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.

Temperature tops 90

Hazy, hot and humid here in Whiting, and it's still May.

Thermometer, kept in the shade, reads 90-plus degrees.

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.

How cold is it?

Just a few little degrees out there this morning.

So, how COLD is it in Whiting? Well, it's sooo cold...


...that a farmer's breath condensed to a brick of ice in front of him, fell and broke his foot.
...that a woman knocked herself unconscious just by using hairspray.
...that special squads of firemen have been assigned to chiseling dogs free from hydrants.
...that the local restaurants are only serving coffee on a stick. And they're selling soup by the block.
...that even the teeth in my comb are shivering.
...that locals are driving Zambonis to work.
...that we had to spread salt in the hallway.
...that inhaling gives you brain-freeze.
...that the cows are only giving soft-serve.
...that the fire in our fireplace just froze.
...that police at a crime investigation were studying mitten prints.
...that when I went to take a hot shower all I got was sleet.
...that I caught our cat climbing into the toaster.
...that the chowder place down the street has started selling by the slice.
...that an ice cube's chances in Hell are starting to look pretty good.
...that when I tried to read the newspaper, it cracked.
...that flushing has become a distant memory.
...that the birthday boy in a neighbor's house received death threats from his family for trying to blow out the candles on his cake.

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.

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.

'Frankenstorm' is no big deal locally

While Hurricane Sandy left areas of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states devastated, the weather system some dubbed "Frankenstorm" did relatively little to harm the Green Mountain State. In the Whiting area, some moderate winds and a bit of overnight rain were the only evidence that the storm even existed.

(Sandy removed one of our window screens, dropping it in the back yard, and kindly removed a broken tree limb that had been dangling high in a sugar maple for some time.)

According to the Addison Independent, no storm-related road closures occurred anywhere in Addison County. Schools were closed on Tuesday, but residents saw little reason for the measure. According to the newspaper, the top wind in the county was nothing like the 80 mph spoken of by weather forecasters, but something closer to 60 mph. (At the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Sandy's top wind was clocked at 140 mph.)

Vermont did experience a fair number of power outages. Early on, those were largely limited to the southern counties of Bennington and Windsor, but others occurred later in Rutland, Washington, Orange and Caledonia Counties. There were approximately 10,000 customers without power in Vermont early this morning. At this writing, there are 7,994 customers without service.

Moderate winds continue in the area today, with showers possible through Friday.

Hurricane Sandy updates

Update, Oct. 29, 2012, 5 p.m.
We have had on and off misty rain during the day and some shifting winds, but the damaging force of Hurricane Sandy has so far not been felt in the Whiting, Vermont, area. School was open as usual today, but all schools of the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union, including Otter Valley Union High School, will be closed tomorrow.

How much of Middlebury's lingering fall foliage will survive tonight's heavy winds?

There have been a significant number of power outages in more southern Vermont locations, such as Bennington and Brattleboro. (Rutland and Montpelier area outages climbed as this report was initially posted). Winds are expected to pick up across the state later this afternoon and this evening, as Sandy makes landfall on the New Jersey coast, where already there has been significant flooding. Storm surges are expected to peak in the New York City area around 8 p.m.

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Update, Oct. 29, 2012, 10:30 a.m.
Green Mountain Power is bringing utility crews in from Canada and six U.S. states to assist with repairing any power outages caused by this storm. The company's outage center reports just 247 power outages this morning, with more than half of those in Halifax, at the border with Massachusetts. (In the State of Connecticut, Connecticut Light & Power is reporting more than 8,300 outages already. Many of those are clustered along Long Island Sound and the Rhode Island border.)

The Vermont State Emergency Operations Center was opened at 7 a.m. Personnel are tracking the storm and preparing emergency responses.

The National Weather Service warns that 60-70 mph wind gusts are expected along the Green Mountains and in Vermont's Northwest Kingdom when Hurricane Sandy makes landfall later today. Gusts up to 60 mph could be experienced in the Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys. Peak winds are expected from the east between 4 p.m. today and 2 a.m. tomorrow. Downed trees and power lines are likely. Some minor structural damage to poorly constructed buildings is also expected. Rainfall amounts will generally be less than one inch, though mountain slopes could experience 1 to 2 inches of rain. No widespread flooding is expected.

