The weather outside might not be frightful, but it has proven delightful -- or in other cases downright dreary -- for local businesses.

December and January have been warmer than usual in northwest Ohio, and snowfall has been minimal, which means businesses that count on winter weather have suffered, while those reliant on warm weather have profited.

Craig Comte, a co-owner of Comte Construction Co. in Toledo, estimates he's saved up to $60,000 this year because of the relatively warm temperatures.

Construction sites don't need to be heated, and crews can work for longer stretches in warmer weather, he said.

"Normally, like this time of year, most jobs -- if they're outside work -- they're throwing up scaffolding and a tent and putting temporary heat in the facility," Mr. Comte said. "This year, we didn't have to do that, and it helped get some of the costs down on the projects.

"The weather has been a good factor this year so far for just about everybody."

The Associated General Contractors of America reported Friday that 52,000 construction jobs have been added to the industry nationwide in the past two months, at least in part because of the warm weather.

Of course, not everybody is thrilled about the weather.

Bill's Lawn and Landscape Inc. in the northern Fulton County community of Assumption typically makes close to $40,000 from plowing snow during the winter months.

This year, business has decreased close to 90 percent, said William Lambert, president.

"We don't do anything when it's not snowing, money-makingwise," he said. "Basically, I remodel houses in the winter and I've picked up that more than I usually do."

Last year was much busier, Mr. Lambert said.

"I'm hoping for a little bit more snow, but that doesn't sound like a possibility this year," he said.

The National Weather Service predicts temperatures will be at or above average for the next few months.

Toledo's Red Sky Surf and Snow, which sells snowboards and snowboarding gear, has offered deals on merchandise and has increased local advertising.

Mark Musgrave, a manager at the store in the Cricket West shopping center, said sales fell about 25 percent in December.

"December was very down -- Christmas, we didn't have any snow," he said.

He said customers and employees were testing equipment in the parking lot from Christmas until February last year. But not this year.

"We get the 60s and the 50-degree days and the rain and it just grinds us to a halt."

Contact Kris Turner at: kturner@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.