Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Western Chittenden, Vermont

2023-02-03 to 2023-02-04 · Western Chittenden, Vermont

Event narrative

Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills impacted the area from early Friday morning through Saturday evening. The coldest was Friday night with low temperatures 15 to 25 below zero and wind chills 30 to 45 below zero.

Some specific low temperatures included; -25 in Milton, -24 in Westford and Nashville, -18 in Williston and -15 at the NWS office in South Burlington.

Some specific extreme wind chill values included; -43 in Colchester and Milton, -42 at the NWS office in South Burlington and Williston.

Wider weather episode

An arctic airmass entered Vermont during the morning hours of February 3rd (Friday) and continued through the evening hours of February 4th (Saturday).

Daytime actual temperature readings fell during Friday to zero to 15 below zero and still falling by mid-afternoon with brisk west winds creating wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero. Overnight lows Friday night were 15 to 30 below zero with minimum wind chill values of 30 to 45 below zero and it wasn't until Saturday afternoon when actual air temperatures surpassed zero in spots but developing south winds still produced sub-zero wind chills.

The last occurrence of something this widespread and intense, although brief was in January 26-27, 1994.

Numerous schools and businesses closed as well as outdoor events, including ski resorts.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1068427. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.