You Know The Drill: Icy, Icky Vermont Weekend

Another icy, yucky weekend in Vermont.  Not as much as in this photo
from January 12, but still the risk of icy roads, sidewalks, etc. 

True to form for this winter: It's another weekend, and we have another not huge but still icky storm to deal with.

Unlike last weekend, when we were treated to just snow, which was nice, this one is still looking to be a mostly schmutz event.

So we go through this drill again. We watch out for icy roads, and we have to pick our way gingerly over frozen, slippery sidewalks. Some spots are just wet and fine, then you find an icy patch and down you go.  

Temperatures for this entire storm statewide are going to be pretty close to the freezing mark. With some warm air coming in aloft, that means rain, freezing rain and a little sleet for just about everyone, starting this afternoon.

Areas outside the broader valleys in Vermont are most likely to get the ice.  Accordingly, a winter weather advisory is up for everybody in the Green Mountain State except those in the Champlain Valley, western Rutland County and the lower Connecticut River Valley.

Ice accumulations won't be extreme, so we're not looking at a lot of tree or power line damage, but the roads will be lousy this afternoon and tonight.

In those warmer valleys, it will be mostly rain with a huge caveat.  It's January. The ground is cold. Even if temperatures are a little above freezing while it's raining, that rain will freeze on untreated surfaces. You know, driveways, back roads, parking lots and sidewalks. You'll still want to be cautious as this mess goes through today and overnight.

Here's an added bonus for this lousy weather for those of you who live along the western slopes of the Green Mountains. Strong downslope winds will develop this afternoon and tonight, and there might be a few gusts over 40 mph or even above that in these spots.

Despite all the rain and freezing rain in the forecast, it won't be enough to cause any flooding. Some rivers might to up a little. But the rain won't come down nearly as hard as it did during the January 11 storm, and it won't be warm enough to rapidly melt snow. So we're OK there.

Now the usual caveat: As I said, temperatures will be close to 32 degrees during this. If it's only a degree or two colder or warmer in any one location than anticipated, it will be either much icier or just wetter. As they say, results may vary.

Late tonight or early tomorrow morning, the precipitation will turn lighter and more showery.  Colder air aloft will move in during the day Sunday, but it won't translate down to the surface much. That means mid and high elevations can expect a couple inches of snow during the day Sunday, but valleys will get just wet snowflakes maybe mixed with some rain drops.

Everyone will get into the snow showers Sunday night, but accumulations won't add up to all that much.

Most of the upcoming week looks like it will be mostly dry with seasonably cold temperatures.  It's looking like a fairly good bet that next weekend will bring another storm, but nobody has any idea yet what kind of storm it will be, or how strong it will get.