Winter Storm — Eastern Franklin, Vermont

2023-03-14 to 2023-03-15 · Eastern Franklin, Vermont

Event narrative

A wet, heavy snow fell across the region, accumulating 6 to 12+ inches across the region.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure developed off the Carolina coast during the late afternoon/evening hours of March 13th and reached offshore of southeastern Massachusetts by the morning of March 14th and then slowly meandered in the Gulf of Maine until the morning of March 15th before exiting away from New England.

Snow began across southern Vermont before midnight on the 14th, actually mixing with rain in the valleys for a few hours before colder air changed precipitation to all snow. snow finally reached all of Vermont by the early morning hours of March 14th. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were observed in the southern Green Mountains during the morning hours with a mesoscale band of 1 to 2 inches per hour rotating southeast to northwest across Vermont during the late morning and afternoon hours as well. Snow continued for much of the night of March 14th into the morning hours, especially in northern Vermont, including the Champlain Valley. Brisk north winds gusting 35-45 mph during the night of March 14th, especially in the Champlain valley accounted for some traveling and power issues.

Snowfall totals ranged from 6 to 12 inches in the Champlain Valley and along the International border with Canada to 10 to 18 inches for much of the rest of Vermont with the south and central mountain communities receiving greater than 2 feet.

The wet nature of the snowfall led to scattered to numerous power outages with nearly 90,000 customers without power, especially across the central and southern Green Mountain communities. In addition, dozens of roads were closed due to vehicle accidents and downed trees and utility lines as well as many schools closed, especially in southern sections.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1076891. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.