Despite Current Endless Winter in Vermont, Winters Are Getting Shorter Nationwide

A graphic from Climate Central shows how winters in
Burlington, Vermont have gotten shorter in recent
decades. This winter is an exception to the trend.

Here in Vermont, and the rest of New England, this winter has seemed endless. It feels like it's been going on forever, and it seems like we'll never be finished with it. 

But this long winter is an exception. Winters overall have been getting shorter, thanks to climate change. 

Climate Central waded through data from 245 American cities and found that in 195 of those cities, the coldest part of winter is on average nine days shorter than winters were between the years 1970 and 1997.

Here's how the study worked, according to Climate Central:

"This analysis defined winter as the coldest 90 consecutive days of the year during the past (1970-1997) and then compared the frequency of those winter-like temperatures during the most recent 28-year period (1998-2025)."

Juneau and Anchorage, Alaska have seen winters shrink the most, by 62 and 49 days respectively. That makes sense, since warming is much faster in northern latitudes and the Arctic. I would note that like here in Vermont, Juneau and Anchorage are bucking the trend this winter as it's been unusually cold and snowy this winter in Alaska. At least compared to recent winters. 

Climate Central's analysis included Burlington, Vermont, where winters are 17 days shorter than they once were.

In 1970-1997, the coldest 90 days pf winter on average started on December 9 and ended March 8.  Now, the period with those coldest temperatures only goes from December 20 to March 2. 

Not everyone is experiencing shorter winters. 

Reflecting the fact that in some cases, regular variability and other factors besides climate change can keep winters relatively long. A few cities in the Ohio Valley have winters as long now as the once were. So, too in parts of California, though the ocean's influence there limits large seasonal temperature swings.  

Even if you like these shorter winters, there are downsides to these milder seasons. 

As Climate Central notes, warmer, shorter winters can reduce mountain snowpacks, especially in the western U.S. That can lead to summer water shortages and an increased risk of wildfires. 

Sometimes, a lack of winter chill prevents fruit and nut trees and plants from getting enough of a cold cycle to adequately produce crops int the following growing season.  Warm winters can also prevent pests like ticks from dying off. A shorter winter could also mean the spring allergy season might last longer. 

Here in Vermont, as noted, we have had a long, cold winter, bucking the trend Climate Central has outlined. But the trend toward shorter, warmer winters will continue. A season like the winter of 2025-26 will keep getting increasingly rare.  

Subtle Signs Of Spring? A Little More Snow Northern Vermont As Temperatures Creep Up To Near Freezing

Even if we get a bit of a thaw early next week, I don't 
think we'll be enjoying the springlike weather
on our back deck. It had also once again started
to snow when I took this pic this morning. 

For a couple days now, I've been watching forecasts of this tiny, but kind of intense upper level low and pool of cold air diving south from eastern Quebec toward Maine. 

This weird little thing that makes me think of a bowling ball on weather maps doesn't have much moisture, so it's not an immense storm. But it will probably bring snow squalls, gusty winds and generally unpleasantness to northern Maine. 

For us in Vermont, we're still going to  have a splendid weekend for outdoor winter sports with comfortable temperatures and plenty of snow on the ground.

But the odd thing in Maine will bring us some subtle twists and turns you might or might not notice. But they're fascinating for odd weather geeks like me.

Our Maine bowling ball helped create a sort of pseudo warm front heading toward us in Vermont.  It's a very mini version of this past Tuesday, when a burst of mild air coming at us from the west dumped a quick several inches of snow on Vermont. 

Sorry, snow lovers, this time, there's no quick fresh big dump of powder today.   Snow haters are bummed, too, since this set up is giving parts of northern and central Vermont some unexpected light snow this morning.  

Forecasts from last night called for isolated morning flurries today.  But this is  more than that. It was snowing here in St. Albans as I wrote this around 8 a.m, and we'd already piled up  half inch of new snow.

It turns out some of us, but not everyone in northern Vermont might get an inch of snow out of this before it heads out to give us a partly sunny afternoon. I wouldn't be surprised to see a report or two of two inches of fluff in the northern Green Mountains. 

WARMER AFTERNOON?

Since I'm calling this a mini-warm front, parts of the Champlain Valley and the valley floors of southern Vermont might get a degree or two warmer today than originally forecast. It won't be enough for you to really notice, except that it could end a streak of weather we haven't seen in 11 years.   

The National Weather Service is going for a high today of 33 degrees in Burlington. If that happens, it'll end a string of 22 consecutive below freezing days.  That would be the longest streak since 2015 and one of the 20 top longest periods on record where the temperatures stayed at or below 32 degrees. 

That tiny little bowling ball of cold air spinning southward across Maine will send a mini-cold front through Vermont later today and this evening.   That will get us back, down into the single digits tonight, with more below zero readings in the cold spots.

