Vermont Storm Update: Careful On Roads Higher Elevations/North Now Into Evening

 

Interstate 89 in Brookfield was looking pretty slick in
the mid-afternoon today as the onset of the storm today
has brought snow and mixed precipitation. Some 
spots might have slick roads into this evening. 
Warmer, lower elevations should just see rain

 UPDATE 4 PM THURSDAY

Today's storm, at least the first part of it, is continuing to make fools of forecasters.

Heavy snow has now extended into valleys in northern Vermont, and it's starting to accumulate.

I'm still pretty sure this will eventually go back to rain, but during the evening commute, expect slush on the roads, which will make things a little dicey even in the Banana Belt Champlain Valley.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION

The precipitation has arrived, as promised in Vermont this afternoon. 

In some mid and high elevations of central and northern Vermont, the initial burst is in the form of wet snow, and the roads are getting slick in spots.  

Vermont Agency of Transportation web cams show snow-covered roads in places like Interstate 89 in Brookfield, Vermont 108 in Stowe, Route 302 in Topsham and other places.

In the valleys and in most higher elevations in southern Vermont, this is coming down with a cold rain with a very minimal mix of sleet and snow. 

Today's precipitation arrived  in St. Albans early this afternoon
as a cold rain, as expected. Then unexpectedly, around 3:30
it switched to a heavy wet snow. 

When the precipitation is heavier, we have seen bursts of wet snow even in the low elevations, but it doesn't seem to be accumulating.. 

Here in St. Albans, it's been rain, with a few hints of sleet and wet snowflakes mixed in from time to time.  

At least until about 3:30 p.m., when it unexpectedly flipped to a heavy, wet snow that started to accumulate. A slushy accumulation, but an accumulation.  

Since the atmosphere is warming, places that are getting rain will keep seeing rain as we go into the evening. Those of you seeing snow will see a transition to mixed precipitation this evening, then rain later on. 

You probably will encounter slow going and slippery roads in some areas into this evening.