While Vermont is still recovering from the storm that hit the state mid-week, another one is expected to arrive around 10 p.m. Friday.
A high-wind warning will be in effect from 11 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. on Saturday, with wind gusts expected to peak between 3 to 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The wind will likely be most severe in the area east of Rutland closest to the Green Mountains, with speeds up to 70 mph, while the rest of Vermont can expect winds between 45 to 65 mph, the weather service projected.
Those wind-speed projections have increased over the course of the week, according to meteorologist Marvin Boyd, as earlier predictions had winds arriving from the southeast. Now, the service sees them coming in from the east and down the slopes of the mountain range into the Rutland area, potentially speeding them up.
Boyd, who works in the National Weather Service’s Burlington office, said he expects the western slopes of the Green Mountains and Chittenden County to be most affected by those dangerous gusts.
He noted that although this storm may not be as severe as the last one, the soil is still wet from the previous storm, making it easier for trees to fall.
“We’re not starting with the frozen ground. We’re starting with wet and soggy soil. That’s going to be a concern for trees coming down again,” Boyd said.
In its weather warning, the National Weather Service advised people to drive with caution and avoid going outside in forested areas during the storm. When possible, it said, Vermonters should remain in low levels of their homes.
Ahead of the incoming winds, Vermont is expected to see snowfall. In southern Vermont, Boyd predicted snowfall starting around 10-11 p.m., with accumulation totals of 4 to 7 inches. The rest of the state is likely to see snow starting around 1 a.m. Saturday, with about 1 to 3 inches of new snow expected. The snow will turn into rain the next morning with some mixtures of sleet.
Boyd and utility officials warned more power outages could be on the way, with about 1,000 people around the state still without power midday on Friday following Tuesday night’s storm, according to VTOutages.
