A two-dose shot of wet snowfall over the next few days across northern Vermont high country

 It has been an especially warm winter in the Great Lakes region. After recording the warmest February on record, the first 14 days of March in Chicago has been warmer than the same period in the historically warm March of 2012. The state of Vermont has also been very mild during this 6-week period, but has not featured that mid-spring warmth that has persistently impacted locations farther west. It's been pretty close however with excessive temperatures often impacting Burlington and locations in the Champlain Valley while failing to make it passed the Long Trail. All of these regions are poised to have a very different outcome than March of 2012 as a different weather pattern will dominate the eastern two thirds of the country for the back half of the month. A mild day or two appears possible during the last 5 days of the month but both colder weather and snowfall should remain a more prevailing part of the outlook until April with the dominating jet stream feature consisting of a omega-like block near the Yukon/AK border.

There are a few chances for some wet snowfall over the next few days. A wave of low pressure passing to our south will spread an area of rainfall over northern Vermont Thursday night. This rain will turn to snow beginning at higher elevations first, but ultimately everyone in the valley will be seeing snowfall by morning. This appears to be a 2-5 inch wet snowfall for the high country ending by late morning with the near freezing temperatures rising to the high 30's during the afternoon. 

Only a few intervals of blue sky can be expected for the weekend, mostly on Saturday. More elevation sensitive snowfall can be expected for Sunday. This time we are on the wrong and warmer side of the impacting low pressure area and though its cold enough to snow above 2000 feet, precipitation will be fairly disorganized and the moderate, accumulating snow will be intermittent across the mountains or falling as mixed precipitation and/or graupel over valley locations. Another 2-4 inches is my first guess with this 2nd event, though to reiterate, this applies only to the mountains and little accumulation can be expected on the valley floor. 

The same section of high country that is expecting some wet snowfall over the coming few days, can expect a 5 day period of below freezing temperatures beginning on Monday. Instability snow showers will accompany the chill late on Monday through most of Tuesday. By Wednesday there are indications that a more significant clipper type feature capable of bringing more substantial and powdery snow to MRG. The snow could be followed by our coldest weather of the month on the mountain with readings potentially staying below 25 both Thursday and Friday and struggling to bet above freezing over the mountains. The reinforcing area of cold late next week should bring the return of some sunshine for at least a day or two. If the strong southern branch storm stays south of New England for the weekend of March 23 and 24th, sunshine will continue and temperatures will moderate. If the storm comes north, that will be a situation certainly worth discussing.