A storm system moved from the Ohio River Valley on March 31st to south of New England and then out to sea on April 1st. A wet snow, occasionally mixed with rain began across Vermont by midday on the 31st, but accumulations were limited due to above freezing temperatures and March solar radiation.
Every event with a place to put it; 15 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS BTV wrote it up.
A storm system moved from the Ohio River Valley on March 31st to south of New England and then out to sea on April 1st. A wet snow, occasionally mixed with rain began across Vermont by midday on the 31st, but accumulations were limited due to above freezing temperatures and March solar radiation. An increase in snow intensity and lack of solar radiation, along with temperatures near freezing allowed for significant snowfall accumulations above 1000-1200 feet, especially in eastern and central parts of Vermont.
Snowfall totals were generally 3 to 6 inches in the Champlain Valley and along the Canadian border with 6 to 12 inches elsewhere. The snow load of the heavy, wet snow did allow for some scattered power outages and numerous vehicle mishaps as well.
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 Burlington, VT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 6:46 AM EST, 5 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Burlington VT
746 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
Widespread snow and mixed precipitation will advance into the region
today and tonight before tapering off on Saturday. A significant wet
snowfall is expected across higher terrain, especially in
central and southern counties. Quiet weather returns by Sunday into
Monday before additional chances of rain and snow arrive by the
middle of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 430 AM EDT Friday...The forecast generally remains on
track for today into Saturday with widespread snow and mixed
precipitation moving into the region as low pressure tracks east
into the mid Atlantic region. Latest progs suggest a slightly
slower arrival time of precipitation into the northeastern half
of the forecast area today with some areas remaining dry until
early afternoon. All current warnings and advisories remain in
place however. Accumulations were tapered back slightly across
our southern and western counties as latest consensus model
output now suggests the northeastern edge of mid-level warming
will advance into these areas with a mix with or change to sleet
this evening and tonight. This remains a difficult snow
accumulation forecast given 1) the potential mix with sleet and
2) boundary layer warming where precipitation may mix with or
change to rain for awhile this afternoon/early evening in lower
elevations. Regardless, difficult to locally hazardous travel is
expected in the warning/advisory areas tonight into Saturday
morning. By Saturday the surface low will exit offshore into the
New York Bight and gradually lose influence as precipitation
trends more scattered and showery by afternoon. Please see our
winter weather page at www.weather.gov/btv/winter for specific
accumulation forecasts and probabilities. High temperatures
today and on Saturday should range through the 30s to near 40 in
mildest locales. Lows tonight mainly in the upper 20s to lower
30s. Winds light.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 430 AM EDT Friday...By Saturday night scattered snow
shower activity continues to wane across the area, though may
tend to linger in the northern mountains with parent upper
trough swinging into the region. Additional minor accumulations
will be possible in these areas accordingly as lows bottom out
in the mid 20s to around 30. Dry weather then returns by Sunday
as large scale ridging builds east. Partly sunny skies are
expected in most areas as high temperatures top out in the lower
to mid 40s.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 430 AM EDT Friday...Sunday night through Friday...Sunday
night and Monday will be dry with surface high pressure ridging
over the north country. Precipitation will spread from Southwest
to Northeast across our forecast area Monday night and continue
through Tuesday before ending Tuesday night. GFS keeps low
pressure system to our Northwest and ECMWF keeps low pressure
system tracking to our Southeast. Either way, looks like some
rain for our area. Track of low will likely impact temperatures
which in turn impacts precipitation type. At this point looks
like some snow showers at night, then rain showers during the
day. Could see another highly elevation dependent snow fall with
significant accumulation possible above 2000 feet. From
Wednesday onward the forecast has a lot more uncertainty with
models not showing much agreement. Both GFS and ECMWF do show
another system to possibly impact the North Country towards the
end of the week. We will have maximum temperatures generally in
the 40s with minimum temperatures in the 30s through the period.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Through 12Z Saturday...VFR continues through 18z at all TAF
sites. Precipitation moves across the North Country southwest to
northeast after 15z bringing ceilings and visibilities to
MVFR...further deteriorating this afternoon and evening to
MVFR/IFR as wintry mix of mostly rain-snow and some sleet
affects the area. Generally expect rain during the midday,
before colder air in the boundary layer begins a mix of rain and
snow as diurnal heating wanes and nocturnal cooling increases.
Timing the onset of precipitation has proven a bit difficult as
well as the precipitation type.
Light winds this morning will be shifting out of the south to
southeast during the mid morning hours. KMSS will remain out of
the NE with gusts to 25kts developing in the late morning.
Temperatures warm into the mid 30s to low 40s today, allowing
for melting on paved surfaces with rain in the afternoon before
changing to snow in the late afternoon/evening.
Outlook 12Z Saturday through Tuesday...
12Z Saturday - 12Z Sunday...IFR improving to MVFR/VFR as snow
tapers off.
12Z Sunday - 00Z Tuesday...VFR as lingering terrain
showers diminish.
00Z Tuesday onward...VFR/MVFR in rain/snow showers.
&&
.BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VT...Winter Weather Advisory until 2 PM EDT Saturday for VTZ003-004-
006-011-016>018.
