Visit Duluth President Terry Mattson fashions himself an amateur meteorologist.
After years studying the weather, especially in the weeks before Thanksgiving, Mattson knows the conditions he’s looking for heading into next week’s AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross.
Mattson is not seeing it now, but that doesn’t mean he has given up hope that the 18th annual snowmobile racing event will take place next week at Spirit Mountain, scheduled for Nov. 27-29.
“We know there’s cold air up in the Arctic, but the jet stream is straight across right now: like a three-layered cake,” Mattson said. “This scenario has played out one way or another more often than not, so it’s really nothing new. I know there’s a lot of questions out there, but only Mother Nature has the answers.”
The forecast on weather.com calls for highs in the upper 40s and lows above freezing before cooling slightly on Monday. Mattson also noted that pocket of Duluth tends to be a little warmer this time of year because of its proximity to St. Louis Bay.
Ideally, with temperatures in the 0-15 degree range, the crew at Spirit Mountain can make enough snow for the event in about two days with their 24 snowmaking guns, but it takes significantly longer if temperatures barely get below freezing.
“It’s amazing what the guys at Spirit Mountain can do if they get a cold night or two. They joke that it’s their 21-gun salute,” said Jeremy Meyer, race program manager for AMSOIL, the event’s primary sponsor. “They’ve pulled off bigger miracles than this before, so I don’t think it’s time to hit the panic button just yet.”
Weather woes are nothing new for the Duluth National. In 1998 and 2005, the final day was canceled because of fog, and in 1999 and 2001, it was postponed because of warm conditions. Last year, with ideal conditions, the track was enlarged and the three-day event drew a record 36,000 spectators.
Mattson said the parties involved — Visit Duluth, Spirit Mountain and the event’s sanctioning body, the International Series of Champions — would like to make a decision by the end of the week on whether the event will go on as planned or be delayed a week or two to give teams and fans traveling from across the U.S. ample time to prepare.
Mattson, who has been busy preparing his hunting shack for the Wisconsin deer opener, said Spirit Mountain began making snow on Sunday but with little success as conditions barely dipped below freezing.
“We’ve made enough for a few snow cones and margaritas, but probably not both,” Mattson said. “But we don’t worry about what we can’t control. We plan for it. Obviously, we have to have contingencies in place, but to be honest with you, I’m more concerned about the deer tick I had this morning.”
