BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Appalachian Ski Mountain and Sugar Mountain Resort are anxiously awaiting a forecast drop in temperatures this weekend following an unseasonably warm December.
Sunday night's forecast calls for much colder temperatures, with lows in the low 30s. There will be a massive cooldown behind this front that could even leave some snow for the mountains and other parts of North Carolina.
Highs on Monday and Tuesday should chill south of 50 degrees. Tuesday morning will be the coldest of the week falling to the mid-20s.
Despite the warm winter, both resorts have been able to make snow and continuously stay open. Though Brad Moretz, the owner of Appalachian Ski Mountain, said the process of making, or "grooming," snow had become difficult.
"We've got some really great grooming equipment, and some great people that do the job, and they've kept us open," Moretz said. "We've moved snow around, and we've got good conditions right now."
Sugar Mountain Resort is higher in elevation than Appalachian Ski Mountain, and marketing director Kimberley Jochl said colder nights have helped them make more snow.
Though Jochl feels they'll be able to quickly improve their slopes after Sunday's forecast cooldown.
"It's critical to get the slopes back in shape, to broaden the slopes that we currently have to open up more terrain, and to keep that snow on the ground," Jochl said.
Brandy Bui’s family is from Clearwater, Florida, and they visited Appalachian Ski Mountain in search of snow.
"They said we brought the warmth of Florida with us, but we make the most of it," Bui said. "The kids are having a good time, so we can't ask for much more."
Appalachian Ski Mountain is requiring masks inside its lodge to prevent the spread of COVID-19. More information can be found on current conditions at the resort here.
For more information on Sugar Mountain Resort, including live camera feeds of current conditions, click here.