The mild start to our winter season is benefiting Northeast Wisconsin.
Places like the port of Green Bay will see an extended shipping season and other communities are looking at the positive side of warmer than usual temperatures.
Higher water levels means more business for the port of green bay.
"Our season will be able to carry on farther into the year. We typically close around Christmas" says Dean Haen, Director Drown County Ports.
When water levels are higher cargo ships can carry 6 percent additional cargo. The past ten years the water levels have been below average. This year the water levels have only dipped one inch since last year.
" At this time of year we should be dropping in water levels and we've been holding pretty steady we had a pretty wet fall" says Haen.
Mild temperatures are not only good news for ports communities here across northeast Wisconsin are extending outdoor projects due to the warmer weather.
“Typically we've been able to get a few more projects done, get our salters ready for calibrations and things like that" says William Balke, Director Of Public Works.
The warmer temperatures allow cities to prune trees, collect leaves and provide maintenance to storm water ponds.
“We able to keep the street sweeper going a little bit longer this year, get our leaves picked up. We've been able to get the snow fence up earlier and have things just marked out for the snow season" says Balke.
Although the mild temperatures are being welcomed with open arms communities are looking forward to a more normal winter.
"We're just hoping to have a good snow season and being able to be prepared for it and get the streets cleaned up" say Balke.
Port officials say if the warmer weather keeps up they could be moving cargo in until the end of December which will help meet the yearly weight goal.
The latest the port has ever been open was until the middle of January.
