Burlington, Vermont – Drivers across Vermont could face changing road conditions today as lingering snow showers give way to a lesser-known but potentially hazardous threat: freezing drizzle, capable of creating slick surfaces with little warning.
According to the National Weather Service in Burlington, scattered pockets of light snow and mixed precipitation will continue through the morning, with temperatures hovering near or just below freezing. Slushy and wet roads are expected early, particularly in higher elevations and along secondary routes.
As the day progresses, precipitation becomes more terrain-driven, with light snow showers mainly focused on the Green Mountains. While accumulations are expected to remain light, temperatures are forecast to trend below freezing from west to east during the afternoon and evening. That setup increases the risk for refreezing on untreated roads, sidewalks, and parking lots.
Later today and into tonight, areas of freezing drizzle and patchy fog may develop as a weak low-pressure system passes east of the region. This type of precipitation can be especially difficult to detect but may leave a thin glaze of ice, particularly in valleys and sheltered locations. Lows are expected to dip into the 20s overnight.
Motorists are urged to slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and watch for black ice, especially after sunset. Slick conditions may persist through tonight, with additional updates possible if freezing drizzle becomes more widespread.
