A forecasted heavy winter storm is good news for area ski resorts and winter sports enthusiasts.
The winter storm that is expected to bring up to a foot and a half of snow to the region is coming during a key weekend for ski resorts. The Christmas to New Year holiday week accounts for substantial revenues, and Mad River Glen Spokesman Eric Friedman says a deep natural snowfall will bring more skiiers to the slopes.
While Mad River Glen does minimal snow making, most ski areas in the region rely on snow guns to make snow. Okemo Mountain Resort Spokesperson Bonnie McPherson says they need cold more than storms to keep their mountain open.
The holiday period is important for resorts across the Northeast. While a lot of terrain is open, the expected foot and a half of snowfall will generate an insurance policy of sorts for ski areas. That’s compared to last year, which some have characterized as a snowless winter. Jay Peak Ski Resort President and Burke Mountain Partner Bill Stenger says there’s a lot of pent up demand as it appears to be a more normal winter pattern this year.
Bill Stenger expects that this storm will generate some of the best holiday week skiing they’ve seen in a decade, and it will allow them to have 100-percent of their terrain open a month earlier than usual.
The storm is expected to start overnight on Wednesday and continue through Thursday.
