Cold Weather Allows Area Ski Slopes To Apply Artificial Snow At Last

VERNON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Ski areas in the northeast have been scrambling to catch up, after all the warm weather in November and December crushed the early ski season.

As WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini reported, it seemed like winter would never come. But this weekend was finally cold enough for ski results such as Ski Campgaw and Mountain Creek in New Jersey to start making snow.

"We just need it be cold enough and stay consistently cold and dry," said Sara Hazen of Mountain Creek.

Hazen said the warm weather did not faze the operators of the Mounki slope. She said ski resorts have come to accept winter is starting later – because it is also ending later.

"Last year Mountain Creek didn't open until late December, and then we went way into the first weekend of April and had record attendance for the season," she said.

Hazen said so long as it stays cold enough for snow machines to cover the mountain, ski season can begin at last.