April Fools?

On the morning of April 1, 2017, Whiting residents woke to find about half a foot of heavy, wet snow. The snow weighed down tree branches, causing broken limbs and some toppled trees.

Colorful morning, March 16, 2017

The snowstorm that ended March 15 left an uneven white blanket across the Whiting area. While the snow depth in some places was just a couple of inches, thigh-high drifts were found elsewhere. The official snowfall total for Burlington was 30 inches, making the storm the second largest snow-drop in state history (the top spot is held by a Jan. 2-3, 2010, storm that deposited 33.1 inches of snow) and the largest ever in the month of March. Perhaps apologizing for the late-season storm, Ma Nature provided the spectacular sunrise above on the morning of March 16.

Significant snowstorm hits region

Strong winds packed snow
against just one side of the house.

Those who calculate snowfall totals following windy storms, like the one the region experienced on Wednesday and Thursday, either have a great deal more patience or a better system than I do.

I can say with a certainty that after the storm was done there was about 30 inches of snow pressed up against the south side of our house and right about 0 inches of snow near the north side of the house (clean grass). There was about half a foot of the white stuff accumulated inside the far reaches of our barn (the winds apparently having no trouble moving flakes horizontally over great distances and forcing them through the horse's open doorway into every corner of the structure). I'm merely going to average the extremes and state that we had a 15-inch snowfall. I realize that's a bit lower than other reported totals from the area, but until I can figure out a better method, I'm going with 15.

Though the snow in this area stopped falling Thursday morning, roads remained treacherous through the afternoon. During a drive through Middlebury in mid-afternoon, it appeared that there remained at least an inch of packed snow on stretches of Route 30 and Route 7.

Schoolkids in the area got two "snow days" off. With an Otter Valley teacher in-service day scheduled for today, that gives our high-schoolers a five-day weekend.

Expect some whitening in Whiting

It appears that our first significant snow of the season is on its way. The Whiting, Vermont, area had some snow showers yesterday, and could experience some squalls tomorrow (Friday) morning. But the real fun is expected to start around midday on Saturday. Between then and Sunday afternoon, we're expecting up to half a foot of snow statewide, perhaps more in some areas.

Meteorologists are keeping an eye on two moving air masses - a clipper descending from Canada and a hefty snow-making storm sweeping in from the Midwest. (Some areas of western and northern New York State are already experiencing lake-effect snows and could be buried under a couple of feet of the white stuff by the time the storm passes.) When and where the two systems collide will determine where the snow falls and how much piles up.

Green down here, but white in the mountains

Mother Nature dumped a good deal of snow on the higher elevations in Vermont and northern New York. Reports indicate that up to three feet of snow fell on some mountaintops. No snow fell here in Whiting, but we're able to see it in the distance.

Snow is visible on the tops of the distant Adirondack mountains in New York State.

First 'real' snowstorm in nearly two years

What is being billed as Vermont's first "real snowstorm" in almost two years - dating back to a storm in March of 2011 - has already dropped about four inches of snow on the region and is expected to continue through tonight. Much of the state is predicted to have a foot or more of fresh snow as a result of the storm. The same is true for most of Maine and New Hampshire. Much of southern New England is forecast to escape larger amounts of snow.

Snow approaching

The Whiting area could see its first measurable snowfall of the season this afternoon and tonight. To date, we have seen significant snowfalls to our north, far to our south and up in the mountains to the east and to the west.

Snow is falling in northern Vermont at this time. Just north of Middlebury, a light rain is falling. That is expected to change to a wintry mix and to snow fairly quickly, as a cold front moves southward through the state. As of 3:30 p.m., no precipitation was yet seen in Whiting.

Overnight temperatures are expected in the high teens, with a wind chill near 10° F.

Warm weather gives way

Most of Thanksgiving week was amazingly warm throughout the North Country. Temperatures in the fifties were ten degrees or more above average. Days here in Whiting basically were calm, sunny and dry. But things changed abruptly today. 

After a fairly calm morning, winds picked up in the early afternoon. The winds made temperatures in the thirties feel as though they were in the high teens. A few snow flakes were seen flying around during the day and a brief snow shower occurred just a few minutes ago. 

The expected low temperature for tonight is around 19 degrees. With the persistent wind, that will feel about ten degrees colder.

Ski season arrives

It's ski season in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Photograph courtesy of Sugarbush Resort.

Though recent unusually warm weather set back snow-making efforts, Sugarbush (shown in photo - in the Town of Warren about an hour and a quarter from us in Whiting) was able to open on schedule today, with seven trails - five miles and 38 acres available. Killington (only about an hour from Whiting) has been open since Nov. 5 and today had 21 open trails - seven miles and 73 acres available.

Nor'easter expected Wednesday-Thursday

The weather should be fine for Election Day tomorrow, but a Nor-easter is expected to hit the Atlantic Coast shortly after the ballots are counted. According to NECN.com, the storm will bring gale-force wind and waves Wednesday night and into Thursday to the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area that recently was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Snow, sleet and rain are possible with the storm, and additional tidal flooding is anticipated.

Here in Vermont, according to WCAX, the storm could produce a wintry mix of precipitation overnight Wednesday to Thursday and a slushy snow on Thursday morning. The mountains, which already have been experiencing light snowfalls, should receive additional snow on Thursday afternoon, while the precipitation changes over to rain in the valleys. The weekend weather is expected to be dry and warmer.

Dusty mountains

The Green Mountains are not so green this morning. Just as our colorful fall foliage departed, Mother Nature kindly decided to give us another form of decoration.

Snowflakes

A few snowflakes hit the car windshield as I was driving through Brandon yesterday. I consider that a hopeful sign. We had feared that Murphy's Law of Meteorology would apply to our recent purchase of an expensive snow thrower and effectively prevent any snowfall this year. We have our fingers crossed that 2012-2013 sees the return of the snow to Vermont and that we get to exercise our snow thrower regularly.