Sort Of A Stormy Easter Morning In Vermont, Gets Better Later

I know it's disappointing to wake up on Easter Morning to find it rather stormy out - rainy enough to soak and ruin your Easter bonnet and windy enough to blow it away. 

The first part of April is never pretty, and that was the 
case this Easter morning in St. Albans, Vermont. After
an expected throwback to winter, the progress of spring
will accelerate later next week 

But who the hell wears an Easter bonnet anymore? The Easter egg hunts might have to be postponed a bit, too, which might be a bummer.

But since this is all about ME!!!!!!, I personally like waking up on raw and wet Sunday morning in a cozy house. I can hear the wind blown rain clattering faintly on the metal roof, and the dull roar of winds still blowing through leafless trees, the gray skies, all starting the day quietly, contemplatory. 

We did - as expected - end up getting winds just as strong as the gusts we had Friday morning, but they came in the hours just after midnight, when we were less likely to notice them. The wind advisory that was in effect was justified.

Winds at the sandbar on Route 2 in Milton got to 59 mph. Jay saw gusts to 53 mph; Morrisville, 51 mph and Panton, 49 mph. There were plenty of gusts statewide in the 30s and 40s mph. Not enough to cause widespread problems but enough to rattle the shutters. 

Early this morning, roughly 2,800 homes and businesses had no power, mostly in the northern Green Mountains. 

REST OF TODAY/TOMORROW

The rain that moved in before dawn is now tending to suppress the wind somewhat. That rain should mostly move out by shortly after noon.  We'll end up with a third of an inch of new rain, give or take, so we're safe from any flooding. This afternoon will actually be OK, with temperatures hovering near 50, with breaks of sun and southwest breezes.

At least as measured in Burlington, there have only been two Aprils without so much as a snow flurry in Burlington (1941 and 2005).  This year won't join those two illustrious Aprils.

First of all, there's already been a snow flurry on April 1.  And more are probably on the way.  Progressively colder and colder air will start coming in this afternoon and night, setting the stage for some spring snow showers. 

Tomorrow will be chilly, but it won't be the worst of it. High should make it to the upper 30s northern highlands to upper 40s warmest southern valley floors.  There could be a few snow flurries in the mountains. 

THE COLD PEAKS

As the cold air continue to pour in Monday night and early Tuesday, more snow showers should blossom. For now, anyway, forecasts have measurable snow statewide by the end of the day Tuesday, though I have my doubts about this for warmer southern valleys. 

Tuesday will be a throwback to winter, with many of us receiving a dusting to an  inch of snow. Some  northern towns will probably never get above freezing on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night will get into the teens to low 20s. Spring will be on temporary hold.  Don't worry, happens every year. 

SPRING RETURNS

Strong high pressure, which initially will contribute to our nippy April weather, will warm us up as it passes nearly overhead and then off the east coast Wednesday.  By Wednesday afternoon, it'll get well into the 40s, which is still a little cooler than normal. But the strong April sun will make it feel much better.

After that, we get a huge break. April can be notoriously tempestuous, but the second half of next week and next weekend look anything but. High temperatures in the 50s and low 60s will get spring flowers and plants and tree buds going, and no notable storms are on the way. 

Sure, this Easter morning is gray and brown and muddy and ugly, as early April is in Vermont. But that promise of spring keeps getting more and  more real. 

A Welcome Weather Alert: Vermont Now Under A Severe Daffodil Warning

Here's one example of the type of "hazard" that could
develop in Vermont during the upcoming week. 

 It's Easter, I'm feeling whimsical, so I'm going to issue a weather warning not necessarily sanctioned by the National Weather Service office in South Burlington. Or any NWS office, for that matter. 

Still, it needs to be worded like a real National Weather Service warning, so here goes: 

DAFFODIL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FOR VERMONT

The Matt's Weather Rapport Service in St. Albans, Vermont  has issued a severe daffodil warning for all of Vermont beginning today and lasting through at least this week. 

Isolated daffodils have already bloomed in some cold-protected, sunny corners in Vermont valleys. We also have widespread reports of daffodil flower buds.

This is an extremely welcome warning and you are in a life-improving situation! 

HAZARD TYPE: Daffodils, likely mixed with crocuses and eventually forsythia. Rising temperatures this week in Vermont, which could go as high as the 70s toward the end of the week, will encourage these blooms. 

TIMING: Daffodil blooms will spread across the state during the upcoming week as temperatures warm to above seasonal levels. Warmer valleys will see impacts first, starting mostly on Monday and Tuesday and increasing during the week. Daffodil blooms will gradually spread to higher elevations and the Northeast Kingdom late in the week or next week. 

IMPACTS: Daffodil blooms will cause increased levels of joy and the sense that spring is finally here. Motorists should try not to be distracted by roadside daffodils and perennial gardens brimming with the blooms in front of homes. 

Daffodil warnings will continue at least through this week.

When it's safe to do so, feel free to take photos and selfies with the daffodils. 

If there are many blooms that have accumulated on your own property, it is OK to take some indoors for spring bouquets. 

Considerable amounts of sunshine likely during the warning period are likely to make the beauty of the blooms more intense, so caution is advised. 

Additionally, crocuses have already developed and will continue to increase through the week. It's also likely forsythia blooms will mix with the daffodils, especially later in the week. While not an immediate threat, hyacinth and tulip blooms could also develop during later parts of the warning period. 

Residents are advised to stay near perennial gardens for further updates and warnings. 

Longer range forecasts indicate the daffodil warning will likely need to be extended beyond this week. There are growing signs that Vermont will also see an increasing risk of lilac blooms later this spring. Now is the time to start preparing for such a hazard.