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Update, Oct. 29, 2012, 6 a.m.
The National Weather Service is anticipating that Hurricane Sandy winds will cause significant damage and result in prolonged power outages to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. states. School has been canceled for millions of students along the East Coast today. Schools in southern Vermont also have announced cancellations.

Hurricane Sandy's maximum sustained winds have increased to 85 mph. The storm's center sits more than 200 miles east of the North Carolina-Virginia coast. Hurricane force winds extend outward 175 miles, and tropical storm force winds extend 485 miles. Sandy is moving northward at 14-15 mph and is expected to turn toward the northwest today and toward the west-northwest tonight, when she is expected to make landfall along the southern New Jersey coast.

Strong winds and rain are expected throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Storm surge could cause extensive flooding in ordinarily dry areas. Long Island Sound, Raritan Bay and New York Harbor could see water levels rise by six to eleven feet. Connecticut and Rhode Island sea coasts could see a storm surge of three to eight feet higher than normal. Two to three feet of heavy snow is expected to fall in the mountains of West Virginia, with a foot or more in higher elevation areas nearby.

In Vermont, the strongest winds are anticipated for the mountain slopes (see map), though the entire state could experience winds of 50 mph or more.

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Update, Oct. 28, 2012, 6 p.m.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has declared a state of emergency in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy's winds and rain. He said he made the declaration in order that the state would have access to National Guard troops and federal emergency funds if needed.

The National Weather Service is warning that Sandy will bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the Mid-Atlantic coast, including Long Island Sound and New York Harbor, coastal hurricane-force winds and heavy Appalachian snows. The service's 5 p.m. advisory indicates that Hurricane Sandy will be approaching the Mid-Atlantic coast by Monday night. It may be strengthened at that time through combination with a cold front moving in from the west.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the storm center. Tropical storm force winds extend 520 miles. Sandy is closely following the projected track for the storm. It is expected to make a left turn Monday night and make landfall somewhere on the New Jersey coast.

New York City may experience some of the worst storm conditions. City schools already have been closed for tomorrow. Dozens of schools are being used as evacuation centers. Some mandatory evacuations have been ordered for flood-prone areas of the city. Mass transit in the city is shutting down tonight until further notice.

It appears that Vermont will be spared the worst of the storm, but high winds could still cause damage and knock out electrical power for residents. Airlines across the Northeast have canceled flights. On Monday, Amtrak will halt service across the Eastern Seaboard, including Vermont service. The storm's effects will be felt most strongly Monday evening. However, showers related to Sandy's remnants are expected to linger until next weekend.

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Update, Oct. 28, 2012, 12:45 p.m.
A National Weather Service High Wind Warning is in effect for all of Vermont from 2 p.m. Monday through 11 a.m. Tuesday. The strongest winds are expected Monday night from dusk until about midnight. Western mountain slopes will experience the highest gusts of 60-75 mph. Others will experience winds of 50 mph or more. Winds are expected to die down considerably during Tuesday. Residents are warned to plan ahead for possible power outages.

The National Weather Service has also issued a flood watch for portions of central and southern Vermont. Minor flooding of poor drainage areas is possible.

Numerous school districts in the State of Connecticut already have canceled school for Monday and Tuesday, anticipating flooding and damaging winds. Areas of Connecticut were repeatedly left without electrical power for weeks after two storms in late summer and fall last year.

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Update, Oct. 28, 2012, 7 a.m.
Hurricane Sandy, now located more than 200 miles off the South Carolina coast, continues to move toward the northeast. She is expected to continue that course today and to turn abruptly to the northwest on Monday. Maximum sustained winds are now about 65-75 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward as much as 100 miles and tropical storm winds as much as 500 miles. Winds will be felt in the mid-Atlantic states during the day and will become near hurricane force by Monday morning.

