Ski areas throughout the region have delayed the start of their seasons due to a lack of snow and warm temperatures. Our Candace Hopkins visited one facility in Oneida County, where like many other ski areas, operators are battling mother nature in their goal to open next week.

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WESTERNVILLE, N.Y. -- The slopes of Woods Valley ski area in Westernville should be filled with skiers and riders, but this day they sit empty.

The lack of snow so far this winter has left ski areas, and other economically-vital winter businesses, struggling to start their seasons."It's our economy in New York state, skiing and snowmobiling are over two billion dollars in business to the Upstate economy, jobs, it's a very important part of our livelihood", says Woods Valley owner Tim Woods.

But that livelihood is taking a hit. Woods Valley should have opened at least a week ago, but they haven't gotten enough snow to cover their trails, and Woods says mild temperatures are making it impossible to make snow."Ideally we're looking for temperatures below twenty-six, twenty-five degrees, humidity is a big factor, the lower the humidity the better."

While making snow does coat bare trails, it is an expensive process that makes budgeting for an unpredictable winter even harder."We budget for a less than a perfect season, we can have great temperatures, good snow making here, but if there's not snow in your backyard, sometimes it's hard to motivate people to get out to the ski hills:, says Woods.

And when it comes to owning a ski area, Woods believes all you can do is cross your fingers and hope for the best."My hope is that the weather cooperates, that we see just enough natural snow, and just enough cold temperatures, and plenty of sunny, mild weekend days and holiday days would be great."

The owners here at Woods Valley say they plan to begin making snow Saturday evening, and they hope to open the ski area to the public on Friday, December 16th, that is, if mother nature cooperates.