Mother Nature may throw a wet blanket on Christmas and on much of the fun for many winter-loving Minnesotans.
An inch of rain predicted for Sunday will not only make Christmas dreary in the Twin Cities, it could make a mess for skaters, skiers and snowmobilers who've been reveling in winter's glory since last week's storm dumped a half a foot of snow. The winter rainstorm could also cause rivers jammed with ice to overflow and streets to pool with water if storm sewer drains are clogged with snow and fall debris.
And for those who want to spend time on a frozen lake? The ice in many areas isn't thick enough, and higher-than-normal temperatures combined with the rain will make conditions even more unsafe.
"Find me someone in the state of Minnesota who's an outdoor enthusiast who's going to be happy when it's raining on Christmas morning, including Santa," said Pam Hoye, spokeswoman for Afton Alps, a ski area near Hastings. Although many downhill ski and a few cross-country ski areas that make snow will survive the warmth and rain, the natural stuff won't fare as well.
"We have a 20- to 46-inch base on most of our slopes," Hoye said. "And we can make more."
The man-made snow along a 5-kilometer loop at Hyland Lake Park Reserve and a 2.5-kilometer trail at Elm Creek Park Reserve also should hold up, said David Thomas, outside supervisor at Hyland Hills Ski Area.
"We have 2 or 3 feet in most areas, so it will take a lot of rain for many days to have any effect on us," he said. "And we have a lot of equipment to recuperate if we do get rain."
But even those who can make snow are crossing their fingers for the real thing. "I'm hopeful our Christmas gift will be that it doesn't rain on Christmas Day," Hoye said.