EAST HARDWICK — Our weather continues to draw from both warm and cold air masses as we move into the upcoming week, with this past weekend giving us a preview about how that will play out. In the wake of a departing frontal system on Friday, low temperatures dropped below freezing and winds from the east kept cold air trapped, leading to the accumulation of snow Saturday, with a transition to freezing rain Sunday morning. This was followed by plain rain in the afternoon. The icing didn’t hang around here as long as it did in southern sections, which saw tens of thousands of people lose power during the height of the storm.
The Black River Valley filled with fog as seen from South Craftsbury Road across from Blackbird Bistro as the sun was beginning to set on the last day of March.
photo by Paul Fixx
The higher elevations of Greensboro hit the snowfall total jackpot, with 8.1 inches. East Craftsbury and Woodbury were close behind with 7.5-inch snow totals. East Calais, Cabot, Craftsbury Common and Plainfield all came in over half a foot; while Walden reported 5.0 inches. The heaviest reliable reports of icing also came in around 2,000 feet (Greensboro). Two tenths of an inch of ice were reported there, though many places dodged any significant icing altogether. This was followed by highs well into the 50s Monday.
As we set up the weather pattern for the upcoming week, we once again start with some modest cooling as high pressure builds overhead Wednesday, perhaps warming things into the 40s under sunny skies. Some radiational cooling occurs tonight with light east-to-southeast winds again keeping the deeper valleys cool enough to be below freezing the longest as a warm front approaches by daybreak. Light snow will turn to freezing rain. That will likely transition to all rain by mid-morning and taper off to scattered showers by afternoon. Highs will approach 60 degrees by dusk.
photo by Paul Fixx
This system will be slightly more progressive as the bulk of the precipitation remains south of us through Saturday, then another wave of low pressure riding along the front looks to bring a surge of moisture to us that will last for some chunk of the weekend. Our proximity to the front and other low-pressure characteristics leave the precipitation type and amount in question, but for now expect all possible modes of precipitation in moderate amounts, similar to this past weekend. It looks a little lighter on the snow and freezing rain accumulation with more rain characteristics at the moment. That wave moves offshore by the end of the weekend and the pattern shifts to a cooler one with polar air rushing in just in time for the start of the work week. Some light snow also appears possible. Here is the five-day forecast:
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with increasing clouds late. High: 42. Low: 29. East-southeast winds 5-10 mph.
Thursday: Snow and freezing rain in the morning, then scattered rain showers. Snow accumulations of 1-2”, with up to two tenths of an inch of ice. High: 58. Low: 39. Southwest winds 10-15 mph, becoming northwest late.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High: 51. Low: 27. Light and variable winds.
Saturday: Cloudy. A slight chance of snow in the morning, then mixed precipitation in the afternoon. Light accumulation of any precipitation type possible. High: 42. Low: 30. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy with scattered rain or snow showers. High: 41. Low: 27. Southwest wind 5-10 mph, becoming northwest.
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.
