Winter Park Resort’s new snowmaking system is officially up and running, so snowmaking operations are ready to begin as soon as temperatures drop below freezing.

The resort invested about $4 million on new pipes, snow guns and compressors to enable more efficient snowmaking operations as part of the resort’s $28 million capital improvement project.

Steve Hurlbert, director of public relations and communications for the resort, said the new snowmaking system allows the resort to produce more snow and allows for production of snow even in less than ideal conditions.

“I think people are going to really notice a difference when we open up here in about a month,” Hurlbert said.

Hurlbert said he expects most of the initial snowmaking to happen overnight, when conditions are right.

Last year, the resort started snowmaking operations on Oct. 26 due to warmer temperatures later into the month. The resort has already seen eight inches of natural snowfall over the past two days.

Hurlbert said being able to start operations earlier in the year is a good sign for opening day.

Winter Park Resort’s opening day will be Nov. 14 for the 2018-19 season. The resort’s new 10-person gondola, officially named The Gondola, is expected to open mid-December.