National Weather Service: Great Forecast, Says The Maps

 A tale of two maps. 

First one: What the National Weather Service office in South Burlington was forecasting on Friday for the just -completed snowstorm:

Next map. What actually happened. A really good forecast. My thoughts below the second map: 

You can tell by the maps what a degree or two difference can do to a forecast, though.

The forecasts were great, but somewhat less snow than predicted fell in the Northeast Kingdom and in northeastern New York.  In both places, but the Northeast Kingdom in particular, temperatures held just  a couple degrees higher than many people forecast.

The track of the storm was essentially up the Connecticut River Valley. That let in just enough warm air to keep things Saturday in most of the Northeast Kingdom rain or a rain/snow mixture. The Northeast Kingdom still got snow, but perhaps two or three inches less than forecast.

Still, people in the Northeast Kingdom shouldn't feel too bad. There was snow on the ground there before this storm hit, and they squeaked out a couple to a few inches more this weekend.

It was still snowing lightly there Sunday afternoon.  Plus, if anybody gets snow from some weak systems this coming week, it will probably include the northeastern part of Vermont. 

Snow cover through that area, and most of Vermont, is still below normal for this time of year. But at least it's no longer pathetic.