January may only be just 10 days old, but most of upstate New York has already fallen behind on snow measurements, according to Spectrum News 1 Chief Meteorologist Rhonda Lee.

She said January is usually the snowiest month in Albany, while February is typically the snowiest month for Buffalo.

So far this season, Syracuse has received 20.1 inches of snow, or only about 40% of the average snowfall by this point in January.

The lack of snow so far this season means Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center will have to make their own snow, at least for now.

What You Need To Know

  • Upstate New York is far behind on January snow measurements

  • January is usually the snowiest month in Albany, but February is usually the snowiest month for Buffalo

  • Many places are still finding ways to adapt to the current lack of snow

“Probably cost us anywhere from $225 to $250 an hour when we're running these machines, when you consider all of the things that gets involved with," the center's owner John Goodfellow said.

He said it needs to be cold to make snow – not above 32 degrees – and there’s another hurdle: Getting people to come out.

“I always call it the 'backyard syndrome.' People look in their backyards, and they don't think we've got snow, but with all this machinery we can produce snow, once it actually gets cold enough,” Goodfellow said.

For the first time in a few years, the city of Utica plans to open Val Bialas Ski Center for free activities with operating lifts. In fact, Assistant Recreation Director Chet Loconti said they’ve been waiting to open. They just need snow because they aren’t able to make it.

“From the first snowfall, we would’ve had everything ready, ready to go. But we also are opening the tubing hill. We do need somewhat of a little base of snow, but it's not here now, with the tubing hill will be open for activities," said Loconti.

They are open 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will also be indoor activities if snow doesn’t come through.

At Four Seasons, the owner has high hopes for the coming days.

“We'll be back in business as of Thursday. And that's normal operating days for us. And this is a big weekend coming up with Martin Luther King. So, it gives us an extra day of business for that. There would be a lot of people on vacation or just taking the day off. So we expect to have a very busy weekend," Goodfellow said.

Lee added that while people aren’t always fans of snow, snowpack is very important to recharge the underground water supply and streams.