BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Our weather team has issued a First Alert Weather Day for Wednesday night and Thursday due to snow that will impact much of our region, including during the Thursday morning commute. This is not a major winter storm by any means, but the combination of snow accumulation and falling temperatures will make roads slick for many.
It’s important to note that how fast we cool down and change to snow will impact how much snow we see and the extent of travel impacts Thursday morning.
WCAX First Alert Headlines(WCAX)
Timing: Rain will change to snow from west to east Wednesday night and early Thursday morning as colder air moves in. Most areas should see rain change to snow by 5 a.m. Southeastern Vermont and the I-91 corridor will be the last to see temperatures drop, avoiding snow Thursday morning.
Northern regions of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire can expect to see widespread light to moderate snow through early to mid morning Thursday. Steady snow will taper to showers by mid to late morning and will continue on and off for the rest of the day. There will be enough lingering snow showers to impact road conditions, especially in northern and mountainous areas during the late afternoon and evening. Snow showers will wrap up Thursday night.
Snow totals: Snow accumulation will vary by region. The St. Lawrence Valley, where rain changes to snow earliest, will likely see the highest snow totals. Communities along Route 11 should plan for 4″ to 8″ with locally higher amounts possible. Amounts will taper to the east, but the Champlain Valley will still see a blanket of 2″ to 4″ of snow.
The northern Green Mountains will likely pick up 3-8″ but east of the mountains into the Northeast Kingdom is where totals really start to decrease. The higher elevations could see up to 3″ but the lower elevations will only see a coating to 2″. Southeastern Vermont and the Upper Valley will see the lowest snow amounts, with little to no measurable snow expected.
The high terrain of southern Vermont could see several inches of snow through Thursday, but the lower elevations of Rutland and Bennington County will likely only see a dusting to an inch.
WCAX Snowfall Forecast(WCAX)
Travel impacts: Road conditions will deteriorate late Wednesday night as rain changes to snow. Travel impacts will start in the mountains Wednesday evening, with slick conditions developing in the mid and low elevations as temperatures drop through the night.
Plan for slick and snowy roads during the Thursday morning commute, especially in the northern and mountainous areas. Temperatures in southeastern Vermont and the Upper Valley will be warm enough through the morning to avoid travel impacts.
Temperatures will fall through the 20s and into the teens during the day Thursday. Roads will remain slick well into the afternoon and evening in some areas, especially where additional snow showers develop. Any wet and slushy surfaces will freeze as temperatures drop.
Not everyone will see snow for the evening commute, but plan to take it slow, especially in northern and mountainous areas. Don’t underestimate the power of leftover snow showers when temperatures are in the 20s. It won’t take much to make roads slippery.
WCAX Travel Impacts(WCAX)
How to prepare: Give yourself extra time for your morning and evening commute Thursday. Leave early and drive slowly. Dress warmly. Temperatures will only be in the teens by Thursday evening.
Download the First Alert Weather App so you can be the first to know when winter weather alerts are issued for your area and get weather updates in real time.
What comes next: Temperatures continue to tumble Thursday night. By Friday morning, temperatures will only be in the single digits with wind chills between -10° and 0° for most. Parts of northern New York could even see wind chills reach -15° or colder Friday morning.
The First Alert Weather Team is continuing to monitor this system and any changes in the track that could impact snow totals and impacts. Stay with us on air, online, and on our app for the latest updates.
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