Abnormally warm weather over the last month has had differing impacts on area businesses.

Northstar Powersports & Marine co-owner Josh Wegner said warm late-season weather has brought average snowmobile sales, making him believe the store would have sold an extraordinarily high number of snowmobiles if the weather was colder.   

The warm weather, however, has brought increased late-season boat sales, making up for the relative lack of snowmobiles Northstar has sold.

“If anything, it’s probably overall helped us,” Wegner said.

“For the hardcore fisherman, it’s extended his season, no doubt.”

Temperatures have hovered in the 40s and the 50s in recent weeks before dropping Monday night.

Oak View Golf Club General Manager Matt Hallman said his course re-opened again Black Friday for about 1 1/2 weeks, allowing golfers who normally would have had to travel south to play locally.

There were a half dozen golfers on the course mid-morning Monday.

December golfing occurs once every six to seven years, Hallman said, describing late-season golfing as “icing on the cake” to the revenue Oak View Golf Club collects during the summer months.

During the 11-day stretch, the golf course hosted players who couldn’t play at their home courses because they were already winterized.

In the fall, Oak View Golf Club’s policy is to open if the temperature hits 40 degrees in the fall and 45 degrees in the spring.

Temperatures are expected to stay in the 20s for the majority of this week before rising to above freezing this weekend. Next week is expected to bring average temperatures for this time of year.

Leutholds co-owner Bill Hertling said he has not noticed a significant decrease in sales involving winter weather clothing items.

“I was surprised that in certain areas, we weren’t affected,” he said.

This year is Leutholds’ 100-year anniversary of being open in Albert Lea, so a sale took place in early November.

Hertling noticed a slight decrease in winter weather-related items beginning around Thanksgiving because of the abnormally warm weather, but hopes colder weather brings an increase in sales.