Mild and wet December weather puts a damper on most winter activities
A mild and wet December means a slower start for winter activities in the region.
Ice skating enthusiasts in Barrie don't have as many choices for outdoor skating rinks so far this winter.
Circle at the Centre ice rink at City Hall in Barrie, Ont., on Fri., Dec. 29, 2023. (CTV News/Molly Frommer)
City staff said with these poor weather conditions, they aren't sure what the near future will look like for municipally maintained outdoor ice rinks.
"We try to keep them open as best we can. Today is five degrees and rain, and you can see the surface of the centre here is slightly wet, but the surface is still solid. If it gets any warmer than this or any more precipitation, we may have to close this. This is kind of our breaking point. The natural outdoor rinks in our parks do rely on Mother Nature, so they do rely on much cooler temperatures, so hopefully later in January," said Kevin Datema, with the City of Barrie.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Muddy snowmobile trails in Victoria Harbour, Ont., on Fri., Dec. 29, 2023. (CTV News/Molly Frommer)
It's also been a rough start for snowmobiling season, with trails in the area muddy and wet with no snow in sight.
"The weather is just not cooperating. Every morning when you get up and look at the weather forecast, and it's another eight or 10 days without snow in the forecast, it's pretty depressing for our business, that's for sure, but we continue to do more trail prep and expand on what we've done so far and do a little bit more on the trials to make it better for when we do get snow," said Patrick Murray, Georgian Bay Snow Riders president.
Winter enthusiasts turn up at Mount St. Louis Moonstone in Coldwater, Ont., on Fri., Dec. 29, 2023. despite the mild and wet weather. (CTV News/Molly Frommer)
And while staff at Mount St. Louis Moonstone ski resort are happy with the turnout despite the weather, the numbers aren't quite what they are used to during the winter break.
"It's been quieter than usual over these days, but at the same time, we still have lots of people showing up, lots of beginners showing up and trying skiing," said Nicolas Huter, Mount St. Louis Moonstone manager.
"We've got 32 slopes open, all except one lift, so I think we're at 10 lifts now. It looks like you're in the mountains up there because you just disappear into the clouds, but it's pretty cool, and it's great to see everyone still coming out despite the weather."
Huter said they plan to make more snow and fully open next week once that's complete.
As for the long-range forecast, next week calls for more unseasonably mild temperatures, but the wet weather is predicted to come to an end.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Wisconsin school district says active shooter 'neutralized' outside middle school
A Wisconsin school district said an active shooter was 'neutralized' outside a middle school in Mount Horeb on Wednesday, and no one inside the building was injured.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
The remains belonged to three adults, a teenager and a newborn baby, according to a statement from the Latebra Foundation, a historical organization based in the Polish city of Gdansk, published Thursday.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.