Another Vermont Wind Storm: Some Places Surprisingly Windier Than The Last Time

Another round of high winds this morning in Vermont
especially over the northern Champlain Valley.

UPDATE: 2:30 PM

Some of those gusts this morning up in Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont were pretty impressive.

White's Beach in Grand Isle gusted to 66 mph. I imagine 60 mph gusts must have affected the lake shore in Franklin County, too, and perhaps up toward  

Colchester Reef gusted to 54 mph, and North Fairfax saw a 51 mph gusts.

More gusty winds might come through later this afternoon, but it won't be as bad as early this morning.

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 During last Wednesday's windy storm, most of the strongest gusts were outside the Champlain Valley, which surprised me a bit. 

An inversion in the lower atmosphere kept the strongest gusts a few thousand feet overhead, keeping gusts to a minimum

Interestingly, a somewhat weaker storm system than Wednesday's has been really rocking the Champlain Valley since a little after midnight. 

Gusts have surely reached at least 50 mph in some exposed locations on Champlain Valley hillsides and near open water.  .Out on Hathaway Point Road near St. Albans Bay, a large tree fell, blocking the roadway. There were two other reports of trees down in St. Albans, suggesting winds there could have reached near 60 mph. I'd believe judging from the howling winds outside my house. 

Reported wind gusts so far include 52 mph on Colchester Reef, 47 mph on Burton Island and 44 mph at the National Weather Service office in South Burlington. 

As of 6:30 a.m. today, power outages were pretty minimal, with just 500 or so homes and businesses without power in the Champlain Valley.  Of course, as soon as I wrote this sentence, power failed at my house and neighborhood. It was only out for less than a half hour, though.

It is awfully windy, but away from Franklin County at least,the gusts are falling just short of being capable of widespread damage, which is great news. As rain approaches and overtakes Vermont later this morning and early this afternoon, the wind will tend to diminish some. 

As a cold front crosses Vermont this afternoon, there might be renewed strong wind for a time along and just behind the front. 

A wind advisory is in effect for the Champlain Valley through 6 p.m. today. 

Things should be calmer by tomorrow.

Windy days are common in the late autumn and winter, especially in the Champlain Valley, where south winds funnel between the Green Mountains and Adirondacks. 

This autumn had been until recently unusually calm, with not many windy days. But it has gotten gustier. Today is the fourth day in a row in Burlington with gusts of at least 36 mph. 

It's getting into winter, so expect plenty more blustery days ahead.