Weather pattern still looks decidedly mild overall with a few wintry interludes

The effects of the March weather pattern I've been worried about began impacting the high country on Monday with temperatures surging to 40 in spite of a mostly cloudy sky. We can expect more of this in the coming 2 weeks and some rain Tuesday night. The wet weather is the result of the same weather system that spawned the deadly tornado Monday night in Nashville. There is no such severe weather risk in Vermont and several hours of rain will result in 2 or 3 tenths of an inch of total rainfall with temperatures in the high 30's. Though arctic air is scarcity in this pattern and certain will remain in the wake of the rain Tuesday night, the atmosphere will cool enough to provide a stage for some elevation sensitive snow showers Wednesday. It will be one of those early spring days where temperatures vary greatly from the base to the summit with temperatures ranging from 40 near the base to 30 at the summit.

Temperatures will drop well into the 20's Wednesday night and we should see a period of sunshine on Thursday. Thanks to some very calm winds, it should be a very nice day overall with temperatures rising into the 30's.

So, we do have a bit of winter weather to still discuss though it remains surrounded by some very spring-like weather. The Friday situation was a wing and a prayer to begin as far as substantial snow was concerned and though we are likely to receive a bit of light snowfall, accumulations will likely be less than 4 inches. The weather map consists of an approaching Pacific disturbance turned clipper that will try and phase with an exiting southern branch storm. The two storms will ultimately phase with the clipper evolving into an inverted trough like feature as one consolidated storm deepens off shore. Unfortunately, this inverted trough will focus the snowfall mostly across New York state and southern New England and the strengthening offshore storm will actually steal a chunk of northern New England's moisture. A period of light snow is still likely on Friday with some accumulation possible though I am doubtful it amounts to more than a few inches if even that.

With that said, we've had to endure several cloudy periods lately and once Friday's storm makes a full exit, we should see a sunshiney weekend. Saturday will be a sub-freezing day and it will certainly start on the blustery side. Sunday looks to be outstanding with minimal winds, some sunshine and temperatures climbing up toward 40.

The mild weather next week appears as if it will peak on Monday with temperatures possibly reaching 50. The mild weather early next week could be accompanied by a bit of rainfall and the system responsible could push somewhat cooler temperatures into the region for the middle of the week. Toward the end of the week there is another possible winter weather situation that will need to be watched before temperatures should again respond to a prevailing weather pattern that favors cold weather in Alaska, unsettled weather on the west coast and mild spring-like temperatures across the east.