Loveland Ski Area announced a pushback of its first day Thursday, setting up the ski area for its latest season opening since it began keeping track in 1979.

“We are very close to opening, unfortunately, it won’t be this weekend,” said Loveland’s Dustin Schaefer. “We need a few more cold nights.”

Loveland’s latest season opening on record was Nov. 10, 2016, meaning the ski area will break its record if it doesn’t open by Tuesday. Loveland has only opened in November seven times since 1979.

Dry weather and wildfires have caused an unusually late ski season this year.

The family-run Wolf Creek Ski Area was the first in the state to open for the season on Oct. 28, an honor usually reserved for Loveland or Arapahoe Basin, which also has not opened.

This was the latest statewide opening day since Loveland kicked off the 2015 season on Oct. 29.

This year, Loveland began snowmaking on Oct. 12, with the intention of opening around two weeks later. However, the weather did not corporate with its plans.

Schaefer said the ski area hopes to have an opening day announcement soon.

“It looks like winter weather is coming in this week,” Schaefer said. “The county and state have approved our operating plan and we have permission from the USFS to operate.”