Current projections are focusing on landfall at the central New Jersey coast early Tuesday morning and a progression into central Pennsylvania. The storm, bringing dangerous winds, drenching rain and storm surge, is expected to weaken quickly after landfall, though storm effects will continue to be felt hundreds of miles away from its center. During Tuesday and into Wednesday, the remnants of Sandy are expected to turn back toward the northeast, causing continued rain and strong winds in New York and much of New England until it passes into eastern Canada by the end of the week.

A high wind watch is already in effect for all of Vermont. A flood watch is in effect through Wednesday morning for central and southern Vermont. Authorities do not expect much in the way of flooding from this storm, though some may occur in poor drainage areas. The state is expected to experience rain - occasionally heavy - and strong winds Monday into Tuesday. Winds will die down and the rest of the week's forecast calls for rain showers.

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Update, Oct. 27, 2012
It appears that Vermont will be spared much of the wind and rain associated with Hurricane Sandy. However, high winds of 40 mph or more are expected for early next week and there will be considerable rainfall in some areas, particularly eastern facing mountain slopes. Power outages could accompany the high winds and some minor flooding is possible in poor drainage areas.

Sandy weakened just a bit overnight and was momentarily dropped down to tropical storm status. More recently, hurricane force winds were detected. The storm is growing considerably larger and is expected to grow further through combination with other weather systems in the region. The storm is tracking parallel to the southeastern U.S. coast but will turn dramatically left within two days, likely making landfall on the New Jersey coast Monday. A later left turn is still possible. That would cause Sandy to strike southern New England.

After landfall, Sandy may slow or halt as it combines with a large cold front from from the west. Any slowing in its movement will magnify the storm's effects on the region. Rain amounts of 3-6 inches are expected from coastal areas of Virginia to New York City, with 10+ inches possible in some areas. Heavy rains are expected as far inland as Pittsburgh and Buffalo. A foot or more of heavy wet snow is possible in the Appalachian mountain areas of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

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Update, Oct. 26, 2012
The computer models appear to be settling on a Sandy strike along the Northeast coast sometime late Monday. The New Jersey area seems to be the current focus. A merge with several other weather systems and the development of a Halloween "Frankenstorm" over the New York City region is feared.

Worst case seems to be a Sandy right-hook to New York City just as the storm stalls. That could deliver days of strong winds, intense rain and coastal flooding to the heavily populated region. Sandy is now a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.

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October 25, 2012
Hurricane Sandy, now a strong Category 2, is moving across Cuba at the moment. The storm has a well defined eye and includes maximum sustained winds of more than 100 mph. It is expected to track to the east of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. Some forecast models show the storm doing an unusual counter-clockwise loop as it moves north and making landfall in the New York-New England area. The models are based on a trough of atmospheric pressure over the U.S., which could draw the hurricane inland in the Northeast late Monday or Tuesday.

Vermont's experience with Tropical Storm Irene illustrated the importance of communication through various levels of government and emergency services. Communication has been strengthened in the storm's aftermath and may get a test from Sandy.

Mark Bosma of Vermont Emergency Management recommends that state residents consider purchasing extra food, water and batteries - items that won't be wasted if the storm decides to remain out at sea. "We always encourage the public to be ready for anything," Bosma said.

Preparing for a possible visit from Sandy

Vermont officials are keeping in close touch with weather forecasters and making initial preparations for what could be another encounter with a severe storm. Just over a year after Tropical Storm Irene caused tremendous flooding damage across the state, it appears that Hurricane Sandy has its sights set on New England. 

Sandy, now a strong Category 2 hurricane, is moving across Cuba at the moment. The storm has a well defined eye and includes maximum sustained winds of more than 100 mph. It is expected to track to the east of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean (The eastern coast of Florida is expected to experience tropical storm conditions). However, some forecast models show the storm doing an unusual counter-clockwise loop as it moves north and making landfall in the New York-New England area. The models are based on a trough of atmospheric pressure over the U.S., which could draw the hurricane inland in the Northeast late Monday or Tuesday.

Vermont's experience with Tropical Storm Irene illustrated the importance of communication through various levels of government and emergency services. Communication has been strengthened in the storm's aftermath and may get a test from Sandy.

