Saturday Morning Storm Update: Slushy, Icy Today, Little More Powder On Christmas

Roads weren't so bad in Winooski, Vermont as of 8 a.m.
this Saturday morning, but freezing rain and rain was moving in.

Phase Two of our winter storm comes today, and there have some modest changes in the forecast for Vermont today. 
Winter storm warnings are downgraded somewhat to winter weather advisories. That's mostly because we're not looking at much more snow accumulation, but it will still be slick today, especially east of the Green Mountains and regionwide late this afternoon.

It does look like the freezing rain and sleet will probably transition to a cold rain west of the Green Mountains, and a few places to the east as well.

It was already 32 degrees in Burlington, Vermont as of 8 a.m., which is somewhat encouraging for rain versus freezing rain. Still, the temperature might drop a bit at the onset of the heavier precipitation. And surface temperatures are cold. Expect at least some ice.

 However, quite a few areas, especially in areas sheltered from the south winds east of the Greens, will keep going with the freezing rain.

In New England, I think the worst areas for freezing rain will be the Connecticut River Valley, central and southwestern New Hampshire, southwestern Maine and maybe north-central Massachusetts.

Already, a wave of freezing rain this morning has caused chaos in Massachusetts, including the Boston metro area. Parts of Interstate 95 were closed this morning due to multiple crashes.

Just to be on the safe side, if you have any travel plans on the roads, it's best to do it Sunday, when the weather will temporarily be quieter.

The rain will change to snow from west to east this afternoon and early evening, so that's when things will go downhill on the roads today for the entire area. Though to be clear, it's not so wonderful this Saturday morning, with patches of light sleet and freezing rain around.

The bulk of the precipitation was still off to the south before dawn today, though, so the real period of mix and rain and ice and yuck will come through later this morning and afternoon.

I don't think the snow this evening will amount to a huge amount - maybe a dusting to three inches, with locally more in the mountains. Just a little powder to frost the soggy, crusty stuff we'll be left with by the end of the day.

By the way, the amount of snow that fell Friday on Vermont was just about what was forecast. Most places got three to six inches of snow. Waterbury Center was the winner, with over nine inches. There was also an area of the central Champlain Valley that usually loses out on the snow champion title that got quite a bit. I see there was at least eight inches of new fluff around Ferrisburgh, for example.

The forecast for the next storm on Christmas Day has so far changed little. It won't snow hard, but the fluff will come down most of the day. It will contribute to the proper mood for the holiday, but if at all possible, I'd get to your destination Sunday evening rather than wait and drive Christmas morning.

I'm still quite certain it will turn brutally cold from Tuesday and especially Wednesday onward into next weekend. There are some suggestions there could be a cold snow toward the end of the week or the weekend but that's highly uncertain, and I wouldn't worry too much about it at this point. Just get ready for the Arctic blast. I hope Santa brings you something really warm to wear!