BURLINGTON, Vt. – A significant area of low pressure is expected to bring a mix of weather conditions to Vermont and the North Country through Saturday, including heavy rain, strong winds, and mountain snow. Residents planning Halloween activities on Friday evening should be prepared for a night characterized by showers, brisk temperatures, and blustery conditions, with wind chills in the 30s to low 40s.
Rainfall is anticipated to be heaviest from Thursday evening into early Friday morning, with widespread rain tapering off to isolated showers after sunrise. While most of Friday is expected to be relatively dry, additional showers are likely to develop by late afternoon and evening, particularly in mountainous areas. It is forecasted that most regions will receive an extra half-inch to an inch of rain, but totals may be lower in parts of the Northeast Kingdom and Upper Valley. In some areas, particularly in the high terrain of southeastern Vermont and New York’s North Country, an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain could occur.
Wind conditions are expected to vary greatly depending on the local geography. Residents can utilize the First Alert Weather App to view detailed town-by-town forecasts. The strongest winds are forecasted for Thursday night, particularly along the western slopes of the Green Mountains and in Rutland and Bennington Counties. A Wind Advisory has been issued for eastern Franklin, Chittenden, and Addison Counties, as well as all of Lamoille, Rutland, and Bennington Counties until 5 a.m. Friday. Winds may reach 20 to 30 mph with gusts between 45 and 55 mph in these areas.
While winds are expected to be less intense during the morning on Friday, they will shift to a westerly direction and pick up in speed during the late afternoon and evening. Areas such as Clinton and Essex County in New York, the Champlain Islands, and those communities along and east of the Green Mountains could experience gusts up to 45 mph later Friday evening. Additionally, a separate Wind Advisory for Windham County will be in effect from 11 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, with westerly winds of 10 to 25 mph and gusts potentially reaching 40 to 50 mph.
As temperatures drop Friday night, rain is expected to transition to snow in higher elevations. Late-night revelers in the northern half of the region may encounter some wet snow. Snow showers in higher elevations will continue into Saturday morning but should taper off by the afternoon. While the snow is predicted to be heavy and wet, accumulations above 2,000 feet may be minimal due to the warm ground conditions, and mountain summits may see 1 to 3 inches of snow through Saturday afternoon.
For those with outdoor plans on Friday evening, dressing warmly is essential, and securing any outdoor decorations or inflatables is advised due to the potential for power outages in areas with the strongest wind gusts.