SOUTHINGTON--While most of us are enjoying the unusually warm weather--two records broken in two days!--some businesses are really starting to feel the heat.
After a very late start to the skiing season due to a warm stretch that lasted throughout December, ski mountains are now having to close up shop much earlier than usual again for the warm weather.
"A less than desirable season," Jay Dougherty, of Mount Southington, described it, but that may be an understatement.
There's some snow left, but there's also slush, mud and grass along the mountain, an unusual sight that's not made any more normal when you see skiers wearing shorts and t-shirts.
Mount Southington is closing down next weekend until the new season starts up again at the end of the year.
"This is definitely not the ideal March. We always strive to reach the end of the month, but this year Mother Nature dealt us a different hand," Dougherty said.
Dougherty says they are choosing to close to protect the brand--he says it's not worth tarnishing the mountain's reputation as a below-par course just to stay open a little longer.
While it's unlikely, if we saw another major snowstorm thee's a chance the mountain could reopen.
"If it's a substantial storm where we get 12 to 18 inches, I would say, of decent Nor'easter-style snow, where there's actually some consistency to it, not dry powder, then yeah we could certainly reopen," Dougherty said.