Widespread freezing rain & hazardous journey to start out the week

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Our climate crew has issued a First Alert Weather Day for Sunday evening into Monday as a result of freezing rain that may carry a interval of hazardous journey situations and the potential for some energy outages to our area.

It is a slick and icy Monday morning. Even within the Champlain Valley, the place air temperatures have warmed above freezing, pavement temperatures stay fairly chilly, and icing continues to be a priority—even within the warmest places.

An Ice Storm Warning is in impact for Essex, Lamoille, Caledonia, Orange, Windsor and Washington Counties in Vermont, and northern Franklin and Essex Counties in New York by means of 4 p.m. Monday.

Timing: Freezing rain will develop from southwest to northeast Sunday night. Most of us will see freezing rain begin between 8 p.m. and midnight.

The heaviest and most widespread ice accumulation occured between midnight final evening and seven a.m. right this moment.

Temperatures will regularly heat above freezing Monday morning, however the timing varies by location. The Champlain Valley and valleys of Rutland and Bennington County will heat above freezing by mid-morning, permitting freezing rain to vary to plain rain earlier. These areas will see the bottom ice totals and lowest danger for energy outages.

Along and east of the Green Mountains, within the Adirondacks and within the St. Lawrence Valley, temperatures will take longer to heat up, extending the danger for freezing rain into noon Monday. Cold air will keep in place the longest in these areas.

After a quick warm-up Monday afternoon with highs within the mid 30s to low 40s, a pointy chilly entrance will transfer by means of Monday night, bringing temperatures again beneath freezing with scattered snow showers and gusty westerly winds. Plan for gusts between 25 to 40 mph areawide, with localized gusts as much as 50 mph within the St. Lawrence Valley.

By late Monday night, temperatures will fall again beneath freezing areawide. A number of heavier snow showers are doable because the chilly entrance strikes by means of Monday afternoon and night. Snow totals gained’t be too spectacular, however a fast coating is feasible. By Tuesday morning, temperatures will solely be within the higher single digits to mid-teens with sub-zero wind chills more likely to begin the day.

Ice totals: Areas inside the Ice Storm Warning will see the longest length of freezing rain and the best ice quantities. Plan for widespread ice totals exceeding 1 / 4 of an inch alongside and east of the Green Mountains and within the Adirondacks. Localized totals exceeding half an inch are doable.

The valleys of western and southeastern Vermont and elements of Orleans County can count on decrease ice totals, typically between a tenth and 1 / 4 of an inch. That’s sufficient to coat untreated roads and driveways, however accumulation on bushes and powerlines isn’t as large of a priority.

Impacts: Areas within the Ice Storm Warning have the best danger to see sufficient ice accumulation on bushes and powerlines to carry down limbs and trigger scattered energy outages. We usually are not anticipating this to be a serious ice storm, however it is best to nonetheless be ready in case you lose energy.

A number of extra energy outages are doable Monday afternoon and night if there’s any leftover ice on bushes or powerlines when wind gusts choose up. The St. Lawrence Valley has the best danger for this.

How to arrange: Charge your whole digital gadgets in case you lose energy. Make certain flashlights, batteries and blankets are accessible. Download the First Alert Weather App now so you possibly can proceed receiving updates even when the ability goes out. If you do lose energy, test in in your neighbors, family and friends, particularly with chilly air returning by Tuesday morning.

Avoid or delay journey if in any respect doable whereas freezing rain is falling. If you have to be out in a single day or early Monday morning, give your self loads of further time and take it very gradual. Travel might be extraordinarily tough at instances, together with in the course of the morning commute.

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