Storm packs punch in south

The Associated Press

A winter storm packed snow onto the mountains of Vermont and dumped a mixture of snow and rain in the lower elevations Wednesday, delighting ski resorts but causing problems for motorists and knocking out power to more than 270 homes.

By noon Wednesday, the mountain town of Woodford had already reported 11.8 inches, the National Weather Service said.

Mount Snow in West Dover had reported 7 to 9 inches of new snow and more was on the way as the storm was expected to continue overnight and into Thursday. The southern Green Mountains was forecast to get more than a foot. Other mountain areas could get 8 to 10 inches. Lower elevations could see several inches by this morning, as rain turns to snow, said Andy Nash, a National Weather Service forecaster in Burlington.

Ski areas reaped the benefit of elevation and were picking up some substantial accumulations of snow.

according to Tony Vazzano, of North Winds Weather, which tailors forecasts for many ski areas in northern New England.

“This is a good day for the mountains, no question about it,” Vazzano said. Vazzano said the Stratton and Killington ski areas in Vermont had 7 inches of new snow by Wednesday afternoon.

“The mountains and ski areas are doing pretty good,” Nash said. “They’re going to get the jackpot with this storm.”

Green Mountain Power reported that at least 270 homes had lost power as of 7 p.m., including 198 in Lunenburg and 64 in Chester.