An arctic front moved across northern NY during the afternoon of March 1st delivering arctic air on strong winds during the overnight of March 1st-2nd. Persistent northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts in excess of 40-45 mph began around 8 pm March 1st and continued until daybreak March 2nd.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
An arctic front moved across northern NY during the afternoon of March 1st delivering arctic air on strong winds during the overnight of March 1st-2nd. Persistent northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts in excess of 40-45 mph began around 8 pm March 1st and continued until daybreak March 2nd. These strong winds combined with ambient temperatures of 5 below to 5 above zero created wind chills in the 15 to 30 below zero range. Power outages across the region were only a few thousand.
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 1, 9:45 PM EST, 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Burlington VT
945 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
Occasional snow showers and some snow squalls will move east
across portions of northern New York and the southern half of
Vermont tonight. The combination of gusty winds, falling
temperatures, reduced visibilities, and snow covered roads will
continue to make for very difficult travel conditions. Over the
northern half of Vermont falling temperatures tonight will lead
to icy road conditions due to snow covered or wet roads from
snowmelt. Very cold wind chills will develop during the
overnight hours and continue Tuesday morning. A gradual ease of
the chill will occur by late Tuesday ahead of a clipper system
that will bring light snow to much of the region. Expect
periods of breezy conditions on Thursday and Friday associated
with a tightening pressure gradient and reinforcement of
seasonably cold air.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 944 PM EST Monday...Going forecast in real good shape
with snow squalls continuing to push south across the southern
third of Vermont and isolated to scattered snow showers
elsewhere. Gusty winds continue to bring colder and drier air
into the region and thus the wind advisory and wind chill
advisories and warning are in good shape. Difficult travel
conditions with snow covered roads and freezing temperatures
interacting with wet road surfaces.
Previous Discussion...
Potent upper circulation is moving out of southeast Ontario and
into northern New York this evening. This feature is enhancing
the areal coverage of snow showers across the southern Saint
Lawrence Valley and northern Adirondacks of New York and across
portions of central and southern Vermont. Have increased
precipitation chances for the next several hours as the upper
circulation moves east across area where frontal boundary looks
to have stalled and become oriented from west to east. Travel
will be difficult due to bursts of heavier snow, reduced
visibilities, and falling temperatures. Northern areas where
little snow is occurring we are getting falling temperatures
which will cause icy road conditions as well.
The primary cold front is currently bisecting the North
Country, with the northwestern portions of our region now post-
frontal. So we will continue to see brief snow showers and
locally snow squalls as the front sinks southeastward through
the rest of the daylight hours. We have noticed the main impact
with these squalls will likely be low visibility. The mild
surface temperatures out ahead of the line is making it
difficult for snow to accumulate on warm roads, and the air
temperature is generally falling to near freezing and not below
with the frontal passage.
The secondary arctic front will move through tonight, with more
isolated snow showers possible. It will open up the gates for
strong isallobaric winds and frequent gusts over 40 MPH along
with much colder air seen in surface observations falling
through the teens and single digits this afternoon over much of
southern Quebec and Ontario. Tried to highlight areas with best
chance of seeing wind gusts near 50 MPH, but there are mixed
signals for how east the strongest gusts will extend downwind of
the higher summits. That will be the main forecast challenge
for the next 24 hours. With slightly stronger winds than
previous forecast, we have low enough wind chills to upgrade
Essex County, New York into a wind chill warning, with no other
changes needed to existing wind chill advisories and wind
advisories.
Skies should trend sunny during the day with wind chills
gradually improving, approaching 0 degrees by late afternoon
with slightly higher values in the wide valleys. Then clouds
should increase rapidly tomorrow night ahead of a clipper-system.
Although the surface low appears to weaken as it passes to our
north, strong 925 millibar westerly flow associated with the
system along with good lift from warm advection processes favors
up to a couple inches of light snowfall across much of northern
New York and far northern Vermont, with lesser amounts as one
goes south and east.
