Poor weather keeps balloons grounded in Battle Creek

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – People in Calhoun County are watching the skies, waiting for the rain to let up since they're trying to host a hot-air balloon competition.

Once again, rain on Friday morning kept balloons on the ground at the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship. Balloonists were able to get up for one task Thursday evening, but the weather doesn't look like it will cooperate for the rest of the weekend.

Battle Creek has seen some wet days recently, with some poorly timed rain coinciding with one of the largest hot air balloon competitions coming to town. The event has been an almost complete wash out.

"You know when you fly, it's like the earth leaves you," said Al Nels.

Nels is one of nearly 70 competitors from across the country who have come to Battle Creek for the city's first shot at hosting the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships.

Unfortunately, the weather has not been cooperative, and about the only thing in the sky has been rain as it falls to earth.

"It's just the precipitation right now," said Derrick Jones, event organizer. "You know we're really hoping for a break in the weather tonight for flight and tomorrow morning looks pretty decent.

So far, the balloonists have had only one break in the weather and the balloons have spent most of their time on the ground. The launch site at Kellogg Community College has gone from green field to mud as the pilots grow increasingly antsy.

"We come to these events to fly, not sit in hotel rooms," said Nels.

According to the Calhoun County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the rain clouds have not dampened the economic impact of the event.

On average it costs pilots and crews several thousand dollars to come to these events.

"Probably their social economic strata is a little higher, and they spend money," said Dwight Butt, of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They do spend, and that means a lot for tourism in the community."

Even if the balloons remain grounded, the event may have given the local economy a much needed lift.

"In my mind it's a success," said Butt.

It could be some time before anyone knows exactly how much money the event has brought to Battle Creek.

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