Burlington, VT – Drivers using Interstate 89 may face sudden snow bursts and fast-changing travel conditions from Saturday, December 7, through Friday, December 13, according to early guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS). Several quick-moving disturbances could create unpredictable slowdowns on key stretches of the interstate during early holiday travel.
According to the NWS, fast-forming systems tied to the developing Alberta Clipper pattern may sweep through parts of Vermont and New Hampshire next week. These disturbances often arrive quickly and can generate brief but impactful bursts of snow capable of dropping visibility and icing pavement with little notice.
Potential impacts may be most noticeable along I-89 between Burlington, Waterbury, Montpelier, Barre, and Lebanon, where changing elevation and colder valley temperatures can worsen road conditions. Even lighter bursts may create sudden slowdowns, particularly during peak morning and evening travel periods.
Forecasters emphasize that snowfall totals are less important than the speed at which these disturbances can develop. Short-lived bursts may intensify rapidly, producing slippery conditions on bridges, overpasses, and higher-elevation segments between the Green Mountains and the Upper Valley.
The NWS advises motorists to monitor updated forecasts closely and allow extra travel time along I-89 through the December 7–13 period, as additional disturbances may emerge with minimal advance warning.
