A thunderstorm looms over St. Albans, Vermont on
August 28. More storms, some with welcome rain
but umwelcome gusty winds, are possible
in Vermont today. d

As anyone up here in Vermont knows, it's awfully warm for September.

Sometimes with the heat comes the storms, and there's actually a risk of severe thunderstorms both today and Saturday.

Certainly, only a few areas will get severe weather today. Some areas, especially in the southeastern half of Vermont, might not get any storms or rain at all.

Which is too bad, because everybody needs the rain, and the need for wetness is stronger in southern Vermont than the north.

At least up north there were a few rounds of storms back in the closing days of August. Those Augusts storms missed the south.

So overall, most storms that do get going today will do more good than harm. Because, you know. Rain.

Still, there's the risk that some storms could produce strong, damaging wind gusts. This is especially true in the northwestern part of Vermont and northern New York. Again, most people will escape the damage, but a few unlucky folks will lose a tree, or a few branches, or have their electricity cut for a little while

Actually, the low, but real risk of a few severe thunderstorms runs in a long stripe from Kansas to western New England, including western Vermont. 

Up in our neck of the woods, storms should get going in northern New York near or shortly after noon, then wander into Vermont this afternoon and evening.

The humidity has creeped upward, so some of the storms could have torrential rains. Not the kind of rain we need. It would be better if we got something slow and steady.

On the bright side, there's an even better chance of rain Saturday when a warm front, then a cold front are expected to pass through Vermont.

However, it's beginning to look like some storms Saturday afternoon could turn strong to severe, so we'll have to keep an eye on that.

More details to follow as we get closer to Saturday.