East Coast Storm Disrupts Ski Resorts as High Winds Lead to Power Outages

PORTLAND, Maine—On Thursday, colder temperatures began to make a comeback following a storm that swept across the East Coast, impacting New England with powerful winds that caused widespread power outages, accompanied by heavy rainfall and rising temperatures that melted snow and affected ski resorts.

An atmospheric river facilitated the transport of moisture from the tropics, leading to significant rainfall on Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, Portland, Maine, recorded 2.33 inches of rain on Wednesday, surpassing the previous record of 2.01 inches for that date set in 1887.

Utility crews were deployed to address power outages after winds peaked Wednesday night into Thursday. As of Thursday morning, nearly 90,000 customers in Maine were without power, as reported by poweroutage.us.

Derek Schroeter, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, stated that a deepening low-pressure system was the cause of the severe winds affecting the region. Some areas in Maine experienced wind gusts exceeding 50 mph.

Forecasters expressed concerns about bombogenesis, commonly referred to as a “bomb cyclone,” characterized by rapid intensification within a 24-hour period.

“Is that what they’re calling it?” remarked Jen Roberts, co-owner of Onion River Outdoors sporting goods store in Montpelier, Vermont. She expressed disappointment that a recent five-day period of snow, which encouraged ski enthusiasts to visit her store, was being washed away, highlighting the unpredictable nature of regional weather. “But you know, this is New England. We are accustomed to these occurrences,” she added.

Ski resort operators attributed the unfortunate weather to bad luck as the holiday season approaches.

“We don’t mention the ‘r-word’ around here. It’s considered taboo,” said Jamie Cobbett, marketing director at Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire, which was hit by rain on Wednesday. “We’re experiencing some moist, wet weather today. We’ll restore the mountain soon.”

Even with soggy conditions, skier Marcus Caston remained optimistic. “The conditions are actually pretty good. The rain makes the snow soft and enjoyable. It’s a lot of fun,” he commented while skiing at Sugarbush in Vermont.

Seasonal low temperatures suitable for snowmaking began to return on Thursday.

New England was not the only region facing turbulent weather. Parts of Michigan along the Lake Michigan shoreline expected heavy lake-effect snow through Thursday, and dangerously cold temperatures affected parts of the Upper Midwest. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in several counties on Wednesday in anticipation of heavy snowfall from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario through Thursday.

However, New England’s weather showcased the largest variety, with the storm delivering a mix of conditions. It began early Wednesday with freezing rain, followed by heavy rainfall and rising temperatures—surpassing 50 degrees Fahrenheit in Portland, for instance.

Alex Hobbs, a college student in Boston, expressed concern that the weather might disrupt her plans to return home to San Francisco soon. “I’m slightly anxious about potential delays due to heavy winds and rain, maybe even snow,” she noted on Wednesday.

By Patrick Whittle and David Sharp