(Host) Much of Vermont may be getting cold sleet or rain. But higher elevations are getting their first snow storm of the season.
As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, the snow has been piling up on Killington, Mount Mansfield and other mountains.
(Keck) It’s the kind of weather forecast skiers and ski resorts love.
Killington spokesman Tom Horrocks says they’ve got over a foot of snow already and more is expected tonight and tomorrow.
(Horrocks) "Throughout New England whenever you get a storm like this and you have the Weather Channel broadcasting live from Stowe and using photos from our webcams – and just talking about a great early snowstorm – everybody gets excited."
(Keck) While Horrocks says early snowstorms are great for marketing, they’re not unusual.
(Horrocks) "You can never be surprised by October snowstorms. It was about six years ago that we received a similar snowstorm here in October that dropped 31 inches of snow."
(Keck) The only downside he says is that snow in October rarely lasts.
Despite all the natural snow, the weather is still too warm to make snow, but colder temperatures are expected.
Horrocks says once Killington can get its snow guns going, they’ll have a better idea when they can open for the season.
In the meantime, he says the storm couldn’t have come at a better time, as the resort was wrapping up season pass deals today.
(Horrocks) "So to have mother nature out there doing our marketing for us and talking about all the snow we’re receiving and the phones have been ringing off the hook."
(Keck) And, for what it’s worth, service stations are also getting calls. It’s time to put your snow tires on.
(Keck) For VPR News, I’m Nina Keck