Vermont, 2003Winter Storm in Vermont, April 4 to 5, 2003
April 4 to 5, 2003 · NWS ALY · 1 event in 1 county or zone
1 winter storm, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 4, 11:00 AM EST, 1 hour earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 11:00 AM EST, 1 hour before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1100 AM EST FRI APR 4 2003
.DISC...HV ISSUED AN UPDATE TO SCALE BACK ON THE FRZG RN FOR THE
EARLY AFTN ACRS THE CPTL RGN AND POINTS S/E. BND OF PCPN ACRS THE
NRN ZNS HAS DIMINISHED AND PCPN WL LIGHTEN UP FOR AWHILE. NXT BATCH
OF PCPN ASSOC WITH NXT S/WV MOVG ACRS LE AND IS PROGGED TO MOV INTO
CNTRL AND ERN NY BY LT AFTN. TEMPS WL BE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY ACRS THE
ZNS...SM UP A FEW DEGS AND A FEW DWN. MAIN CONCERN WL BE LT THIS
EVENING AND TNGT AS QPF AMNTS OF .25 TO.5 MOV ACRS THE RGN WITH
TEMPS BLO FRZG AND MID LVLS WRMG UP. WSW ARE UP AND WL REMAIN SO AS
ANTHR BTCH OF FRZG PCPN LKS LKLY OVRNGT. WL LV FLD WATCH UP FOR NOW
ACRS PTNS OF CWA BUT WL REVISIT LATER ON WITH NEW DATA.
....PRVS DISC...
.DISC...BASED ON SNOWFALL AMOUNTS RECEIVED EARLY THIS MORNING WL UP
SNOW AMTS IN THE LAKE GEORGE SARATOGA REGION/ S VT. BAND OF HVY SN
HAS SHRUNK SOME AND EDGED NORTH. BUT...A LOT OF UPSTREAM
PRECIPITATION ON RADAR. SOUTH OF MAIN BAND LTL SHOWG ON RADAR TO S
BUT A LOT OF LGT RA AND DRZL NOTED. ALSO WILL FINE TUNE SOME
TEMPERATURES.
AN EXTENDED WINTERY MESS FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNDERWAY.
COLD AIR SEEPED SOUTH DURING THE DAY THURSDAY SLOWLY DROPPING TEMPS
TO OR BELOW FREEZING ACROSS MUCH OF CWA. COLD AIR CONTINUED TO
DEEPEN THURSDAY EVENING AND LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE WELL ENTRENCHED
THROUGH MUCH OF AREA INTO SATURDAY MORNING. INITIAL LOW PRESSURE
WAVES HAVE BROUGHT MODERATE PRECIP BAND FROM EXTRM SW ADIRONDACKS TO
SOUTHERN VERMONT. SECOND STRONGER WAVE TO BRING ANOTHER SHOT OF
SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION LATER TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
WHILE EXACT PRECIPITATION TYPE IS STILL A QUESTION IT IS NOW CLEAR
FREEZING/FROZEN WILL DOMINATE EXCEPT IN EXTREME SOUTH. INTERESTING
NOTE FWC/NGM TEMPERATURES SUPERIOR ON TEMPERATURES DURING THE DAY
THURSDAY. ETA/MET AS WOULD BE EXPECTED TOO WARM.
SNOW LINE AT MIDNIGHT WAS A LITTLE SOUTH OF A WATERTOWN...GLENS
FALLS...KEENE LINE. T-3 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED THEN IN
NORTHERNMOST SARATOGA SOUTHERN WARREN COUNTY. 6 INCHES AT 1900 FEET
IN BENNINGTON COUNTY. +SN AT KGFL SUGGESTS EVEN GREATER TOTALS.
ETA HOURLY SOUNDINGS INDICATE SNOW LINE WILL BE FURTHER SOUTH TODAY
THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST. AT GLENS FALLS THEY SUPPORT MOSTLY SNOW
WITH SOME SLEET TODAY INTO THIS EVENING WITH SLEET AND THEN FREEZING
RAIN OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY. AT KALB ETA SOUNDINGS SUPPORT A LONG
PERIODS OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. EVEN SOME MIX AT KPOU. GFS
PARTIAL THICKNESSES SUPPORT TRENDS OF ETA.
