Heads Up, Vermont: Burst Of Poorly Timed Snow Could Mean Commute Headaches Again

A pleasant late snow covered late afternoon Sunday
near Fairfield, Vermont. More light snow will add
to that blanket of white this week. 

Last week's light but persistent snow in northern and central Vermont caused havoc on the roads, prompting Vermont State Police to issue press releases telling people to slow the hell down. 

Well, we face another week of that sort of thing. 

Timing is the issue, as the snow might surprise or at least annoy commuters.  

The trouble starts today. There was a little light snow overnight in northern Vermont, so there were a few slick spots this morning,

However, just in time for the trip home late this afternoon and evening, heavier snow showers and a few snow squalls plan to roam northern New York and Vermont, especially western parts of the state. 

It won't be everywhere, and the exact timing is hard to divine as of this morning. But just be prepared for the possibility. They could arrive anytime this afternoon. They also will be hit and miss, with some towns in northern Vermont seeing  a quick inch of snow in a squall, with two towns over seeing pretty much nothing 

A nearly full moon rises late Sunday afternoon over
a Fairfield, Vermont farm. 

What makes this evening's situation potentially worse is that temperatures in the warmer valleys will probably sneak up to near or a little above freezing.

 So when it starts snowing, the roads will get wet. As the squalls intensify, the wet roads will quickly freeze, then get covered with a thin layer of snow. 

When that  happens, it takes people by surprise. You're cruising on dry or wet roads at 65 mph in the Interstate and suddenly, you're going that fast on a skating rink.  That sort of thing tends to end poorly.

Then we get to Tuesday.

Again, the day will start not bad, but by afternoon and evening, a new round of snow showers should move in. Just in time for the evening commute. It'll be a little colder than today, so the snow will stick to the roads until they are plowed and treated. And even that won't last long as more light snow ill continue to come down

More slow going, more slide offs, more idiots causing accidents. 

Sigh.

The light snow and snow showers will last through Tuesday night and into Wednesday at least. 

Just like last week, most of us won't get much new snow out of this, with northern Vermont mostly seeing one to four inches by Wednesday night. The central and northern Green Mountains will once again win the snow jackpot with many mountains seeing six inches or more.

And, once again, the big snow loser will be the lower Connecticut River Valley, where either nothing or a dusting is in the cards.