Could hot weather affect opening dates at Colorado ski areas?

DENVER ( KDVR ) — While the first snow in Denver is expected to be one of the latest first snows in the city’s history , local ski resorts haven’t changed their plans on opening day .

The October heat in Denver was expected to cool to fall temperatures in the 60s and 70s, but the city was breaking heat records in the high 80s this month.

Meanwhile, the Pinpoint Weather team said temperatures in the mountains are about 10 degrees above average for this time of year.

While Colorado has seen a hot fall, Vail Resorts, Winter Park and Arapahoe Basin all told FOX31 that they are planning on their usual opening dates.

“We’re just waiting on some cold weather but our team is ready to jump whenever conditions are right. We will do what we can within our power to get skiers and riders back out there doing what they love, but we are at the mercy of our climate. Until then, keep hoping for cold temperatures,” said Shayna Silverman with A-Basin.

Despite the lack of cold or snow, ski areas like A-Basin are looking for anywhere between 25 and 27 degrees wet bulb temperature to get started, which the Pinpoint Weather team said could take until the end of October and into November.

However, ski areas are still planning for around the same opening dates as last year.

In August, Copper Mountain Resort, Keystone Resort and A-Basin said they planned on opening in October and mid-November, some of the earliest projected ski areas to open. Keystone and A-Basin said they will open as soon as possible, which was originally predicted to be mid-October, while Copper still plans on opening on Nov. 8.

While there isn’t snow just yet, projected opening days are not totally out of the picture.

Colorado ski areas like Arapahoe Basin saw their first snow of the season in early September. Meanwhile, other ski areas are planning on firing up the snowmakers , they’re just waiting for conditions to be right.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.