Mark Bosma of Vermont Emergency Management recommends that state residents consider purchasing extra food, water and batteries - items that won't be wasted if the storm decides to remain out at sea. "We always encourage the public to be ready for anything," Bosma said.

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(Update, Oct. 26, 2012: The computer models appear to be settling on a Sandy strike along the Northeast coast sometime late Monday. The New Jersey area seems to be the current focus. A merge with several other weather systems and the development of a Halloween "Frankenstorm" over the New York City region is feared. Worst case seems to be a Sandy right-hook to New York City just as the storm stalls. That could deliver days of strong winds, intense rain and coastal flooding to the heavily populated region. Sandy is now a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.)

Click here for additional updates

The  Oct. 25 "spaghetti" plots of Hurricane Sandy computer models generally predict a turn toward the Northeast U.S.

Wind Advisory for Sept. 18

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for our area:

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VERMONT...THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY
  AND THE ADIRONDACKS OF NORTHERN NEW YORK.

* WINDS...SOUTH 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* TIMING...FROM NOON TODAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...DAMAGE FROM FALLEN TREES AND TREE LIMBS MAY CAUSE
  DOWN POWER LINES AND RESULT IN POWER OUTAGES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH OR MORE ARE EXPECTED.
WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

We are also expecting heavy rains today and tonight and gradual wind shift that will leave us with west winds overnight.

Glorious evening sky follows storms

The area experienced some severe storms yesterday (Saturday), though we fared considerably better than our friends in southern New England and the New York City region. There were tornado warnings around our old home in Connecticut and a couple of tornadoes touched down briefly in eastern New York City.

I had just parked the car in a Middlebury parking lot a little after four-thirty in the afternoon when the skies opened up. It was like being in a car-wash gone haywire. What must have been 50-60 mph winds were forcing the torrential downpour into a horizontal direction. The wind bounced my car around considerably and seemed intent on flipping it over. It began gusting from what I perceived to be the south and continued for about ten minutes, though it seemed like forever. The wind direction then changed dramatically. It seemed to be coming from the west for a few minutes.

By five o'clock, the heavy winds and downpours were over. About an hour later, we went out to dinner at Rosie's Restaurant (it was prime rib night, but none of us ordered that) in a light rain. After dinner, as we drove through Cornwall on our way home, a spectacular double-rainbow emerged over the Green Mountains in the eastern sky. People pulled their cars over along Route 30 to look at it and photograph it. The kids were mesmerized. I was shocked to hear children of the video-game era remarking, "This is the coolest thing I've ever seen!" I didn't have my camera with me - I must learn to bring that thing wherever I go - and the cameras in our cellphones just weren't equal to the task. We reached home in Whiting with just enough life left in the rainbow to take a bunch of photos and a short video.

The rainbow vanished as the sun set behind the Adirondack Mountains. But Mother Nature was not yet finished with her colorful evening display. She treated us to this dramatic sunset.

And, this, photographically explains our greatest problem so far living in Whiting: We never know which direction to look! The views in every direction are simply spectacular. We are almost fearful of the natural beauty that awaits in the Vermont fall and winter ahead.

As Isaac approaches, area recalls Irene

Tropical Storm Isaac, currently moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean, could be upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the end of the week. It appears that Isaac's path will soon bend toward the northwest, possibly taking it across the Dominican Republic, Haiti and much of Cuba on its way to the southeastern U.S. While the U.S. Gulf Coast looks on warily (particularly those preparing for the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, next week), Vermont residents are reflecting on the events of last August.

On Aug. 28-29, 2011, the remnants of Hurricane Irene brought torrential downpours and high winds to western New England. We were living in the town of New Milford in western Connecticut at the time. The storm did a great deal of damage to the area but we experienced nothing at all like what occurred in Vermont. Several people lost their lives. Roads and bridges - including many historic covered bridges were washed away. Many communities were completely isolated. In our current area, the town of Brandon became a madly rushing body of brown water. The Neshobe River, which runs through the center of town, overflowed and tore through roadways and buildings. Scars inflicted on the town are still evident today.

Click to view some photographs of the destruction.