(Radio Iowa) – While most Iowans aren’t complaining about the unseasonably warm weather we’re having, December highs in the 50s and 60s are making life tough for the state’s snow skiing resorts. Joel Bryan, general manager of Seven Oaks Recreation Area near Boone, says this rollercoaster weather is posing a quite a challenge for his facility.

“With our updated snow-making system, Mother Nature has given us enough cold temperatures to continue to put fresh snow out, but then right after we make snow, it seems like we start getting into the 50s and 60s again,” Bryan says. “We do get a little melt but we are a north-facing slope which gets limited sun exposure, so — so far, so good.” Bryan said he has concerns about tomorrow’s (Wednesday) prediction of potential record-breaking warmth, although he says the winds cause him more trouble than the temperatures.

“The wind will actually melt the snow a little bit faster than just the ambient air temperature will,” Bryan says. “Between those two, we’re definitely going to lose two, three or four inches of our base, but we are sitting with a 12- to 18-inch base on 100% of our runs, so fingers are crossed we can get through this and we get to the end of the week when the cold weather comes back.” The facility is equipped with a sophisticated snow-making system, though certain atmospheric conditions need to be met.

“It looks like Thursday night there’s a possibility we would start making snow again,” he says. “For sure, Friday night, and looking at the long-range forecast from there, it looks like every night from there on out until Christmas we can make snow which is going to allow us to be 100% open for skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing going into the Christmas break.” Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque opened most of its ski trails on December 9th and is posting updates about snow conditions on its website.