Storm Claims At Least 17 Lives

STOWE, Vt. (AP) -- Driving is tricky in New England, as the winter storm that wreaked havoc on the Upper Midwest is now bashing the Northeast.<br/><br/>At least 17 deaths are blamed on the storm, which

Monday, December 3rd 2007, 9:00 pm

By: News On 6

STOWE, Vt. (AP) -- Driving is tricky in New England, as the winter storm that wreaked havoc on the Upper Midwest is now bashing the Northeast.

At least 17 deaths are blamed on the storm, which has brought a slippery mix of rain, sleet and snow. As much as 20 inches of snow is forecast in some areas. Schools were closed in much of region and air travel disrupted.

While it's bad news for travelers, ski resort operators couldn't be happier. Christopher Francis, an innkeeper in Stowe, Vermont, says "It's not snow. It's white gold." Last year, Stowe was forced to close for several days in December for lack of snow.

Meanwhile, a new storm system is lashing the West Coast and is expected to bring the Midwest a second blast of snow starting Tuesday.