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Vermont Thanksgiving Travel: 'Micro Blizzards' Could Hit Burlington
Montpelier, VT – Imagine driving north on Interstate 89 toward Burlington for Thanksgiving when the mountains ahead suddenly disappear behind a wall of blowing snow. Within moments, highway lanes beco
By Cameron Hayes · 2026-11-14T10:49:02.020Z
Montpelier, VT – Imagine driving north on Interstate 89 toward Burlington for Thanksgiving when the mountains ahead suddenly disappear behind a wall of blowing snow. Within moments, highway lanes become difficult to see, brake lights emerge through the whiteout and what began as a routine holiday trip turns into a dangerous drive. It's a scenario Vermont motorists should be prepared for as Thanksgiving approaches Thursday, Nov. 26.
According to the National Weather Service NWS , these sudden bursts of intense snowfall, officially called snow squalls and sometimes described as "micro blizzards," can produce strong winds, near zero visibility and rapidly deteriorating road conditions.
Unlike prolonged winter storms, snow squalls can develop quickly, leaving motorists little time to react.
Vermont Highways Where Sudden Whiteouts Are a Concern Interstate 89, connecting White River Junction, Montpelier and Burlington, is a major travel corridor where sudden winter weather can create hazardous driving conditions.
Interstate 91 through eastern Vermont, U.S. Route 7 near Rutland and Middlebury, and Vermont Route 100 through the Green Mountains also face winter driving risks.
Motorists traveling through Chittenden, Washington, Windsor, Rutland and Lamoille counties should pay particular attention to changing forecasts, especially when snow showers and gusty winds are possible.
Higher elevations, mountain gaps and exposed stretches of highway can experience rapidly changing visibility.
What Happens When a Snow Squall Warning Is Issued? The NWS issues Snow Squall Warnings when dangerous snow squalls are occurring or imminent.
Warnings typically last 30 to 60 minutes and may trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on compatible mobile phones.
A sudden whiteout at interstate speeds can increase the risk of multivehicle crashes, particularly when drivers brake abruptly or follow too closely.
What Thanksgiving Travelers Should Do If a Snow Squall Warning is issued, the safest option is to delay travel until conditions improve .
Drivers already traveling should gradually reduce speed, increase following distance, activate low beam headlights and avoid sudden braking.
If visibility deteriorates, safely exit the highway when possible rather than stopping in an active travel lane.
Before departing, motorists should check New England 511 for road conditions and NWS Burlington for updated forecasts and warnings.
This is a Thanksgiving travel preparedness reminder, not a forecast predicting snow squalls in Vermont during the holiday. Understanding how quickly these dangerous conditions can develop could help drivers make safer decisions on Vermont's highways.