Burlington, Vermont – Slick roads could develop before sunrise Thursday as light snow brushes northern Vermont, but temperatures rising 15 to 20 degrees above seasonal averages will turn that snow to slush or rain before the midday commute.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, Vermont sits in a 40 to 50 percent above-normal precipitation zone from Thursday through Tuesday. That wetter signal stretches from the Mid-Atlantic into New England, increasing the likelihood of multiple systems crossing the Green Mountain State to close out February.
For drivers along I-89, I-91 and U.S. Route 7, the concern centers on brief overnight coatings followed by daytime melting. Average highs in Burlington this time of year hover near 30 degrees. Next week, afternoon readings may climb into the mid-40s and even low 50s in the Champlain Valley. Montpelier and Rutland could see similar swings, with early icy patches fading by late morning.
While milder air dominates much of the eastern United States, colder pockets remain across parts of the northern Plains and interior West. That temperature contrast may keep systems active across New England, supporting periodic rain or mixed precipitation, especially in higher elevations of the Northeast Kingdom.
Residents should clear storm drains to reduce standing water, use caution during early travel hours and monitor local alerts for any winter weather advisories. The warmer trend holds into early next week, but with additional systems possible, winter is not finished just yet—even as spring makes a strong late-February push.
