Wednesday 5 p.m. Update: Worst Of Storm Arriving In Vermont, To Continue Most Of The Night

In the hour or so after 4 p.m. visibilities dropped noticeably across northern Vermont as the intensity of the snow picked up.

As of 5 p.m. or so, we are sailing into the teeth of the storm.

Jackson the Weather Dog shakes and shivers
as he checks storm conditions on his St. Albans, Vermont
property late Wednesday afternoon. 

The snow got heavier earlier in the afternoon in central Vermont, and that's where the deepest accumulations have been reported so far, with a lot of 6-8" reports coming in from that region.

The heavy snow extends well back into New York State, so expect heavy snow to continue for several hours yet in Vermont and New Hampshire. It will last for some time in New York, too.

The general philosphy of the storm forecast hasn't changed at all.  The Adirondacks, central Vermont and into northern New Hampshire and western Maine will get the most, with 18-24 inches likely.

That band is in the most favorable zone for heavy snow, as it's precisely the right distance north of the storm center, where heaviest precipitation usually sets up. There have been some lightning strikes in western New York today, so thunder snow isn't out of the question this evening in New York, central Vermont and parts of New Hampshire.

North and south of the heavy snow band, there still will be lots of snow, with 10-20 inches expected, with lesser amouts once you get down into southern New England, where a lot of the storm will come as rain, not snow.

The temperature, as expected, is dropping, and the wind, also as expected, is picking up.

At least where I am in St. Albans, the snow is falling in fine, moisture dense flakes. It's powdery enough to blow around, worsening visibility even more. But since the snow has a lot of moisture in it, it's pretty heavy to shovel.

Basically all activities are canceled tonight, from events, plays, classes, etc. A lot of schools and other places will be closed tomorrow morning, too.

So you have no excuse to go anywhere. The plows are out, but they can't keep up. There've already been plenty of fender benders and slide offs.

STAY HOME!

It still looks like the snow will taper off during the day tomorrow, but overnight and early Thursday, continue to expect near blizzard conditions in the North Country.

Yet another subzero night is forecast tomorrow night. It will warm up, sort of, Friday and Saturday with afternoon readings in the 30s.

There will also be a little snow around Saturday, but nothing like what we're getting now. Maybe a slight coating in the valleys and an inch or two in the mountains over the weekend.