MONTPELIER, Vt. - Ski areas across northern New England are giddy at the prospect of a major Thanksgiving snowstorm.
The snow began to fall at Mount Snow in southern Vermont at midmorning Wednesday. Spokesman Dave Meeker calls it "awesome.''
The National Weather Service is forecasting a foot of snow and more across parts of the region before the storm ends Thursday morning.
At the other end of Vermont, the Jay Peak resort is giving its employees Thanksgiving off, but they'll be ready to go Friday. And the snow boosted reservations for the weekend.
Greg Sweetser of the Ski Maine Association says the Sugarloaf and Sunday River resorts are open while others are opening next month. He says the Thanksgiving snow will boost Nordic skiers and "spread the joy further south.''