It's December and it hasn't snowed in Denver yet. That's never been recorded

(CNN)Snowless in Colorado? No, this is not a follow-up to the Tom Hanks movie "Sleepless in Seattle," but rather a real-life drama unfolding across the state with very real-life consequences.

It's been 224 consecutive days (and counting) since it snowed a measurable amount in Denver, and it has just broken the record for the latest date for a first snowfall -- a record that has held since snowfall records began in 1882. In that time, Denver has never entered December without measurable snow.

This extended dry period has implications for the state's long-standing drought, a dwindling water supply and a population that wants to hit the slopes.

"Everywhere across the state is experiencing some kind of drought conditions," Ayesha Wilkinson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told CNN. For example, "Denver has just recorded their second-least snowiest November," with no measurable snow observed -- meaning they had some flurries, but nothing accumulated. This November is behind only 1949 when literally "no flakes fell from the sky."

Colorado looks representative of the rest of the country, too, at the start of meteorological winter on December 1, and only 11.1% of the United States is covered in snow.

Ski resorts push pause on opening day

While the state endures one of the driest and warmest periods in modern record-keeping, the effect it's having on ski resorts can't be overlooked.

Like Telluride, some ski resorts were forced to delay their opening day until after Thanksgiving, foregoing revenue from the extended holiday weekend.

Ski resorts have had to make artificial snow to cover the deficit and make it possible for skiers to return safely to the mountains. Even so, the weather hasn't exactly played ball.

"Usually this time of year, we are well on our way to 300 hours of snowmaking, and this year we're just edging over 100," Loryn Duke, director of communications at Steamboat Ski Resort, explained. "And those 100 hours came in just the last week. Our snowmakers are literally filling in for Mother Nature."

Optimal snowmaking conditions involve a "combination of low temperatures and low humidity," also known as the wet bulb. Conditions within the mountains must remain at or below freezing both at night and during the day to help maximize the base snowpack.

"We have all the tools in our kit to assist Mother Nature and then once Mother Nature shows up, we are ready to welcome her," said Duke.

Snow in Colorado is not only crucial for the nearly $5 billion ski industry, but it's also imperative for the state's access to fresh water.