With the above normal temperatures southeast Saskatchewan is experiencing to begin the new year, there is much less reason to head to the banana belt.
That isn't necessarily going to stop people from heading south. While some are suggesting the absence of bitter Arctic air in the region is slowing travel to the south, that's not likely what is being seen in Estevan.
The economic factors are much more at play, said Arlene Leeks, the travel agency manager at CAA Travel in Estevan.
The numbers of people escaping the Energy City for some R&R may be down a little bit, but she said with the number of other possible explanations, pleasant weather is not at the top of the list.
"The regulars are still going," she said. "The economy and the flooding have maybe been more of a problem."
So if it is weather keeping people at home this winter, it may be more about the wetness from the spring, than it is the warmth around the holidays.
Leeks said the January travel season, which is usually pretty hectic, isn't quite so busy this year, most likely because of the area's flooding last spring, which was an economic blow for many.
With people who have had damage to homes and properties, and those in the oilfield who were out of work for some time until road bans lifted considerably later in June and July, there are enough financial stresses to keep people at home this winter.
"If I didn't have a crop last year, I probably wouldn't be going anywhere," said Leeks, noting that farmers who had trouble harvesting much of a crop may be less inclined to travel.
Weather may in fact be keeping them here now as well, as there is some work that can be done that may not usually be pencilled into the calendar at this time of year.
The warm temperatures here certainly aren't making people miss the Prairie breeze that causes temperatures to dip below -40C. Leeks said those who are booking travel right now are heading south or to Hawaii.
For some last-minute travellers, noted Leeks, above-freezing afternoons may have been the deciding factor not to vacation to warmer climes yet. With cooler, slightly more seasonal temperatures on the horizon, according to multiple online weather sources, those plans may have been postponed but not necessarily cancelled.
February could be the busy month for travel this winter, after the southeast was treated to a mild holiday season.