&&
.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 327 PM EST Monday...An Alberta Clipper will continue its
eastward progression across our area Wednesday morning. The system
weakens as it gets pulled into deep low pressure in the Canadian
Maritimes in addition to a lack of significant warm, moist advection
due to the competing influence of a southern stream shortwave.
Stratiform snow should taper off, and then transition to orographic
snow showers over the northwest facing slopes while moisture lingers
in place. Temperatures should warm into the 30s. Cold air advection
ensues early Wednesday evening with a switch to northwest winds.
Temperatures will fall into the teens to lower 20s overnight.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 327 PM EST Monday...Heading into the later portion of the week,
deep low pressure retrogrades back towards coastal Canada from off
the Canadian Maritimes. This will keep north to northwesterly flow
across our region. So, we should have a spell of seasonably cool and
dry weather. There will be some pockets of moisture here and there
that could allow for some snow showers. The GFS is aggressive about
the potential for Thursday, but the mid-level moisture content is
questionable amongst various guidance, and there is divergence in
the low-levels. However, most agree on scattered snow showers,
mainly in the mountains, for Friday and Saturday. With this cool
spell, expect highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits to
teens. The other thing of note will be the potential for some
stronger winds later Thursday into Friday as pressure gradients
tighten between building Canadian high pressure and the retrograding
low.
Otherwise, we see moderation into the new week as troughiness over
New England comes to an end with a broader upper ridge developing
with high pressure to our south. This should also dry us out with
little to no precipitation expected.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Through 00Z Wednesday...Scattered to numerous snow showers and
snow squalls will move east across the area through 06z. Expect
MVFR to VFR conditions, except IFR to LIFR conditions in any
snow squalls. The IFR to LIFR conditions will most likely occur
at KSLK, KMPV, and KRUT. After 06z the snow showers and squalls
will diminish, but strong west to northwest winds will exist
with gusts in the 30 to 40 knot range through at least 16z
before slowly tapering off. Ceilings and visibilities will be
improving into the VFR category between 08z and 14z and persist
through the remainder of the period.
Outlook...
Tuesday Night: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Chance SN.
Wednesday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Slight chance
SHSN.
Wednesday Night: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. NO SIG WX.
Thursday: VFR. NO SIG WX.
Thursday Night: VFR. NO SIG WX.
Friday: VFR. Slight chance SHSN.
Friday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHSN.
Saturday: VFR. NO SIG WX.
&&
.BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VT...Wind Chill Advisory until 11 AM EST Tuesday for VTZ003-006>008-
010-016>019.
Wind Advisory until 1 PM EST Tuesday for VTZ003-004-006>008-
010>012-019.
Wind Chill Warning until 11 AM EST Tuesday for VTZ004.
NY...Wind Chill Advisory until 11 AM EST Tuesday for NYZ029>031-034.
Wind Advisory until 1 PM EST Tuesday for NYZ031-034.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Kutikoff
NEAR TERM...Evenson/Kutikoff
SHORT TERM...Haynes
LONG TERM...Haynes
AVIATION...EvensonHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Burlington VT 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 NYZ029-030-VTZ016>018-021000- Southeastern St. Lawrence-Southern Franklin-Eastern Franklin- Eastern Chittenden-Eastern Addison- 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM EST TUESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central Vermont and northwest Vermont. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Chill Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Chill Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ031-034-VTZ003-006>008-010-021000- Western Clinton-Western Essex-Orleans-Lamoille-Caledonia-Washington- Orange- 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST TUESDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM EST TUESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central Vermont, northeast Vermont and northwest Vermont. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Wind Chill Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Wind Chill Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ026>028-035-087-VTZ001-002-005-009-021000- Northern St. Lawrence-Northern Franklin-Eastern Clinton- Eastern Essex-Southwestern St. Lawrence-Grand Isle-Western Franklin- Western Chittenden-Western Addison- 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central Vermont and northwest Vermont. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. An arctic boundary is producing scattered snow showers this afternoon into tonight, along with rapidly falling temperatures on blustery northwest winds. