BURLINGTON, Vermont – The streets of Burlington glisten beneath passing headlights early Wednesday, a damp wind sweeping in from Lake Champlain. Showers and rumbles of thunder echo across the Green Mountains, signaling an active fall pattern that will shift sharply toward cooler, calmer weather by the end of the week.
According to the National Weather Service in Burlington, widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms will persist through Thursday before drier, colder air filters in from the west. Rain totals may reach an inch or more in the Champlain Valley, with locally higher amounts across higher elevations. Gusty south winds—up to 25 mph—could add brief power flickers or scattered leaf debris along I-89 and Route 7.
By late Thursday, the system moves east and skies begin to clear. Friday will still feature a few lingering showers, but temperatures will cool dramatically into the low 50s, setting the stage for a crisp, quiet weekend. Residents should expect breezy afternoons and chilly mornings, with lows dipping into the 30s—cold enough for patchy frost in sheltered valleys and rural stretches south of town.
Saturday and Sunday look quintessentially autumnal: partly sunny, dry, and calm. Highs will hover near 50°F with light north winds, ideal for outdoor cleanup or weekend drives through the foothills. Early next week, models hint at another cooldown, perhaps with a chance for the first flakes in Vermont’s higher peaks.
After days of steady rain, the coming weekend offers a welcome pause—a moment of calm before late October brings its next round of cold and, perhaps, Vermont’s first touch of winter.
Five-Day Forecast for Burlington, VT:
Wed: 58/43 – Showers, isolated thunder; breezy at times.
Thu: 56/41 – Scattered showers; gusty west winds.
Fri: 53/38 – Few showers early; clearing late.
Sat: 50/37 – Partly sunny; crisp fall air.
Sun: 49/36 – Mostly sunny; calm and cool.
