Oh, the weather outside's delightful

Kent Packer took advantage of his day off Monday and temperatures near 60 degrees.

The Kindred (N.D.) High School principal spent the day outside putting up Christmas lights and other decorations.

"I thought I'd get it done before the weather changes on me," said Packer, who lives in West Fargo. "That was my task for the day."

Others across Fargo-Moorhead also enjoyed the sunny weather by riding bikes, walking dogs or working outdoors.

Monday's high temperature of 59 degrees didn't quite hit a record. The record for Nov. 12 is 65 degrees set in 1981, said WDAY Chief Meteorologist John Wheeler.

Today's weather is expected to be in the upper 50s, but the rest of the week will have highs mostly in the 30s, Wheeler said. For those waiting for snow, don't hold your breath. Wheeler doesn't see snowstorms for this week.

No snow yet?

"The long and short of it is, this isn't weird yet," Wheeler said of the lack of flurries.

He couldn't immediately find the record for the longest the area has gone before the first snowfall of the season. However, Fargo-Moorhead didn't get its first fall snow until Dec. 14 in 1999, Wheeler said.

Normal snowfall for Fargo in November is 6.1 inches, said Nancy Godon, senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D.

From her recollection, Godon said the first snowfall that stays typically occurs between Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving.

So how are others dealing with the lack of snow?

- Hunters

Deer hunters are giving mixed reviews of their success, said J&B Meats co-owner Jim Schenck of Barnesville, Minn. Some have seen "all kinds of deer," while others say hunting was "really tough" because of the nice weather, he said.

"They said the bucks aren't in rut yet, and the does were just not to be found," Schenck said.

Hunting parties of six will typically bring in six deer for processing, he said. This year, a party of six is bringing in four. Some hunters blame coyotes for getting to the deer first, Schenck added.

- Snowmobile dealers

It's a little early for the snowmobile industry to panic about the lack of snow, said Jonathan Eggers, sales manager for U Motors in Fargo.

"When we start getting into December and there's no snow on the ground, then we start panicking," he said.

The business has sold some snowmobiles, and interest is there, Eggers said. However, 30-degree weather and an inch or two of snow on the ground is ideal for attracting more customers, he said.

- Holiday shoppers

Nationwide, consumers have been slow to start holiday shopping, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

More than 70 percent of shoppers have less than 10 percent of their shopping completed, the survey found.

Moorhead Center Mall General Manager Kristi Ulrich thinks cold weather and snow do influence shoppers.

"I've heard that people aren't as much in the mood for holiday shopping until it cools off a little," she said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Teri Finneman at (701) 241-5560

Oh, the weather outside's delightful Teri Finneman 20071113