Warm weather hits hard, impacting local businesses, events and the community

WAUSAU, Wis. (WXCO) – A strong El’ Nino season brings an extended warm spell to Wisconsin, leaving record results in it’s wake.

Where do we start? Well. We’re on thin ice, literally. The lack of lakes freezing over solid has prompted the 16th Annual AM VETS-NCO Club of Rheinlander and Tomahawk Ice Fishing Tournament, that was scheduled for January 6th, to be canceled.

The ice is still not thick enough to fish on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, either. Fishing guides say that the ice is about a month behind normal this season. Lake Winnebago’s popular sturgeon spearing season is only six weeks away. Guides say they’re cautiously optimistic the ice will be safe enough in time. Experts say calm winds and temperatures in the 20s will help.

As anglers await there chance to get out on the ice, Granite Peak is open for those craving some snow! As of Tuesday January 2nd, 75 acres and 25 trails are covered in machine groomed, loose granular snow conditions. The resort says groomers have been out winching daily and they are excited to kick off Wisconsin Wednesdays again!

While snow guns may be able to blast out an artificial winter, plow companies are feeling the lack of real flakes flying. Snowman Snow Removal in Wausau says, “While landscaping work in the summer boomed, a holiday break in weather was nice, but they are ready to get back to work now.”

Wausau typically sees nearly 22″ of snowfall by early January, with each year fluctuating some. This year, in such a shortage of snow, we’ve only accumulated around a half of a foot. Last year at this time, we had already seen over 2 feet, with a good 5″ covering the grass.

We closed out 2023 with a bang… bringing a record warm brown Christmas, the warmest December on record and one of the least snowiest, too.

Heading into the New Year, we ring in 2024 with a snow storm in the distance. Currently, it’s on a path to either target Illinois. But another storm is brewing behind it, with the Great Lakes and possibly Wisconsin set in it’s sights.