Burlington, Vermont – Strong south winds are sweeping across northern Vermont and northern New York early Friday, knocking down trees, threatening power lines, and making travel difficult through the early afternoon hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Burlington, a High Wind Warning remains in effect until early Friday afternoon for much of northern and central Vermont as well as Franklin County in northern New York. Wind speeds between 20 and 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph. The strongest winds are forecast from mid-morning through early afternoon, especially along west-facing slopes of the Green Mountains and near communities such as Malone, Stowe, Killington, Montpelier, and Richmond.
Counties impacted in Vermont include Lamoille, Washington, Orleans, Eastern Chittenden, Eastern Addison, Eastern Franklin, and Eastern Rutland. In New York, both northern and southern Franklin County are under the warning. Power companies are preparing for scattered to widespread outages as trees and limbs fall onto lines. High-profile vehicles may have difficulty maintaining control, particularly on exposed roads and higher terrain.
Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor objects and remain indoors during peak wind gusts. Drivers should use caution and watch for debris on roadways.
The High Wind Warning remains in effect through early Friday afternoon, with conditions expected to gradually improve as winds ease later in the day.
