Ashland, OR – Oregon’s Mt. Ashland ski area announced on Monday that they will await more snow before resuming lift operations.

With base depths ranging from only 16 to 28 inches, “Mt. Ashland is temporarily closing until the ski area receives enough snow to be able to reopen the ski slopes. Only four inches of snow fell at the ski area during an unusually warm and dry December that affected the entire western region of the U.S.,” ski area officials explained in a statement issued on Monday.

Warm weather moved into the region during the important Christmas holiday week when intermittent rain showers depleted the once solid snow pack.

“Our crews did an outstanding job making the ski area available and enjoyable,” said the ski area’s general manager, Kim Clark. “We received many appreciative comments from our guests, and it demonstrates that we can provide a lot of winter recreation with minimal snow. Our grooming team was fantastic and our entire mountain staff did a great job.”

Officials indicate that the ski area will reopen once sufficient snowfall arrives on the mountain.