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 are expected through the overnight. These brisk winds and falling temperatures will create wind chill values between 15 and 20 below zero on Tuesday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VTZ019-021000- Eastern Rutland- 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST TUESDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM EST TUESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern Vermont. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Wind Chill Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Wind Chill Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VTZ011-012-021000- Western Rutland-Windsor- 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST TUESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern Vermont. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VTZ004-021000- Essex- 325 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST TUESDAY... ...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM EST TUESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Vermont. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Wind Chill Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Wind Chill Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Burlington VT 731 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 NYZ031-034-035-VTZ005-008>010-017-018-020115- Western Essex-Western Clinton-Eastern Essex-Eastern Chittenden-Western Chittenden-Washington-Western Addison-Eastern Addison-Orange- 731 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021 ...AN AREA OF HEAVY SNOW WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN CLINTON... NORTHEASTERN ESSEX...NORTHWESTERN ORANGE...NORTHERN ADDISON... SOUTHERN CHITTENDEN AND SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... At 730 PM EST...an area of heavy snow was near Westport...moving east at 40 mph. Locations impacted include... Barre, Vergennes, Montpelier, Middlebury, Essex, Willsboro, Westport, Wilmington, Elizabethtown, Keene, Weybridge, Monkton Ridge, Waterbury Village, Lincoln, Monkton, Monkton Boro, New Haven, Middlesex, Granville and Addison. This includes Interstate 89 between mile markers 34 and 63. * winds in excess of 25 mph are possible with this area of heavy snow. * sudden and brief snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible in this area of heavy snow. Icy roads are possible as the snow melts on the roads then quickly refreezes. Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra time when traveling. LAT...LON 4409 7386 4444 7385 4432 7249 4397 7252 TIME...MOT...LOC 0030Z 275DEG 36KT 4423 7342 Clay
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
814 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
NYZ034-035-VTZ005-008-009-017-018-020200-
Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Eastern Chittenden-Western
Chittenden-Washington-Western Addison-Eastern Addison-
814 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
...AN AREA OF HEAVY SNOW WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL ESSEX...
NORTHWESTERN ADDISON...SOUTHWESTERN CHITTENDEN AND SOUTHWESTERN
WASHINGTON COUNTIES...
At 814 PM EST...an area of heavy snow was along a line extending from
Starksboro to near Westport to near Keene Valley...and moving
southeast at 25 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Vergennes, Middlebury, Moriah, Westport, Elizabethtown, Weybridge,
Monkton Ridge, Lincoln, Monkton, Monkton Boro, New Haven, Port Henry,
Addison, Starksboro, Ferrisburg, Waltham, Bristol, Keene Valley,
Panton and Mt. Philo State Park.
* winds in excess of 25 mph are possible with this area of heavy
snow.
* sudden and brief snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are
possible in this area of heavy snow.
Icy roads are possible as the snow melts on the roads then quickly
refreezes.
Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra
time when traveling.
LAT...LON 4412 7277 4401 7316 4399 7345 4418 7388
4428 7358 4428 7301
TIME...MOT...LOC 0114Z 302DEG 20KT 4422 7305 4414 7347 4415 7372
ClaySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
859 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
NYZ034-035-VTZ008>011-017-018-020245-
Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Western Rutland-Eastern
Chittenden-Washington-Western Addison-Eastern Addison-Orange-
859 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
...AN AREA OF HEAVY SNOW WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ESSEX...WEST
CENTRAL ORANGE...ADDISON...NORTHWESTERN RUTLAND...SOUTHEASTERN
CHITTENDEN AND SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES...
At 857 PM EST...an area of heavy snow was over Weybridge...moving
southeast at 15 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Middlebury, Vergennes, Moriah, Crown Point, Westport, Cornwall,
Weybridge, Salisbury, Monkton Ridge, Lincoln, Orwell, Monkton,
Monkton Boro, Whiting, New Haven, Granville, Port Henry, Addison,
Shoreham and Ripton.
* winds in excess of 25 mph are possible with this area of heavy
snow.
* sudden and brief snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are
possible in this area of heavy snow.
Icy roads are possible as the snow melts on the roads then quickly
refreezes.
Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra
time when traveling.
