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SALT LAKE COUNTY -- Another April storm is rolling through Utah and will blanket the state with snow before Tuesday morning. That's great news for our ski resorts, but what about other businesses that depend on warmer weather?
Winter weather doesn't worry local sporting businesses
The grass was green on the links in Salt Lake City Monday. Golfers tend to be intrepid, so plenty of people were out playing, but they may have to wait a few days for their next round.
"It's a normal Utah spring," said David Terry, golf director of Salt Lake City Golf Division. "There's been good days for golf and good days for skiing, and so we'll take what we can get."
Terry said he won't fret unless this soggy, cold weather lasts the entire month. That's what happened a year ago, and business sagged 10 percent.
Overall, Terry said the recession has not hurt business, and last month was great for March.
"If it snows 6 inches tonight, all we hope for is that in a couple of days it's gone," Terry said.
It's also a bit brisk and slippery for cycling, but the manager of one shop says business is up 30 percent this year.
"You make the money in May to pay the bills in the winter," said Wayne Baxter, manager of Fishers Cyclery.
Besides, many of his customers are commuters.
"Commuters are still commuting. It doesn't matter if it snows or not, they still have to get to work," Baxter said.
Cold weather worries gardeners
At Glover Nursery, business has been slow. Now is the time when people, anxious to get their gardens ready, usually come in and buy mulch. However, all the rain and snow has made the ground muddy.
"Weather is the most demanding thing for a nursery," said Rod Glover, owner of Glover Nursery. "If it's good weather you have great business. If it's crummy weather, nothing helps, it's crummy business."
Millcreek Gardens gardener Cynda Dondaldson says the biggest concern with late winter weather comes with newly-planted veggies and flowers. She suggests covering them with frost cloth or newspapers to be safe.
"The more tender vegetables -- broccoli, cauliflower, even potato starts that are coming up -- you might want to get them covered, especially tomorrow (Tuesday) night," Donaldson says.
Budding fruit trees may not be so hearty either.
Related:
Avalanche danger to increase thanks to late-winter storm
The foretasted winter-like weather may be bad news for gardeners, but it's downright dangerous on Utah's slopes."The apricot growers are concerned because their buds have already started to open up," said Larry Lewis, with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Some growers are nervous about their business right now. The snowfall isn't as big a problem as the cold temperatures.
"If we get freezing temperatures, temps below 29 degrees for an extended amount of time, that's when the damage occurs," Lewis said.
As for the tulips, daffodils and pansies, Donaldson says they should be just fine with colder weather. "They're going to come through the snow storm just popping up and looking beautiful," she says.
On a brighter note: If all the fresh snow makes you want to head up to ski or snowboard, there are spring deals at many resorts. This is good for their business. CLICK HERE for a list of specials the resorts are offering.
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Story compiled with contributions from Jed Boal, Randall Jeppesen and Anne Forester.
