UPDATE: Blizzard To Strike The Region

Champlain Valley Weather Discussion:
         The National Weather Service in Burlington, continues a Winter Storm Warning for the area, for 8-14 inches, with 12-18 for the Western Slopes of the Green mountains, with locally higher amounts, along with wind gusts up to 40MPH region wide.

         Champlain Valley's Suggested Alerts continue to be a Blizzard Warning for the entire region for 10-18 inches of snow across the area with 18 or more inches across the Western Slopes of the Green mountains, and the Central Champlain Valley, along with winds in the 15-25MPH range with gusts in the 40-50MPH range.

         Currently snow is falling across much of the area, with the heaviest snow falling along the Western slopes of the Northern Green mountains, and the Central Champlain Valley. These areas have received 4-8 inches so far, with locally higher amounts. Looking at radar trends, an area of dry air is moving into the Northeast Kingdom, and rapidly pushing west, this is concerning me the snowfall accumulations. If these dry air holds tight then accumulations will have to be decreased. For now though, I have increased the 18+ inch area, for the Central Champlain Valley, as Burlington Vermont has reported 11 inches at the National Weather Service Office, and numerous reports of around 8 inches have been reported along the Western Slopes already. So with this in mind, and with radar showing snow continuing nicely for the Central Champlain Valley, and the Western Slopes of the Green mountains, I will increase snow totals for the Central Champlain Valley, and leave everything else as is. Although, light I said with the dry air moving in, I am increasingly concerned, that less snow may occur across the Northern Champlain Valley.

         Just as an interesting note, the way the radar and snow accumulations have been playing out, it is similar to the snowstorm in March of 2006. This system was mentioned several post back for a similar storm that was expected to hit us. In the March 2006 storm the heaviest accumulations occurred across the Western slopes of the Green mountains and the Central Champlain Valley. While synoptically this system is different, the radar, and snow totals so far, are rather similar. Stay tuned for further updates.