The lack of snow fall is creating a struggle for those living in local mountain communities, like Shaver Lake. They usually have a healthy helping of snow right now, but not this year. Not only is the dry weather a concern for firefighters, but it's also affecting people's bottom lines.
It's one of the direst seasons in recent memory. Mountains, which would normally be covered in snow, are completely bare and that's bad news for business.
Aside from a few scattered patches of snow, it's hard to tell it's winter in Shaver Lake.
Shaver Lake resident Gene Baker says, "Who'd ever think that you'd be out there in sunny weather like this?"
"The weather out here is just gorgeous. It's like spring again," says Shaver Lake Sports employee Zoe Scritchfield.
What is visible, is a major drop in business at Shaver Lake Sports. For the last few weeks, employees say sales have been sluggish and profits are down roughly 90 percent from a typical winter season.
Scritchfield says, "This town, being a resort town, is so dependent on the people coming in, that when it's slow, everyone suffers."
The traffic hasn't stopped completely. Instead of renting snow equipment, Gene Baker is buying bait to enjoy a sunny day on the lake.
"I'm going to go fishing just because the snow conditions are so poor," says Baker.
The dry conditions are keeping firefighters on their toes.
Chris Edwards, with Cal Fire says, "It's been a busy fire season already."
Edwards says he's never seen such little snow at this time of year.
Historically this time of year is not as dry as past years and so it can increase the fire danger fuels are still very dry," says Edwards.
People are asked to play it safe when burning, and urged to cut fire lines and have water nearby.
The next chance for rain and snow isn't expected until next Thursday.