Unseasonably Warm Conditions Lead To Ice Jam Threat

Alerts:
CPV Weather
         -Champlain Valley Weather has issued a Flood Watch for all of Northern New York, and Vermont excluding Grand Isle County, for the potential of Ice Jam Flooding into Friday Evening. The Flood Watch is in effect until 11PM Friday.

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National Weather Service:
         -No alerts have been issued yet, by the National Weather Service.

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Champlain Valley Weather Discussion:
         A nice break from winter is on the way for today, and tomorrow. Already temperatures have warmed nicely across the region, with temperatures ranging from 32 in the colder sheltered Valley's of the Northeast Kingdom, and Northern New York, to 45 degrees in parts of the Champlain Valley. Temperatures should continue to warm today, and should generally range from 45-55 degrees. This will result in some snow melt across the region. For the most part the snow pack is very deep, and should be able to withhold the water in itself.

         Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to range from 50-60 degrees, with isolated areas possibly going over 60 degrees, and this will result in more significant snow melt. The snow pack will likely become ripe, and start to melt significantly tomorrow, as the snow wont be able to hold any more water. On top of the snow melt, up to a quarter inch of rain is possible between tonight, and tomorrow afternoon, along with a moderate southerly wind. This all added together should result in moderate to significant runoff by tomorrow afternoon. While water levels rise on area waterways the ice could break up and jam, resulting in ice jam flooding. The rivers at a moderate to high risk of ice jam flooding are the Missisquoi, Lamoille, and Winooski Rivers, along with the Otter Creek in Vermont. And along the Great Chazy, and Au Sable Rivers in Northern New York. Area waterways east of the Green mountains, across eastern Vermont, and especially the Northeast Kingdom, will be at a lesser threat of ice jam flooding, due to cooler temperatures, however the threat albeit lower still exists, so a Flood Watch is up for those areas as well.