Early Afternoon Vermont Winter Storm Update

A second period of snow today that was a more extensive
than expected made up for paltry snow accumulations early
this morning in St Albans, Vermont. As of  1 p.m.,
we had collected 4.2 inches of snow today so far, and
it was still snowing lightly. 

 I figured this storm would have a few surprises, and this one is having a few. Phase 1 of the storm was, at least in some areas, less snowy than forecast. Phase two had more snow than expected.  

First, Phase I, the initial push of moisture that came through early this morning, north to south. It did snow pretty hard on the east facing slopes of the Green Mountains, especially south, as forecasters expecred.

The west side of the Green Mountains and the Northeast Kingdom were "shadowed" from the snow. Strong east winds aloft blocked the moisture, causing less snow This also was expected, but the shadowing was even more effective than some forecasters thought. 

I could see a classic example of this shadowing in St. Albans, Vermont. By 8:45 a.m., we only mustered 1.8 inches of new snow.  While I was shoveling the pittance from my driveway, I could see a couple breaks in the clouds as just flurries fell. Many Northeast Kingdom towns had just received a half inch or less of snow by 8 a.m. 

The low level jet - the east winds a few thousand feet overhead that were helping the Green Mountains  block the snow - was screaming.  As just flurries fell amid nearly calm air, clouds overhead raced toward the west, and you can actually just barely hear the roar of the wind overhead. 

Off to the west, beyond the reach of this shadow, you can see a curtain of relatively heavy snow falling on the New York side of Lake Champlain. 

Phase II, later this morning, has also turned out to be interesting. We knew it would be warming up, amid light, scattered precipitation.

Well, that turned into a second solid slug of snow moving southeast to northwest across Vermont. By late afternoon, many of the places that were "shadowed" weren't this time. The winds a few thousand feet overhead had diminished, meaning the moisture wasn't being blocked as effectively. 

St Albans, for instance, received an additional 2.4 inches of snow as of 1 p.m for a storm total of 4.2 inches The most snow I've seen reported in Vermont so far is 8 inches in Warren, Plymouth and Andover, Since this is still ongoing, totals will go up. 

This second wave contained wetter snow, and it did change or mix with rain at times  in valleys in far southern Vermont. This will mostly be a snow event, though.

It will remain on the mild side for awhile longer this afternoon, but then cool down markedly later as winds really turn to the north and increase.