Burlington, Vermont – A sustained stretch of colder-than-normal weather is expected to grip Vermont and New Hampshire from Friday through early the following week, bringing persistent freezing temperatures and limited opportunities for meaningful rain or snow across much of northern New England.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, the Jan. 30–Feb. 5 period strongly favors below-normal temperatures across the Northeast, with the coldest anomalies centered from New England south through the Mid-Atlantic. Probabilities for below-normal temperatures across Vermont and New Hampshire range from 80 to 100 percent, indicating high confidence that winter cold will dominate the region.
Daytime highs across Burlington, Montpelier, Lebanon, and Concord are expected to remain well below seasonal averages, while overnight lows frequently dip into the teens or single digits. The cold pattern stretches well beyond northern New England, extending down the East Coast from Connecticut to Florida and westward into Ohio, Mississippi, and parts of the central Plains. Above-normal warmth is largely confined to the Pacific Coast and areas west of the Rockies, leaving most of the eastern half of the country under colder conditions.
Precipitation trends during this period also lean drier than normal. The outlook favors below-normal precipitation from Maine through Vermont and New Hampshire and down the Eastern Seaboard, suggesting fewer widespread snow events despite the colder air mass. While light snow or flurries remain possible, the pattern does not support frequent or significant systems.
Near-normal precipitation is more likely across parts of the southern Deep South and central Plains, while above-normal precipitation chances are limited to areas such as Texas, Florida, and the Pacific Northwest.
Residents across Vermont and New Hampshire should prepare for prolonged cold, continue winter safety precautions, and watch for localized icy travel conditions. Additional updates and outlook refinements are expected as the period draws closer.