FOR THIS FORECAST CYCLE WILL PLACE SNOW EMPHASIS A LITTLE FURTHER
SOUTH TODAY. PRECIPITATION IN FAR S LIKELY TO QUITE FAIRLY SPOTTY.
ETA AT KALB RATHER LIGHT DURING DAY TODAY. TONIGHT SNOW LINE
RETREATS QUICKLY NORTH WITH EMPHASIS ON PL/FZRA. SATURDAY MORNING A
GRADUAL TRANSITION TO LIQUID EXCEPT POSSIBLY FAR N.
HEADLINES...FIRST FLOOD WATCH. RAINFALL IN SOUTH WILL BE FAIRLY
LIGHT THROUGH THIS EVENING. FOR MOHAWK MOST PRECIPITATION WILL BE
FREEZING OR FROZEN. WOULD BE INCLINED TO NOT ISSUE A WATCH IF NONE
WERE OUT BUT GIVEN ITS OUT WILL PUSH BACK VALID TIME UNTIL
SATURDAY. LITTLE FALLS (MOHAWK) AND GAYLORDSVILLE (HOUSATONIC)
WOULD GO OVER WITH LESS THAN AN INCH OF RAIN.
WILL EXTEND WINTER STORMS WARNINGS FURTHER SOUTH TO INCLUDE CAPITAL
DISTRICT...MOHAWK VALLEY...NORTHERN CATSKILLS AND BERKSHIRES.
ALREADY 1/4+ INCH ICE ACCRETION. ETA SUGGESTS PRECIPITATION MAY BE
RELATIVELY LIGHT TODAY...BUT MORE SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN TONIGHT
INTO SATURDAY MORNING. A SLIGHT SHIFT SOUTHWARD OF MAIN
PRECIPITATION BAND WOULD PRODUCE HEAVIER PRECIP TODAY. HEAVIER SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS FORECAST IN NORTH PORTION OF WARNING.
IMPACT OF SLEET/FZRA DIFFICULT TO PEG. WHERE MORE SLEET/SNOW FALLS
RISK OF POWER OUTAGES LESS. BERKSHIRE COUNTY A SPECIAL PROBLEM.
WILL GO WITH WARNING BUT EMPHASIZE NORTHERN PORTIONS. TEMPS STILL
MILD IN SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE BUT AQW AT 1C WITH RA....GREAT BARRINGTON
37. TEMPERATURES FORECAST TO DROP THROUGH DAY. QPF IN SOUTHERN HALF
OF COUNTY MIGHT BE LESS ALSO.
EXTENDED...ANOTHER MESSY STORM FOR MON. 00Z GFS FASTER THAN 12Z RUN
WITH PRECIPITATION ONSET MONDAY MORNING. THICKNESSES SUPPORT SNOW
AT THE START AT LEAST...AND PROBABLY MUCH OF THE EVENT N. MIX OR
TURN TO RAIN INDICATED SOUTH. WITH SECONDARY LOW CUTTING TO OUR
SOUTH ANOTHER WINTERY EVENT LIKELY. A FEW SNOW SHOWERS COULD LINGER
TUESDAY IN FAR NORTH EARLY BUT GENERALLY DRY WEATHER THROUGH
THURSDAY. WARMING TREND SETS AND AND WARM ADVECTION
.HYDROLOGICAL DISCUSSION...FFA CUT BACK TO SAT. QPF LIGHT IN S THRU
EVE. MOHAWK BASIN MAINLY FROZEN THRU TONIGHT.
.ALY...WINTER STORM WARNING THROUGH SAT AM...
NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-MAZ001-VTZ013-14.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH SAT AM NY058>061-
FLOOD WATCH SAT FOR NYZ038-39-063>066-CTZ001.Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 6:09 AM EST, 5 hours 51 minutes before
CTZ001-MAZ001-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-VTZ013-014-
051100-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
440 AM EST FRI APR 4 2003
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NEW YORK AND ADJACENT
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.
.DAY ONE...TODAY
WINTER STORM WARNING NORTHERN CATSKILLS...CAPITAL DISTRICT NORTHWARD
THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
WINTER WEATHER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING GREENE AND
COLUMBIA COUNTIES.
FLOOD WATCH SATURDAY...MONTGOMERY...SOUTHERN HERKIMER...ULSTER
DUTCHESS AND LITCHFIELD COUNTIES.
