Most years, when storms roll through Southern California during the winter holiday, local mountains transform into a wonderland blanketed in snow.
But instead, the recent storms featured relentless rains, bringing a downpour of destruction — and disappointment.
Local mountain towns bank on the cold-weather months to generate the bulk of their business for the year, and snow is the key ingredient to a successful winter season.
But worry is growing as snow remains scarce and the forecast calls for sunny skies in the near future.
In Wrightwood, the recent torrential rainfall delivered devastating mudslides that have crippled the mountain town. The road in reopened late Tuesday following a weeks-long closure to tourists who were expected to fill in through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday break.
The popular ski resort Mountain High, the biggest draw for the tucked-away town, remains closed after rivers of water overtook the slopes on Christmas Eve. Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged in the massive flooding, some still digging out from the muddy debris.
“It’s been raining non-stop here and there, and everywhere. It was a terrible holiday for all of Southern California resorts,” said Mountain High Vice President of Marketing John McColly. “We had no idea how bad it was going to get, and there’s nothing you can do with giant rivers running down the trails.”
The first step has been to repair the slopes, where the rushing water caused major erosion on the runs.
“Imagine the biggest amount of rain you’ve ever seen come through,” McColly said. “The erosion turned little rivers into giant ravines. There was so much, so fast. It had a mind of its own.”
Thanks to the efforts of the resort’s crew, most of those repairs are done, McColly said.
But with no help from Mother Nature, the resort needs to make snow to entice people to return.
The temperatures, finally, turned cold enough this week to crank the machines on to put more snow onto the slopes, with hopes of being able to reopen in the coming days.
In San Bernardino, while spared major flooding and landslides in this latest bout of rain, Highway 38, a major road into Big Bear, is still under repair following a massive mudslide in September.
And the lack of snow is putting a damper on the tourism business.
While Snow Valley has sledding and snow play open, the resort has yet to open up its runs for the season.
Leroy’s Ski & Snowboard Shop in Arrowbear Lake only did 15 rentals last Saturday. On a good weekend at the height of the season, it could pull in $15,000. On Wednesday, the shop had only three rentals by noon, said employee Codie Keay.
Snow flurries were a hopeful sign in the early-morning hours on Wednesday, covering the road and giving a light, white blanket to the slopes.
“But nothing stuck,” said Keay, 21. “It’s a bummer. I’m born and raised up here, I’ve never experienced a winter like the last two winters.”
Never in her lifetime can she remember Snow Valley not being open for Christmas.
“It’s hard because a lot of people use Snow Valley. Locals, everyone works there,” she said. “It’s taking a lot of jobs from the community. A lot of people are jobless or waiting to start working. But there’s nothing we can do, because there’s no snow.”
Aga Leroy, part owner of Leroy’s shop in Big Bear, said there are still some tourists around town. The shop, instead of just renting snow gear, is also renting bikes and fishing gear as warm weather lingers.
“There’s definitely things to do,” she encouraged.
Many businesses are reporting being 20% to 30% down from last year, Leroy noted, which also wasn’t a great year due to the 330 Highway shutdown for months from fire damage and a late start to the snow season.
“It’s tough, I think unfortunately some shops are laying people off,” she said. “I think it’s difficult for everybody.”
A temporary reopening of Highway 38 helped crowds get to Big Bear during the holidays.
“We were hoping we would see some snowfall over the holiday season, but unfortunately, that didn’t turn out to be the case,” said Big Bear Mountain Resort spokesman Justin Kanton.
The lack of snow impacts not just the resorts, but the entire valley, when it comes to employment, Kanton said, noting the resort has had to cut hours and make adjustments.
Still, thankfully, the town is seeing visitors, he said. Grocery stores have been filled with people and even the slopes, kept snowy with machines that crank out the white fluffy stuff, are still drawing crowds.
The lack of snow also means people can access the mountains more easily, not having to hassle with chains or sketchy roads.
“The demand and interest is there, we just need Mother Nature to get with the program, to get cold enough to make snow or if she wants to make natural snowfall, we’ll take that too,” he said.
Kanton compares the current situation to the 2017-18 season, when storms didn’t show up until mid-January and into February.
“For anyone who is writing off the season completely, I would caution that it is premature,” he said, noting that the last few years have had later-than-usual starts. “Once they do come, they come in strong. We’re hoping that’s the case.”
While there’s no natural snow forecast for the near future, the good news is that temperatures are dropping enough for the resorts to keep making man-made snow – and resorts are blasting their guns to cover ski runs with snow every chance they get.
“We’re doing our best to make it happen for folks, we’ll keep hammering it up as best as we can,” Kanton said. “If it was up to us, we’d be wide open with 3 feet of snow on the ground — but we don’t get to make that call.”
Lake Perris resident Edwin Morales took his family, including three young daughters, to Big Bear to finish off their school break this week, hoping to play in the snow.
“We came prepared with jackets and everything, but it didn’t work out that way. But we made the best out of the situation, so it’s all good,” he said.
On their last day, Wednesday, they opted to visit the Alpine Slide and Big Bear Snow Play to “at least touch a little snow.”
National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Wheeler said the “ingredients” for snow just aren’t lining up. While the low-pressure system hovered over the area the past few weeks, instead of bringing in colder air from the north, it drew from warmer air from the south.
“The same pattern was just stuck over us for around Christmas time up through a couple of days ago, a solid two weeks,” he said.
Wrightwood got more than 16 inches of rain, with similar readings in the San Bernardino mountains — not totally unprecedented, but definitely unusual, Wheeler said.
Now, there’s a transition happening into a dry pattern, drawing air from the colder areas, but without the moisture needed for natural snowfall.
“We’re losing one ingredient and gaining another. Unfortunately, we can’t get the two of them to line up,” Wheeler said.
Dan McKernan, spokesman for Big Bear Guide, which helps promote businesses in the area, notes that Big Bear sits in the middle of a desert, and throughout the years, the community has learned to adapt to weather patterns.
“Of course, natural snow is always alluring and welcome with wide open arms,” he said. “However, we are cognizant of the environment in which we live.”
Like the ski resorts, local snow tubing parks can create snow when the weather doesn’t.
Big Bear Snow Play and Alpine Slide Big Bear have “a significant role in providing snow for those who just want to play in the snow,” he notes.
“Both snow tubing areas guarantee snow-covered hills for tubing all winter long and into spring break, even when nature is a little slow to deliver,” McKernan said. “Whether there’s natural precipitation or not, Big Bear’s snow tubing parks can blanket the tubing hills with plenty of snow for families to have a great winter experience.”
McKernan noted that the town’s lure isn’t just the snow, but also the village and Big Bear Alpine Zoo. Unique events such as an upcoming “Climate & Cocktails,” the first of three events happening on Jan. 17, also help draw visitors to the area.
Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce President Janice Quick also said she hopes people will continue to visit, even without snow. She issued a plea to the community to support local businesses, rather than shop online from big-box retailers. People down the hill who want to support can buy gift cards or come up to shop and enjoy the town, she said.
Without support, many of these businesses will not survive, she warned.
“Our local businesses are facing another difficult period. Many are seeing little to no traffic, and quite honestly, some are hanging by a thread,” she said. “These are the same businesses that support our local events, employ our neighbors, sponsor our kids’ activities, and give Wrightwood its heart and character. If there was ever a time to shop local, this is that time.”
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