HARDWICK – A week’s worth of snow added up quickly. The snow stake in East Hardwick measured 11 inches in depth as of Monday morning, having received 7.5 inches of snowfall with the storm late last week, largely the result of the prolonged mountain-enhanced snow Thursday and Thursday night. Most places actually saw snowfall amounts in the 8-to-10-inch range. A second burst of snow came over the weekend, with another 3 to 6 inches of snow falling. West Woodbury reported the highest snow total with 6.5 inches, while 5 inches of snow fell in East Hardwick.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Of course, some settling occurred as temperatures moderated. Saturday morning started off with low temperatures in the single numbers, with high temperatures moderating to the upper 30s and low 40s by Monday.
There is about two inches of liquid precipitation locked up in the snowpack, and as temperatures further warm today with the approach of heavy precipitation, we are looking at some minor-to-moderate flooding concerns.
A wave of low pressure on a SSW to NNE trajectory along a slow-moving frontal boundary will send a surge of tropical moisture over eastern Vermont. It will also be quite windy from the south. Steady rain is expected today into tonight, with brief downpours on the order of half an inch to an inch and hour. This will combine with high temperatures reaching the low 50s just after sunset to bring rapid runoff by late afternoon and early evening. This means that some flash flooding is possible in poor drainage areas and along smaller creeks and streams, while the larger rivers respond with rises later in the night into Thursday morning. Rivers will quickly crest after rain changes to snow around 2 a.m. and temperatures drop into the 20s for lows.
Be aware of sidewalk, driveway, and roadway ice on Thursday morning as an inch or so of snow may cover the glaze, making it difficult to see. We will continue to have below-freezing temperatures through Thursday, with another inch or two of snow possible, especially north of Route 15, thanks to the moisture coming off of Lake Champlain being enhanced by Mount Mansfield. That does taper later in the day.
A dome of high pressure builds over the northeast for Friday and Saturday with cooler-than-normal temperatures and clearing skies. Another system approaches from the Ohio Valley later Sunday with some snow showers to wrap up the weekend.
The forecast for north-central Vermont:
Wednesday: Rain and freezing rain, turning to all rain by mid-morning. Rain may be heavy at times throughout the day. South winds 10-15 mph, with gusts to 35 mph. High: 54. Low: 28.
Thursday: Rain to snow early, with intermittent snow showers throughout the day. Snow will be heavier north of Route 15. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. High: 30. Low: 12.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High: 24. Low: 7.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: 28. Low: 11.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. A chance of snow showers in the afternoon. High: 33. Low: 30.
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.
