After wandering off, winter has returned to the mid-Atlantic region this week, and the timing is perfect. After flirting with sustained highs that would sway the most ardent global warming skeptic, the temperature finally plummeted to more seasonal levels early this week. Resorts throughout the region had their eye on the wet bulb and began making snow — aggressively — as soon as the temperature crossed under 32. In a possible act of solace, Mother Nature pitched in and dropped as much as 7 inches of fresh powder by Wednesday evening on resorts such as Wisp, Seven Springs, Snowshoe, Canaan Valley, and Timberline. Resorts that were forced to close are now planning to re-open by this weekend — in time for the critical Martin Luther King holiday weekend. Temperatures may rise again this weekend, before plummeting again early next week. Winter may finally — thankfully — be here.

Some recent pictures from area resorts are provided below.