in Geauga County along with Boston Mills and Brandywine in Summit County and Mad River in Zanesfield on Friday.
Vail Resorts spokesperson Pamela Hoye said the crews at the resorts are ready to start making snow once the conditions are right.
"We just need Mother Nature to tag in," she said. "Once we have cold temps and low humidity, we can make snow."
Rough winter ahead?:Farmers' Almanac predicts plenty of 'snow, rain and mush' for northern Ohio
Ohio's other ski resort Snow Trails in Mansfield is planning to open on Friday.
Crews there have been busy making snow when conditions allowed.
Snow Trails winter plans:Ski and snowboard slopes to open Friday at Snow Trails in Mansfield
The warm weather has proven helpful for Vail Resorts to get ready for the season.
At Boston Mills, a new fixed-grip four-person chair will replace the Lift 5 double. And at Brandywine, a new fixed-grip four-person chair will replace the Lift 3 triple one.
Hoye said the lifts have been installed, tested and ready to go.
Vail is also planning to expand its days and hours of operation at its Northeast Ohio resorts this year.
Alpine Valley, which was only open three days a week last season, plans to open the slopes seven days a week this season.
Hours will be expanded at Boston Mills and Brandywine, too, with a return of full nighttime skiing at the resorts.
Vail Resorts has also dropped its mask and vaccination requirements for guests inside of indoor facilities along with reservation requirements for the restaurants.
While advance reservations to ski are not required this season, Vail plans to limit the number of lift tickets available to the public.
The National Weather says temperatures in northern Ohio will be chillier over the weekend into next week.
Weather forecast for northern Ohio this weekend
Thursday night: A chance of drizzle, mainly between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Friday: A slight chance of showers after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.
Friday night: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.
Saturday night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.
Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 33.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 32.
Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio's Vail Resorts ski slopes will not open Friday as planned