LAT...LON 4381 7338 4380 7346 4414 7384 4427 7307
4399 7272 4378 7335
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 317DEG 15KT 4401 7323
ClaySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
917 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
VTZ007-008-010-020300-
Caledonia-Washington-Orange-
917 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
...AN AREA OF HEAVY SNOW WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL CALEDONIA...ORANGE
AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES...
At 917 PM EST...an area of heavy snow was over Websterville...moving
southeast at 35 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Barre, Montpelier, Bradford, Plainfield, Orange, Chelsea, Waterbury
Village, Websterville, East Montpelier, Corinth, Topsham, Berlin,
Thetford, Middlesex, Fairlee, Barre Town, West Fairlee, Northfield
Village, Vershire and Corinth Corners.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 89 between mile markers 43 and 64.
Interstate 91 between mile markers 87 and 109.
* winds in excess of 25 mph are possible with this area of heavy
snow.
* visibilities will drop quickly to less than a half mile in this
area of heavy snow.
* sudden and brief snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are
possible in this area of heavy snow.
Icy roads are possible as the snow melts on the roads then quickly
refreezes.
Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra
time when traveling.
LAT...LON 4407 7205 4402 7208 4401 7211 4399 7212
4396 7210 4395 7212 4392 7212 4389 7217
4385 7219 4381 7226 4430 7284 4440 7266
4413 7204 4411 7206 4410 7205 4410 7203
4409 7205 4408 7203
TIME...MOT...LOC 0217Z 310DEG 32KT 4416 7248
ClayPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
927 PM EST MON MAR 01 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 NE EAST MIDDLEBURY 43.98N 73.10W
03/01/2021 U0.0 INCH ADDISON VT AWOS
SNOW SQUALL REPORTED AT THE MIDDLEBURY STATE AIPORT
WITH 1/4SM VISIBILITIES STARTING AT 0915 PM WITH WINDS
OF 37 MPH. WEBCAMS CONFIRM HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER BTV2100781
CLAYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
935 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
NYZ034-035-VTZ009-011-012-018-019-020315-
Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Eastern Rutland-Western
Rutland-Windsor-Western Addison-Eastern Addison-
935 PM EST Mon Mar 1 2021
...A SNOW SQUALL WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ESSEX...SOUTHERN ADDISON...
RUTLAND AND NORTHWESTERN WINDSOR COUNTIES...
At 935 PM EST...A snow squall was over Whiting...moving southeast at
40 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Rutland, Middlebury, Cornwall, Sudbury, Killington, Salisbury,
Rutland City, Orwell, Rutland - Southern Vermont Airport, Benson,
Chittenden, West Rutland, Whiting, Ira, West Castleton, Hancock,
Shoreham, Poultney Village, Lake St. Catherine and Leicester.
* winds in excess of 25 mph are possible with this squall.
* visibilities will drop quickly to less than a quarter mile in
this squall.
Rapid visibility reduction and potentially icy roads are likely to
produce hazardous driving conditions. travel is not advised during
this snow squall. If you are traveling and encounter adverse winter
driving conditions, reduce speed and make sure headlights are on to
increase the visibility of your vehicle to those around you.
LAT...LON 4347 7325 4353 7324 4356 7326 4358 7330
4363 7331 4363 7337 4357 7340 4359 7343
4362 7342 4364 7343 4377 7335 4381 7338
4380 7347 4389 7355 4401 7304 4370 7250
4343 7317
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 304DEG 35KT 4385 7322
ClayThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph range were observed, including 48 mph at Plattsburgh Bay.
Peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph range were observed, including 48 mph at Ticonderoga.
Peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph range were observed, including 44 mph in Malone.
Peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph range were observed, including 42 mph in Saranac.
Peak wind gusts in the 35-40 mph range were observed.
Peak wind gusts in the 35-40 mph range were observed.
Peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph range were observed.
Peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph range were observed.
Peak wind gusts in the 35-40 mph range were observed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, March 2021
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: 935928, 935929, 935931, 935932, 935933, 935935, 935936, 935937, 935940.