Winter Storm — Western Windsor County, Vermont

2025-02-15 to 2025-02-16 · Western Windsor County, Vermont

Event narrative

Snowfall totals across the county were 6 to 18 inches with brisk winds developing in the evening hours to begin blowing and drifting snow that caused some driving hazards of poor visibility and snow covered roads through February 17th. In addition, there was several hours of sleet that accumulated up to an half inch and a prolonged period of freezing rain that accumulated in excess of a tenth of an inch.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure developed in the lower Mississippi River Valley on the evening of February 15th (Saturday) and then moved northeast across the Ohio River Valley midday on February 16th (Sunday)and into the Gulf of Maine during the evening hours.

A large pressure gradient led to strong southeast winds on the front end of the storm with cold and equally strong northwest winds after storm passage into Newfoundland.

Snow overspread the region late Saturday afternoon, snowing heavy at times during Sunday before ending Sunday night. Some sleet mixed in at times Sunday across northern and central area with a complete changeover to sleet and freezing rain with some ice accumulations in southern areas before changing back to snow during the afternoon and evening.

Scattered power outages were reported on February 17th due to strong winds in excess of 50 mph in northeast VT and in southern VT where it combined with some lightly ice laden trees.

Combination of strong winds in excess of 40 mph and deep snow led to a 100 foot barn collapse in the town of Williamstown. The end result was the barn was a total loss and at least 6 cows had died.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1227601. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.