HARDWICK – It has been an interesting week weather-wise. We started last week off with a light accumulation of snow, to quickly have the pendulum swing toward record warmth. Montpelier’s high on Thursday was 75 degrees, which exceeded the previous record of 70 set back in 1956. Other stations around Vermont reported shattering records. Burlington tied the record high on Friday as well, reaching 71 degrees for the first time on that day since 1950. We also saw temperatures plummet more recently on Monday morning, reaching an overnight lows in the mid-20s.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
The middle and end of last week came with a brief influx of rain, which dropped about half an inch of precipitation over northern Vermont, briefly quelling fire dangers. The dry air mass that returned over the weekend, however, has decreased the overall humidity and the fire danger is increasing again as additional ingredients brew moving in to the middle and end of the work week.
Northern Vermont remains abnormally dry. Rainfall amounts for the month of October totaled just over two inches in East Hardwick, which is about half of the amount that comparable longer-term observing station report as the average for the month.
A little more rain is in the picture as we start the forecast period, thanks to an approaching frontal system to our west. This will fall in the form of scattered showers this afternoon and evening as the front crosses our region, amounting to about a tenth of an inch of rain. High pressure then moves in for Thursday and Friday although it will be associated with some gusty winds for Friday, as a tight pressure gradient begins to form, further increasing the fire danger. Cooler temperatures are ushered in by a passing weak cold front Friday night, but that blocking high keeps things dry through the first half of Sunday, before a steadier rain moves in after dusk.
Remember: a state-wide outdoor burn ban is in place through Monday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m. Here are the forecast details:
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers developing in the afternoon. High: 65. Low: 43.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 52. Low: 32.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High: 53. Low: 30.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: 41. Low: 26.
Sunday: Partly cloudy, with increasing afternoon clouds. Rain developing by evening. High: 47. Low: 37.
Tyler is our weather reporter and a community journalist. He works as a nurse and EMT, volunteers with Hardwick Rescue and helps to train new EMTs.
