Another Vermont Autumn, Another Record Hot Spell, Only Light Rain Coming Instead Of Needed Soaker

Some lingering golden leaves on trees in Burlington,
Vermont yesterday amid record high temperatures. 

 A couple weeks ago, I thought this autumn might break from recent tradition and yield no record warm spells in Vermont. 

Yesterday dispelled that notion. 

The updates show some impressively warm weather across the state on Wednesday. Burlington actually had one of the "cooler" high temperatures at 73 degrees, with tied the record for the date. Burlington's low temperature for yesterday was 59 degrees. breaking the record for the warmest low for the date by five degrees.

The record-smashing was even more impressive elsewhere in Vermont. Montpelier reached an impressive 76 degrees, besting the 72 degrees original set in 2022. St. Johnsbury was almost hot - reaching 77 degrees. That beat the old record by four degrees. 

Autumn in Vermont aren't what they used to be, that's for sure. 

Until now, this autumn was a little closer to they way they used to be. Not much in the way of summer weather, a fair number of frosty mornings in October. But yesterday changed that, for now 

We've alway had the occasional warm spell. But lately, it's been a nearly yearly occurrence. 

In 2022, Burlington reached 76 degrees in November 6, the hottest temperature on record for the month. On October 4, 2023. it was 86 degrees in Burlington, the hottest reading on record for the entire month October.

On Halloween, 2024, it was 77 degrees in Burlington, the warmest for so late in the season. Plattsburgh New York got to an incredible 83 degrees that day. Last October, the record hot temperature of 86 degrees was tied in Burlington. Montpelier also reached its record high for the month of 84 degrees.

Now we had another autumn record spell. Not quite as big a recent years, but still. 

FORECAST

It's going to stay balmy for the next couple of days. Not quite record warm, but still. Let's get into it. 

Today

A little rain is coming through this morning, but I'm completely unimpressed by how much. Most of us will see less than a tenth of an inch of rain. Mostly this morning. 

The air is unusually humid for this time of year, but there's not much lift in the atmosphere. Without the lift, you don't get much rain. So the moisture in the air is basically wasted. 

Be glad little bits and sprinkles of more rain is on the way for the next few days. That will keep the risk of forest fires suppressed some until we get a nice soaker. Some day. New England needs it. An illegal brush pile fire in Ferrisburgh, Vermont spread yesterday, It took six fire crews to contain the blaze. 

A much bigger fire is burning through rugged terrain near the northern New Hampshire/western Maine border. That fire has chewed through about 1,000 acres and at last report was only 11 percent contained. 

Back here in Vermont, it will still be very warm, but not quite record breaking. Highs should get into the mid and upper 60s. Breaks in the clouds this afternoon should help boost those temperatures. 

With the warmth and unusual humidity - dew points are in 50s to near 60, we actually have a shot of some thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening. Especially in far northwestern Vermont. 

Friday

Still warm. Dawn will break with temperatures near 50, which is a near-normal high for this time of year. Afternoon temperatures should reach the mid-60s. We'll be caught between a very wet, nearly stalled weather front along the southeastern New England coast and an upper level low near western New York.

The result for us is almost no chance of rain, and partly sunny skies

Saturday

Back to reality. The upper low in western New York will amble in, creating a lot of showers. This is our best shot at getting some fairly decent rain, but so far I'm not too impressed. So far, it looks like the best chance of good rains is in southern Vermont, but that depends on the track of this thing. 

For now, it's looking like most of us will receive less than a quarter inch of rain, which is much less than we really need. 

It'll be cooler, too, but not ridiculous for November. We'll put highs in the 50s.

Sunday/Next Week

A dip in the jet stream will keep the weather unsettled and cool, but with no big storms. We'll have frequent chances of showers, which will probably mix with snow at times, especially in the mountains. 

It's that time of year, folks!