After a very tough Fall for snowmakers, most of the leading ski areas in New England and the US Northeast have managed to open at least some terrain for the current Thanksgiving weekend.
As an added bonus, it has finally started snowing too.
When, in good years, many ski areas in the region open by mid-November, some even in October, this autumn has just seen a handful of ski centres opening very limited terrain over the past few weeks.
Although there have been snowfalls, the dominant conditions have been warm and dry – too warm for all but high-altitude snowmaking in the middle of the night.
But things have improved in the past few days and Whiteface in New York State opened for its season today report three inches (7.5cm) of snowfall overnight and more on the way. It was a similar story from Jay Peak in northern Vermont (below), which also opened today.
The most any area has open so far is about five miles of runs.
Killington, the centre that opened first and with the most terrain open, hosts the first World Cup ski racing in the US for two years this weekend.
The resort has converted 17 million gallons of water in to snow through 160 snow guns and have had three snowcats grooming the World Cup run just about 24/7.
Around 10,000 people, half the usual amount, are expected to attend the event but must have a recent negative COVID test result to gain entry.