BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Greater Cincinnati's first snow is late. Really late.
Forecasters differ over just when those first flakes might fall. Some say tonight; others see none on the horizon.
The region broke its record of latest first snowfall last week. According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, the average first snowfall is Nov. 7. The earliest on record was Oct. 11, 1925. The previous latest snowfall was Dec. 9, 1994.
Those who depend on winter weather are getting anxious. "Natural snow is the cornerstone of our business," said Chip Perfect, co-owner of Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg. While the ski center has been making artificial flakes, it is natural snow that entices skiers.
A snowfall "can be like advertising on everybody's yard," Mr. Perfect said. "The snow gets everybody thinking about winter and skiing."
He plans on having the ski center open this weekend. Workers, wearing T-shirts in Tuesday's mild weather, continued to pile artificial snow onto the center's slopes. After weeks of unseasonably warm weather, the temperatures have begun to slip back to normal, said Shannon White, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
The jet stream has moved south and is bringing with it lower temperatures, Ms. White said.
Despite the falling temperatures, there is no snow forecast for the Cincinnati region through Sunday, she said. To the north, there is a chance Dayton might get some flurries late tonight and Thursday.