.DAYS TWO THOUGH SEVEN...
STORM WINDS DOWN SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
ANOTHER STORM WITH SNOW OR MIX ON MONDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
REPORTS OF SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 4, 8:17 AM EST, 3 hours 43 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP E
0817AM FRI APR 04 2003
#1 0000001 000
EHQT WLSR QHQT QTRF WAPT ESAP EPAP
01882 FILE 28 SP CANANDAIGUA NY1340100 APR 04-03
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
ATTENTION SEMO DUTY OFFICER
ICE STORM
DETAILS CONCERNING EVENT: ICE STORM - MONROE AND WAYNE COUNTIES -
TREES AND WIRES DOWN - (2) ROADS CLOSED WITHIN THE TOWN OF PARMA
MONROE CO - STATE OF EMERGENCY TOWN OF SODUS WAYNE CO - 15,000
HOMES WITHOUT ELECTRIC IN MONROE CO
COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: MONROE AND WAYNE
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 9-00 PM 4/3/03
DATE AND TIME CONDITION ENDED:
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: MONROE CO - SEVERAL TRAFFIC
SIGNALS NOT WORKING DUE TO POWER OUTAGE - POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS
AND SCHOOL CLOSINGS
NUMBER KILLED: 0 NUMBER INJURED: 0
REMARKS:
AUTH PHONE #: 585 398-4100
AUTH - MAJOR MARK T FISCHER
TROOP E COMMANDER
OPER - HUGHSON, HOWARD L 0816Local storm report, Apr 4, 8:26 AM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP E
0826AM FRI APR 04 2003
#1 0000001 000
EHQT WLSR QHQT QTRF WAPT APTS
01883 FILE 28 SP CANANDAIGUA NY1340100 APR 04-03
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
ATTENTION SEMO DUTY OFFICER
ICE STORM
WEATHER CURRENT/FORECASTED: CURRENT - ICEY ROADS - POWER LINES DOWN - POWER
OUTAGE NORTH END CAYUGA CTY - T/CATO - CONQUEST - STERLING - VICTORY -
V/FAIRHAVEN ROCHESTER GAS & ELETRIC NOTIFIED - NO ROAD CLOSINGS AT THIS TIME
AUTH - CAPT DONALD SWAIN
OPER - HUGHSON, HOWARD L 0825Winter Storm, Bennington
- When
- April 4, 12:00 PM EST to April 5, 12:00 PM EST
- Where
- Bennington forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 43.036, -73.093 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A large arctic high pressure system became established over the James Bay region of Canada early on Thursday, April 3. The leading edge of this unseasonably chilly air mass worked southward across New York State and adjacent New England, stalling just to the south of the region by late on the 3rd. A series of low pressure systems propogated along the strong stationary boundary were able to produce copious moisture. The air was cold enough for mostly snow in southern Vermont with the first storm Thursday night into Friday. Precipitation during the day Friday was mainly freezing drizzle, but another storm brought more significant precipitation to the region again by Friday night into Saturday. This time, the precipitation fell mostly as sleet. By the time the precipitation ended midday Saturday, a mantle of seven or more inches of snow and sleet had accumulated across Bennington County with a little icing as well. Sunderland reported 8.8 inches of snow and sleet. No unusual problems were reported to the National Weather Service as a result of this late winter storm in Bennington County.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in New York, April 4 to 5, 20031 death · $37 million · 11 events
- Ice Storm in New York, April 4 to 5, 2003$29 million · 11 events
- Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 4, 2003$9.0 million · 2 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, April 4, 2003$350,000 · F1 · 42 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, April 4 to 5, 2003$246,000 · 1.5 in hail · 35 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, April 4, 2003$215,000 · 1 in hail · 32 events
- Tornado and Hail in Ohio, April 4 to 5, 2003$106,000 · F0 · 26 events
- Ice Storm in Iowa, April 4, 2003$100,000 · 20 events
- Winter Storm in New York, April 4 to 5, 200346 events
- Winter Storm in Vermont, April 4 to 5, 2003$80,000 · 2 events
- Wildfire in U.S. Virgin Islands, April 4, 2003$50,000 · 1 event
- Hail in California, April 4, 2003$50,000 · 0.63 in hail · 1 event
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5350600.