This year, US East Coast ski resorts are gaining an unexpected advantage over their Western counterparts thanks to a snow bonanza.
In Vermont, where weather is a major economic factor, strong storms are dumping dozens of feet of snow on the state's slopes. In 2023, snow-related activities generated $220 million for the state's GDP. However, winters have not been as cold as they once were due to climate change. According to the US National Centres for Environmental Information, the contiguous United States experienced its hottest winter on record last year. Temperatures in Vermont and nearby New Hampshire hit season-high highs on a state-by-state basis. Nonetheless, this year has been unique, and resorts are savouring it while it lasts.