BURLINGTON, Vt. – A fast-moving low pressure system will sweep across northern New England tonight, bringing sharply colder air and a quick burst of early season snow to higher elevations. Rain this evening will transition to snow mainly above 1,500 feet, marking the first measurable flakes of fall for much of Vermont’s northern mountains.
According to the National Weather Service in Burlington, precipitation will begin as rain before temperatures tumble late tonight. Light accumulations are expected across the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom, with the heaviest totals near the Canadian border. Most valley locations, including Burlington and Middlebury, will see little to no accumulation as lows fall into the 20s.
Travelers on Route 2, I-91, and mountain passes through Lamoille and Orleans Counties may encounter slick stretches by early Thursday. The NWS notes that the system will quickly exit by midday Thursday, leaving behind gusty northwest winds and much colder air through the end of the week.
Residents in elevated areas should allow extra time for morning travel and check that heating systems are ready for the first widespread freeze of the season. Colder-than-normal temperatures will persist into the weekend, with additional light snow showers possible in the mountains.
