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Michigan's ski industry is expecting a good year because of the early cold weather

Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio
(file photo)

People in Michigan's ski industry are happy about the early cold weather.

Most of Michigan's ski hills are open already.

Mickey McWilliams is Executive Director of the Michigan Snow Sports Industries Association.   She says ski resorts can make snow when the temperature is slightly above 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

“That's kind of the magic number,” says McWilliams, “If you look at your thermometer outside, and its 28, you know that there's snow on our slopes.”

McWilliams says most Michigan skiers do most of their skiing in-state.

She credits the Pure Michigan campaign with encouraging people from other states to visit Michigan's ski slopes.

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.