Gorgeous Vermont Continues But Needed Rain On The Horizon

Obligatory first flower bud photo of the season from my 
gardens in St. Albans, Vermont. I imagine this crocus
will bloom later today. 

Monday was the fourth crystal clear day in a row across Vermont.  I really has been pretty much four days since I've seen a cloud.  

As you know, these clear skies have been accompanied by some remarkable warmth, and we have a few more days of it to go through.

Burlington made it to 68 degrees Monday a record high but still the warmest day since November 11.  We still have a shot at perhaps making it to 70 degrees this week. We shall see.

Today's highs will be similar to Mondays with daytime temperatures well into the 60s.  Clouds might hold temperatures down to "only" around 60 degrees Wednesday afternoon which is still nearly 20 degrees above normal.

Another surge of mild air Thursday could get us to 70 degrees in spots. However, some clouds and higher humidity levels might prevent that. It'll be a close call. Dry air heats up in the sun faster than wet air. Still, record highs could be challenged on Thursday. 

On that day, the current record high is 68 degrees in Burlington and 64 in Montpelier. 

As we've stated previously, no outdoor burning this week, please, and be careful with sparks and fire.  We're way below normal with precipitation. Where the snow has melted away, the dead brush from last year is very dry, and you could set a brush or forest fire really easily through Thursday.

We need the rain. 

Luckily, chances are we're going to get it.  I know lots of us would love for this gorgeous spring weather to continue, but all good things much end.  This time, it will end with a dose of real medicine. 

Obligatory "the plants are coming up in my gardens"
photo for spring, 2021 in St. Albans, Vermont 

A vigorous storm - one that seems destined to produce more tornadoes Thursday in Mississippi and surround areas - is headed in our direction. 

We certainly don't have to worry about tornadoes up here in Vermont with this one. But odds are increasing it will bring a decent slug of rain through here Friday. 

At this point, it looks to be just a mid-sized storm, probably dumping a half inch to an inch of rain.  That's a solid storm, but nothing extreme. And helpful, since Vermont is still super dry and in many cases in drought. 

It'll cool off Friday night and through the weekend down to temperatures that are pretty close to normal for this time of year. 

A second storm on Sunday looks like it will produce even more rain, or in some cases mixed precipitation, or yes, maybe snow. There, I said the "S' word.

We'll have to look at now this will play out when the event gets closer.