Heavy snow knocks out power in Vermont as another storm approaches

Around 25,000 customers were without power in Vermont on Sunday morning after heavy, wet snow blanketed portions of the state. Another round of snowfall was expected later in the day.

As of 9 a.m. Sunday, according to VTOutages , power outages were concentrated in Washington, Orange and Rutland counties, with the greatest number in the Mad River Valley towns of Warren, Waitsfield and Fayston.

That’s also where some of the greatest snowfall was observed. According to the National Weather Service, Warren received 12 inches overnight. About 12.5 inches of snow dropped in Braintree, 11.5 inches in Rochester and 10 in Williamstown and Northfield, according to the weather service, while most other parts of the state received 1 to 6 inches.

Conor Lahiff, a meteorologist in the weather service’s Burlington office, said the “very heavy” snow hit hardest along the eastern slopes of the Green Mountains. Elsewhere — particularly in lower-lying valleys — rain was more prevalent.

Lahiff said the first round of snow and rain was tapering off Sunday morning but that another round of snow — much lighter and fluffier this time — would return around 8 p.m. and continue until Monday night. The “sweet spot” for that second round of snow would be along the western slopes of the Greens, which could see another 8 to 10 inches, according to Lahiff.

The weekend storms came after a series of thaws melted snow throughout much of the state, leading to an earlier than usual mud season.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Heavy snow knocks out power in Vermont as another storm approaches .