Ellicottville, NY - While the ground remains bare across much of Eastern ski country, snowmaking weather has returned, and a lucky few Eastern ski resorts are under the gun as the cold air brings with it lake effect bands streaming off the Great Lakes, dumping significant amounts of snow on the slopes as opening dates approach.

Snow is piling up in Snowshoe as the West Virginia ski resort prepares to open for the season next week. (photo: Snowshoe Mountain Resort)

Holiday Valley and Holimont ski resorts outside of Ellicottville, N.Y. have received up to 28 inches of snow over the past few days. Warm ground is causing the heavy, wet snow to settle down to six or eight inches, but Holiday Valley officials are nonetheless today contemplating an early opening.

In West Virginia, officials at Snowshoe Mountain Resort have recorded 21 inches of snowfall since Saturday, with 13 inches of snow falling overnight. Up to an additional foot is possible by Wednesday before snow showers are expected to taper off by Friday. Snowmaking efforts are underway around the clock to prepare for Snowshoe's scheduled Nov. 26 opening, and staffers expect to offer up to 10 slopes and trails covering 39 acres of terrain for opening day.