Local Snowmobile Businesses Waiting Out Lack of Snow

As any true Minnesota resident knows, winter usually arrives weeks before the official start of the season.

Such was the case in late November when Plymouth declared a snow emergency.

But fast forward to January 10th, and it’s a different story.

“Well on January 10th, we haven’t had a lot of snow yet this year, as you might expect by just looking around,” said New Hope Weather Watcher Steve Reckers.

Thanks to a mild winter, the snowmen don’t look very, well, manly. And many yards are covered in more green than white.

According to Reckers, we’ve only received 12 inches of snow so far this season. That’s 26 inches below normal.

“Partly because we seem to be in an El Niño pattern,” Reckers said. “We’re warmer this year than we were last year. We’re maybe more likely to get more liquid precipitation — rain, freezing rain. That kind of thing.”

‘It’s Difficult Around Here’

While that may be good news to some, Jordan Steinke isn’t among that category of people. He’s a sales associate at Heinen’s Motorsports in Osseo.

“With the slow season and the little snow though we have seen, in effect, it’s difficult around here,” Steinke said. “Just because not everybody’s able to travel and go up north where there has tended to be a little bit more snow.”

Normally this time of year, snowmobiles would be the big sellers. But with below average snow totals in the metro so far this winter, they’ve had to adjust their prices to attract customers.

The good news is that their customer base extends beyond Minnesota.

“We do sell all over the country,” Steinke said. “Out west is a big area for us with the mountain sleds, because the pricing can’t really be beat, honestly.”

For a business that’s dependent on weather, hope springs eternal.

“Snowmobilers are the most optimistic people in the world,” Steinke said. “Because if it didn’t snow last year, this year is gonna be the year.”

However, Reckers is a little more cautious.

“If I was betting, I would bet on a below normal snowfall this year,” Reckers said. “And probably a continuation of the mild temperatures.”

Osseo