Despite much of New Brunswick getting a white Christmas, hopes are starting to fade for a snowy winter.
Just as the province’s winter activities usually get started, the outlook is bleak — for snowmobiling in particular.
As of New Year’s Eve, all of the province’s 8,000 kilometres of trails are completely shut down.
The mild end of December is not only disappointing, it’s record-setting.
CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin said nine places in the province set high-temperature records on Monday.
“At the moment, we’re just kind of crossing our fingers, waiting to see what happens with the weather system,” said Ralph McBride, executive director of the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs.
“This last warm spell has thawed everyone out and we’re now waiting for the next storm and cold snap.”
McBride, who’s been snowmobiling since the 1980s, said he hasn’t seen a winter as poor as this one since the 1990s.
With events planned for February and March, and tourism outfitters dependent on snowmobilers, McBride said everyone’s in a tough spot. Tourists often travel from Ontario, Quebec and New England for the province’s trail system, he added.
A map showing all of the closed snowmobile trails in New Brunswick marked in black. The routes marked in orange and yellow indicate that trails haven’t been groomed in many days. (New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs)
Even the province’s signature trails, such as Caledonia Mountain near Fundy National Park, Moose Valley near Edmundston, and Christmas Mountain near Mount Carleton, are all closed.
“And those areas usually have snow. They have none. So now all the lodging areas are now sitting on reservations, not sure if people are coming or if they’re going to cancel.”
McBride said 30 to 40 centimetres of snow is the minimum for good trails, and while many riders also have quads, it’s just not the same.
“It’s just the freedom of it. You get on your machine, you’re in control and you can travel miles and miles of winter scenery that you don’t get even on side-by-sides.”
Cross-country skiing is also in rough shape these days.
Marc Leclair, event co-ordinator with Cross Country Ski New Brunswick and based in Charlo, said he’s been enjoying the trails for the past week until the big melt.
With a cross-country cup and biathlon scheduled for early January, he’s worried about having enough snow.
“I’m confident, but on the bottom line of confident, because the quantity we have right now is not a lot,” Leclair said.
“It’s not the typical winter we get up north in New Brunswick.”
Despite melting snow, the Officers’ Square skating rink in Fredericton was still open. (Ben Ford/CBC)
While the weather is better than last year, Leclair said the current lack of snow is concerning.
“I’m just praying that we’re going to have snow pretty soon and we’ll have a good rest of the winter for skiing,” he said.
Record temperatures around N.B.
Simpkin said Edmundston saw the most drastic change as the province warmed up on Monday, with a record high of 9.1 C. With data going back to 1918, the previous record was 4.4 C in 1927.
Woodstock also beat its 1927 record of 7.2 C with 10.3 C.
Bas-Caraquet, Charlo, Doaktown, Grand Manan, Kouchibouguac, Miscou Island and Point Lepreau all set new temperature records Monday.
Snow was melting on the streets of Fredericton as people were still enjoying the Officers’ Square skating rink on the last day of the year.
“It’s a signifier of climate change. It’s a really visible sign that things are happening with the earth,” said Gayle MacDonald as she walked along the street.
“Fredericton was known for its snow, at Christmastime especially.”
