The American Birkebeiner ski race depends upon a major snow storm

Organizers of the American Birkebeiner are taking a wait and see approach before deciding how to proceed with plans for the big cross country ski race in northwestern Wisconsin.

A lot depends on a winter storm that's expected to sweep across the northern part of the state starting Thursday night. This comes on the heels of a stretch of days of temperatures well above normal that have damaged the snow cover on the race course between Cable and Hayward.

That storm's potential to bring a large snow dump appear to be diminishing, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast. Temperatures are cooler, in the low 30s rather than the 40s and mid-50s earlier this week.

"We might get a dusting, we might get 10 inches. Who knows?" Birkie executive director Ben Popp said in a video update posted Thursday morning.

The Weather Service forecast for the Hayward area said snow is likely Thursday night, but predicted new snow accumulation of less than a half an inch. For Friday, blustery conditions are expected with wind gusts as high as 30 miles an hour. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches is possible, the forecast said. That's a lot less snow than was in the forecast on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Popp said that a segment of the race course is open for skiing but is icy and has bare spots, Popp said.

"We still cannot hold a ski event unless we get snow Friday, so we are in a wait and see mode on making that call," the organizers said on the Birkie's web site, adding that officials will meet with the trail staff, medical, security and race operations on Friday before deciding what to do about Saturday's event. "Thanks for your patience as we try to keep all ski options on the table!"

A final decision on ski racing will be made by mid-day Friday, Popp said.

The Birkie, first staged in 1973, was expected to draw 11,000 competitors from around the world along with 40,000 spectators.

Organizers of the Birkie — the largest cross-country ski race in the world — have already altered the race course and pushed Friday events to Saturday. The Birkie and an array of related events and races have become a key part of the northwestern Wisconsin culture and economy since the race began in 1973.