Winter Storm Warning until 2 PM EDT Saturday for VTZ007-008-
010-012-019.
Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 2 PM EDT
Saturday for VTZ001-002-005-009.
NY...Winter Weather Advisory until 2 PM EDT Saturday for NYZ029>031-
035.
Winter Storm Warning until 2 PM EDT Saturday for NYZ034.
Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 2 PM EDT
Saturday for NYZ028.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JMG
NEAR TERM...JMG
SHORT TERM...JMG
LONG TERM...Neiles
AVIATION...NeilesHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Burlington VT 328 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 NYZ034-VTZ007-008-010-012-019-010730- Western Essex-Caledonia-Washington-Orange-Windsor-Eastern Rutland- 328 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central Vermont, northeast Vermont and southern Vermont. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ029>031-035-VTZ003-004-006-011-016>018-010730- Southeastern St. Lawrence-Southern Franklin-Western Clinton- Eastern Essex-Orleans-Essex-Lamoille-Western Rutland- Eastern Franklin-Eastern Chittenden-Eastern Addison- 328 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central Vermont, northeast Vermont, northwest Vermont and southern Vermont. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ028-VTZ001-002-005-009-010730- Eastern Clinton-Grand Isle-Western Franklin-Western Chittenden- Western Addison- 328 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 2 PM EDT SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central Vermont and northwest Vermont. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ026-027-087-010730- Northern St. Lawrence-Northern Franklin-Southwestern St. Lawrence- 328 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. JMG
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter weather, 6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Widespread 6 to 12 inches of a heavy, wet snow fell across the region, some specific totals include; 13 inches in Fayston, 11 inches in Waitsfield, 9 inches in Worcester, 8 inches in Middlesex, 7 inches in Cabot, Berlin with 6 inches in Waterbury and Montpelier.
Widespread 6 to 12 inches of a heavy, wet snow fell across the region, some specific totals include; 12 inches in Braintree and East Randolph, 10 inches in Tunbridge and Strafford, 8 inches in Vershire, 7 inches in West Fairlee and 6 inches in Williamstown.
Widespread 8 to 16 inches of a heavy, wet snow fell across the region, some specific totals include; 16 inches in Rochester, 15 inches in Woodstock, 14 inches in Ludlow and Proctorsville, 13 inches in Hartland and Pomfret, 12 inches in Bethel and Windsor and 10 inches in Tyson. Some scattered power outages resulted from the snow loading on trees and power lines.
Widespread 8 to 12 inches of a heavy, wet snow fell across the region, some specific totals include; 13 inches in Killington, 12 inches in Pittsfield and 8 inches in Chittenden.
Widespread 3 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts fell across Addison county. Some specific totals include; 12 niches in south Hancock, 7 inches in Orwell, 6 inches in Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and New Haven, 5 inches in Middlebury and 3 inches in South Lincoln.
Widespread 3 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts fell across Addison county. Some specific totals include; 12 niches in south Hancock, 7 inches in Orwell, 6 inches in Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and New Haven, 5 inches in Middlebury and 3 inches in South Lincoln.
Widespread 3 to 8 inches fell across Chittenden county. Some specific totals include; 8 inches in Shelburne, 7 inches at NWS office in South Burlington, 6 inches in Williston, Winooski, Hinesburg and Milton, 5 inches in Charlotte and Jericho.
Widespread 3 to 8 inches fell across Chittenden county. Some specific totals include; 8 inches in Shelburne, 7 inches at NWS office in South Burlington, 6 inches in Williston, Winooski, Hinesburg and Milton, 5 inches in Charlotte and Jericho.
Widespread 2 to 5 inches fell across Franklin county. Some specific totals include; 6 inches in St. Albans, 4 inches in Richford and 3 inches in Swanton.
Widespread 2 to 5 inches fell across Franklin county. Some specific totals include; 6 inches in St. Albans, 4 inches in Richford and 3 inches in Swanton.
Widespread 2 to 5 inches fell across Grand Isle county.
Widespread 3 to 7 inches fell across Lamoille county, including; 7 inches in Johnson and 6 inches in Hyde Park, Wolcott, Morrisville and Jeffersonville.
Widespread 3 to 7 inches fell across Orleans county, including; 7 inches in Greensboro, 6 inches in Derby Center and Westfield, 5 inches in Newport and 4 inches in Barton.
Widespread 3 to 6 inches fell in the region including; 5 inches in Sudbury and 3 to 4 inches in Rutland.
Widespread 5 to 10 inches of a heavy, wet snow fell across the region, some specific totals include; 10 inches in Peacham, 9 inches in Sutton, Groton and Sheffield, 8 inches in St. Johnsbury with 7 inches in Lyndonville, Walden and Danville.
Widespread 5 to 10 inches of a heavy, wet snow fell across the region, some specific totals include; 10 inches in Lunenberg, 9 inches in Island Pond and Maidstone, 8 inches in Granby with 7 inches in Concord and Averill.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Vermont in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Vermont, March 2017
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: 680793, 680794, 680795, 680796, 680797, 680798, 680799, 680800, 680801, 680802, 680803, 680804, 680805, 680806, 680791, 680792.