Not only has there been scant snowfall, even in the mountains, but temperatures stubbornly hovering above freezing mean it's too warm to use artificial snow machines.

"Last year our season began at the end of November, so, if we compare, then yes, we are delayed this year," said Martina Čermáková, of the Skiareál Špindl ski hill, in North Bohemia's Krkonoše Mountains.

"If we were able to make artificial snow, 95 percent of our slopes could be covered," she said. "The problem is temperature ... and air humidity."

"The arrival of winter differs each year [but] usually we have around half a meter [1 foot 8 inches] of snow at this time," said Jiří Krause from the Spartak Rokytnice ski hill, also in the Krkonoše region.

"It would be tragic if we were left with no snow during Christmas, after December 24, when we usually expect most visitors to come," he said. "Our ski center is usually at full capacity, if not overloaded, so it would really count as a significant loss for us."

While it's difficult to predict weather patterns further ahead than two weeks, the winter is on track to stay warm, at least for a while, said Jan Horák, a meteorologist with Meteopress. Though "a change may still occur," he said, weather watchers have widely predicted temperatures will hover above average until at least the beginning of January.

Bare runs, many green with grass, are a problem across the country.

According to the tourism portal www.czecot.com, as of Dec. 17 only one run at one hill in the country, Janské Lázně in Krkonoše, was open. Web cameras showed other resorts bereft of snow and deserted.

A short season doesn't just mean a loss of revenue from lift tickets, said Petr Hynek, a representative of the company that runs the Janské Lázně hill. Postponing opening facilities, such as shops and restaurants, and investing more heavily in artificial snow machines all cost money.

The problem hasn't just touched recreational skiers: The national team has been forced to head abroad to practice, Czech Ski Association spokesman Norbert Pelc said.

Cross-country skiers have been sent to Scandinavia to train, while downhill skiers are at Alpine hills in Italy and Austria, he said.

"It constitutes a great financial problem for us," Pelc said. "It's of course a lot cheaper to train 40 skiers [locally] than to send them to Norway. We'll have to generate more and more money."

Skiers from around the world were turned away when weather forced the cancellation of a World Cup ski jump event scheduled for Dec. 9-10 in Harrachov, north Bohemia.

This is the first time the event hasn't been held since it began in 1980, Harrachov Mayor Tomáš Ploc said.

"It means a great loss in terms of anticipated revenue," he said. "The town will lose its share of the entrance fees, which were 400,000 Kč [$19,000] last year."

Businesses there, like restaurants and hotels, have lost out on the swell of tourism the event brings, he said.

But, while specific areas may suffer losses, the tourism industry overall shouldn't be too heavily affected by the warmth, CzechTourism spokeswoman Karin Šeligová said.

"Of course, the lack of snow affects skiing and winter sport centers," she said. "But, because of its location, the Czech Republic can't rely on winter tourism being a major boom."

Last winter, approximately 1.5 million foreign tourists came to the country, she said. However, the majority — about 57 percent — counted Prague as their primary destination, and most came to spend Christmas or New Year's Eve, Šeligová said. Only about 8 percent headed to mountainous areas.

Climate control

Czech ski industry worries are paralleled throughout Europe. In France, Austria and Switzerland, hills have been canceling competitions and delaying the start of the season.

Experts disagree whether the temperatures result from global warming or coincidence, but one group takes a clear stand. "Climate change poses serious risks to the snow reliability of Alpine ski areas," according to a report released Dec. 13 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The report from the Paris-based think tank concludes that the economic effects of a crippled ski industry could be far-reaching, especially for Germany and Austria.

Mountain ranges in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, smaller than attractions like the Alps, could be particularly at risk, the report says: "Low-lying ski areas [are] considerably more vulnerable than areas with high altitudinal range."

Reliance on artificial snow machines, which use considerable water and energy, is not the answer, the report cautions. Czech resorts regularly rely on snow machines to cover 90-95 percent of their slopes.