THREE Vermont Snowstorms Within A Week? It's Looking Possible, Starting This Evening

The latest snowfall forecast map from the National 
Weather Service office in South Burlington, issued
early this morning, has slightly increased snowfall
in some parts of northern Vermont. But some low
elevations in southern Vermont could get cheated
out of a full snowstorm by a little too much warm air.

 It looks like the weather in Vermont is finally flipping solidly into winter.  It won't be that cold, at least not yet, but things are definitely looking snowier than they have until now.  

We really do have the possibility of three snowstorms between now and the end of next week. While none of them look like blockbusters and there's no guarantee we'll actually get the three storms, things are looking that way. 

The first one is imminent, starting mid-afternoon in southwestern Vermont and spreading northeastward across the entire state by evening. 

STORM #1

A winter weather advisory is up for all of Vermont for an expected four to eight inches of snow between this afternoon and Friday evening.  Some of the mountains and ski resorts will probably get a little more than that. 

sI do still have some questions about whether this will be all snow, and also the consistency of the snow. As I've been saying all along, there's not much cold air to work with. Plus, as I write up this post this morning, it's a little warmer than originally forecast. 

As of 8 a.m. temperatures for many of us were in the low 30s, and will probably sneak into the mid-30s before the precipitation arrives. 

So, this might start out as a mix or even a bit of rain in the warmest valleys before flipping to snow. I even wonder if the toastiest places, like Bennington, Pownal, Vernon, Brattleboro, will see more than two or three slushy inches. Even valley floors as far north as Rutland could see less than four inches out of this. 

For the rest of us, it's still looking like mostly a wet snow for the initial thump this evening. In northern Vermont, don't be too alarmed if it starts with a few rain drops mixed in. Forecasters think it will flip to snow. 

The snow will come down pretty hard this evening and roads will get dicey fast. Remember, a wet snow is often more slippery than a dry powdery snow on the roads, so keep that in mind. Plus, for awhile, it will snow hard enough so that plow trucks might have a little trouble keeping up with it. 

On top of that, the wet snow could cause a few power outages, especially on the east slopes of the southern and central Green Mountains, where it will snow heavily and fast for a little while. My advice is get home from work or wherever late this afternoon and stay in tonight.

The snow will lighten up or even occasionally stop late tonight and before dawn Friday as the coastal low zips away. The old original storm from the Plains will wander overhead Friday, so snow will resume during the morning and continue well into the afternoon for many of us. 

The Friday snow won't come down as heavily as what happens this evening but you'll still want to be on your toes if you're out driving.

By the way, that parent low from the Midwest will do something weird today. It's expected to set off a few severe thunderstorms, and possibly a brief tornado or two in Ohio today. That's awfully far north for January. 

STORM #2

The weather pattern is slowly transitioning away from the very warm conditions most of the nation has had this month to a colder one. That is pushing the storm track, at least for now, further east. Instead of storms going by to our west and giving us rain, they seem to want to go just to our east to keep Vermont on the colder, snowier side.

There's no guarantees with this.  Storms could come just far enough inland to give us a mix or go to far to the east to give us much of anything. But so far, Storm #2 looks promising. 

This one looks like it wants to form in the western Gulf of Mexico Saturday night, grab a huge boatload of moisture from the Gulf, then rocket northeastward toward New England. It would reach us Sunday night and Monday. 

Storm #2 looks stronger and windier than the one we're getting tonight. With any nor'easter, you need to be exactly in the sweet spot north and west of the storm center when it comes by.  It's too soon to tell for sure if we'll actually be in that sweet spot, but it certainly looks like it might. 

Even if that happens this won't be a blockbuster, either. The storm will be moving so fast it won't have time to linger and give us a huge dump. However, the potential is there for a snowfall that's a little bigger than the one we're anticipating tonight and tomorrow. 

STORM #3

Storm #3 looks like it might be a rinse and repeat of Storm #2. Like Storm #2, it will gather itself in the western Gulf of Mexico and grab yet another boatload of moisture. 

Like Storm #2, Storm #3 would speed basically up Interstate 95 into New England by Wednesday night. Since this storm is nearly a week away, it's too soon to tell whether it would take an inland track to give us a messy mix, or go perfectly along the coast to give Vermont another decent snow dump, or go too far east to give us much. 

Current forecasts suggest either a good snow or a mix but a LOT can change in the forecast over the next several days. 

After Storm #3 passes, the weather pattern will have basically completed its transition and we'll likely end up with the coldest air we've seen since Christmas or possibly even nippier than that. The colder weather will keep the snow on the ground, so the ski areas will no doubt see a needed boost in business. 

 This colder air and weather pattern might shift the storm track further east to make us drier. Still, there's a slight chance of a nice big Storm #4 about 10 to 12 days from now.  

 Storm #4 is just a gleam in a long range forecaster's eye, so don't count on it. But it is an active weather pattern.