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Slow spring onset continues

Showery Thursday, stormy Sunday

Good day to you, southern Vermonters! Where is spring, you ask? That's a very good question, I say.

Unfortunately, it's a slow boat to the other side of winter, my friends. While I believe we've made it past the several bouts of wintry weather I alluded to last week, there is one more chance over the next seven days, namely on Sunday and Monday.

As I write this week's column, the snow is flying in Northampton, Mass., once again, and as pretty as it is, even this writer is pining for some warmer climes.

For Wednesday, we'll get a break from the inclement weather, and enjoy a mostly sunny day with highs in the low to mid 40s with light southwest winds. Clouds will increase Wednesday night, and some scattered light rain and/or snow showers are possible. No accumulation is expected, and lows should dip into the low to mid 30s.

For Thursday, an area of low pressure will pass to our northwest, keeping us on the warm side of the storm. This will allow mostly rain showers and periods of light rain to develop during the day and into Thursday night.

Some snow may mix in over the highest elevations in western Windham County. Expect highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 30s as showers come to an end Thursday night.

For Friday and Saturday, we have a very tricky temperature forecast, which will be dependent completely on where a trailing frontal boundary sets up from the passage of Thursday's rain storm, along with an anticipated southwestward push of colder air from Maine (a.k.a., “a back door cold front”).

As of now, high temps look to jump into the mid 50s on Friday and the low 60s on Saturday with lows in the low 40s both nights. Having said that, there is much uncertainty, so don't be surprised if we stay in the 40s to low 50s instead. At least we'll enjoy partly sunny skies both days and fair weather until very late Saturday night into Sunday.

For Sunday and Monday, a powerful storm system will form from the combination of an upper low pressure system lifting through southeastern Canada, and a surface low moving east through the Great Lakes. Copious moisture will be drawn north from the southern part of the country, and will rain out over southern Vermont Sunday into Monday.

However, another uncertainty will be the potential for colder air moving aloft getting dragged down to the surface and flipping us to snow for a time Sunday night into Monday. Some light accumulations are possible if this takes place. Expect highs in the 40s both days and lows in the 30s.

We should enjoy fair and seasonable weather by Tuesday. Have a great week!

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