Ski clubs are rescheduling trips, snow-dependent events are being canceled and families are calling off vacations. This year's unusually warm weather is affecting winter activities everywhere.

A recent study by Austria's Central Institute for Meteorology found that Europe's Alpine region is going through its warmest period in 1,300 years, and the lack of snowfall is delaying the start of the ski season.

The Alps is not the only place affected by the unseasonably warm weather. In fact, the issue is hitting close to home at Tussey Mountain and Blue Knob All Seasons Resort in Claysburg.

Opening day at Blue Knob was originally scheduled for today, but marketing director Tim Lyons said it had to be pushed back because of the warm weather.

"When it was colder a few weeks ago we made piles of snow, but we know as soon as we spread it out it's all going to melt," Lyons said.

Lyons said the temperature must be below freezing for snowmaking, and the ideal temperature is close to 27 degrees. He said he hopes the weather reaches that point before Christmas week -- the resort's busiest week of the year.

"The length of these warm spells are what has been most uncommon, because instead of a short four- to- five-day warm spell, we've been having two weeks at a time in the 40s or 50s," Lyons said. "I think our business will be fine once we get into the heart of the winter.

Penn State Snowboarding Club secretary Katie Cuppett (junior-public relations) said the club has already had to deal with setbacks because of the weather this season.

They had a trip to Killington, Vt., planned from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, but the realized the resort was closed one of the days they planned on going."We decided to still go, even though our trip was cut in half, but the ski club, who also had the same trip planned, postponed their trip until January," she said.

Last weekend, Cuppett attended opening day at Tussey Mountain, but she said since then, Tussey has had to close. Tussey Mountain is planning to have a re-opening tomorrow.

"This past weekend at Tussey was pretty good," Cuppett said. "I doubt they'll be able to reopen tomorrow with this weather."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the past 14 years have been some of the warmest, and meteorology instructor Todd Miner said the warm temperatures this year may stick around for a while.

"It looks as if the pattern will stick around for at least another week or so," Miner said.