Another Gusty, Squally Vermont Day

 A heavy snow squall in Burlington, Vermont a few
years ago. Potentially dangerous snow squalls are in
the forecast for Vermont today. 

That light, powdery snow was already starting to blow around pretty well in exposed areas, especially in the Champlain Valley as we get into another gusty, squally changeable winter day. 

Moisture streaming off Lake Ontario was helping to produce some light snow over northern New York and northern Vermont this morning, but that won't amount to much, except for places right near that lake.

The big trouble this morning will be that blowing snow because of the south to southwest winds. Those winds will be increasing al morning, gusting to 40 mph in many areas. Not just the Champlain Valley.  

Be ready for sudden changes in visibility, and icy, slippery, snowy patches on roads where the snow is blowing. This can take you by surprise. You're cruising along at 50 mph on dry pavement and then you're on ice and you car does not have the skills on ice that Nathan Chen has.

As advertised for the past couple of days, snow squalls are a threat this afternoon as a strong cold front comes through. Much like a little over a week ago, you might find your phone buzzing with snow squall alerts.

These snow squalls will be brief, but many will pack a punch. If possible, stay home this afternoon, even as any heavy snow we get will last for perhaps 20 minutes in any one spot and only accumulate an inch or two.  Or, pay attention to the snow squalls.  If you get a warning of one, stay put until it passes and the roads crews get a chance to clear things up.  

If you're driving and get a snow squall warning, get off the highway, especially the interstates, and wait it out in a safe place. The snow squall might be an excellent opportunity to park your car on the way back from the ski slopes and grab a bite to eat. 

At the very least, slow down dramatically and make sure your headlights are on if you drive into a squall. 

Not everyone will get a squall and some will strike harder than others.  The National Weather Service in South Burlington has already seen fit to issue a special weather statement, alerting us to this afternoon's squall risks.

The NWS in South Burlington 'says the squalls will come at us northwest to southeast. They'll hit the Champlain Valley between about 2 and 6 p.m. and be ripping through central and northeast Vermont between 3 and 7 p.m. 

Behind the front and the squalls, winds will stay strong for several hours, but from the west and northwest, not south. That will change the nature of how the snow blows, and will cause drifts and bad patches on the roads in different areas than this morning.

Temperatures will also be crashing this evening, so salt on the roads will become less and less effective.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Forecasts are consistent for a wintry week, even as we head into spring. Well, meteorological spring. 

That's the period March 1 through May 31. That way, climatologists and other scientists have an easier time managing seasonal weather statistics, since they all begin at the first day of the month. Since December, January and February are the coldest months of the year, it makes sense to conclude meteorological winter on February 28 and start a new season March 1.

Although this first week of meteorological spring in Vermont will be more like winter. Temperatures should stay solidly below normal through Friday. In the valleys highs temperatures in first week of March should be in the mid-30s with lows in the teens.

Most days will be about 10 degrees colder than that. At least we won't have any record lows, so that's good.

Two weak systems coming in from the west, one on Tuesday, one on Thursday, should spread light snow over Vermont, but no biggie.

There are signs of a warmup and possibly inclement weather next weekend, but all that is uncertain