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Winter storm Athena struck the Northeast this week, blanketing the region in a layer of thick, wet snow. The snowfall has impeded recovery efforts, as millions remain without power along the eastern seaboard in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. “I am waiting for the locusts and pestilence next," said New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Utilities in the Garden State reported an additional 20,000 outages, with 55,000 and 60,000 new outages in New York City and Long Island, respectively.
But after the ski industry's worst year in two decades, the snow is a boon to some, with many ski resorts opening their doors early. Cataloochee Ski Area in North Carolina opened to the public on Halloween, its second October opening in 52 years. Meanwhile, both Snowshoe Mountain and Appalachian Mountain are planning to open before Thanksgiving, and Sugarloaf plans to open early on November 9. Resort operators are optimistic about the prospects for this season after a disappointing 2011-12, when national average snowfall plunged by 41 percent from the previous year.
Via NBC News