It also means we'll be a touch cooler tomorrow with highs in the mid and upper 20s

SIGNS OF SPRING?

If that lineup of consecutive subfreezing days doesn't end today, it will come to a close Monday with a high in the upper 30s.  Tuesday, the warmth peaks afternoon highs get to within a few degrees of 40 under partly to mostly cloudy skies. 

After the subzero cold of the start of this month, Tuesday will feel like a beach day in June. In any event, it will be the hottest day since January 14. 

We also have some other signs of spring that aren't quite as pleasant. 

The first doesn't involve us in Vermont but it's worth noting. As winter wanes, you start getting surges of warm, humid air coming off the Gulf of Mexico and enveloping the Gulf Coast states starting in mid-February or so. Meanwhile, winter continues to sent cold fronts southward.

The result is the first outbreaks of big thunderstorms and tornadoes. The severe weather season is staring. Right on schedule, severe thunderstorms and maybe a few tornadoes are in the forecast along the Gulf Coast today and tomorrow. 

Another sign of spring as weather forecasting, always dicey as we well know, gets trickier.  The atmosphere kind of wants to flip into a more springlike pattern, but the forces of winter don't want to give up. 

Right now we're in that sort of dilemma. Warm air wants to come up toward us in New England later in the week. But Arctic cold still has its sights on us. We're in a classic battleground. 

As for what kind of weather we'll get in the second half of the week, I'm just throwing my hands up at this point. A couple storms might want to try to make a run at us. But the storms could  fade before they get here. Or not fade, leaving us the question of whether we get snow or a mix. And if so, how much. 

If you have outdoor plans for the second half of next week, sorry, I can't help you. At least not yet. 

For Parts Of Vermont, The Snow Just Kept On Coming Since Yesterday Morning

Check out the size of the snowbanks along Route 242 up in
Westfield from all the snow that area has gotten
this winter. Web cam grab from is from this morning. 

 As of 8 a.m. it was still snowing here in St. Albans, Vermont.

The main storm had passed 24 hours earlier, but light snow and flurries have been almost continuous since. An additional four inches of snow has fallen atop then 3.8 inches we got from the "main" storm Tuesday and Tuesday night.

The snow that fell since yesterday morning is much, much fluffier than the stuff that we got Tuesday night, so the freshest snow will pack down. But there's now a LOT of snow on the ground here.

Burlington collected 1.7 inches of fluff atop the 3.8 inches of snow (and a little freezing drizzle) from Tuesday and Tuesday night.  

 I don't have many reports quite yet of overnight snowfall elsewhere in Vermont. But judging from the way weather radar looked yesterday, last night and early this morning, I'm guessing the western slopes and summits of the central and northern Green Mountains did really well. 

We're getting some clues from northern Vermont ski areas, who must be ecstatic heading into the President's Day holiday. Jay Peak says they got 8 to 10 inches of snow since yesterday for a two-day total of 16 inches, and a total for the season of 338 inches. Stowe Mountain Resort reports 11 inches in the past 36 hours. 

In both places, it was still snowing a little as of early this morning.

FORECAST

Lots of traffic heading up Route 108, the Mountain Road
heading to Stowe Resort. Great conditions, perfect weather'
and the Presidents Day weekend will surely bring
crowds to the resorts over the next several days 

Very little new snow is coming for the next several days, but this will be an exquisite next few days for winter sports types. 

 The weather pattern has changed to a somewhat warmer one. Yesterday was the first milder than average day in Burlington since January 22. That's almost three weeks ago.

Temperatures will be near average for the next few days, then it will go a little above normal next week. 

No more frostbite and hyperthermia after just 10 minutes outdoors. You will actually be able to enjoy the days playing in the snow. 

That means for today through Sunday daytime high temperatures will be in the mid 20s to low 30s. Tonight will be an exception as it actually looks like it will get pretty cold. A fresh snow pack, mostly clear skies and light winds will bring us down into the single digits, with a few below zero readings in the colder spots. 

Following that, most overnight lows through the weekend will be in the upper single number and teens.

Through yesterday, Burlington was at 20 consecutive days of subfreezing temperatures. It's possible they could finally get barely above freezing Saturday or Sunday, but next Monday looks like the most likely date.

At least the first half of next week should feature above freezing temperatures for most of us. The next chance of any substantial precipitation would come along next Wednesday, but it's too soon to figure out how much and what kind of stuff falls from the sky. 

For those of you who want to hang onto winter, this does not look like it will be any kind of mega-thaw. It'll be awhile yet before we see bare ground. In fact, some (but definitely not all!) computer models want to keep us relatively cool through the end of February. Not frigid like it's been lately, but not exactly springlike, either.