661 FXUS61 KBTV 170522 AFDBTVArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Burlington VT 122 AM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure will continue to bring warming temperatures and dry weather conditions through mid week. A cold front moving southeastward out of Canada will usher in a cooler air mass for Friday and the upcoming weekend. However, measurable precipitation is generally not expected with this cold front, allowing drought conditions to persist across our region. The potential for overnight frost/freeze conditions looks increasingly likely this weekend across the higher terrain.
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 120 AM EDT Wednesday...The prolonged stretch of dry weather will continue across the region as surface high pressure and upper level ridging continue to remain the dominant weather feature. Scattered mid to high level clouds associated with a coastal low in the mid-Atlantic continue to move northward through the area this morning, and should continue through the day today. Some radiational fog is expected with the high continuing to crest overhead tonight, however, with the lack of moisture, fog development is not expected to be as widespread as the previous night. The best chances for fog this morning will be east of the Green Mountains and along the Connecticut River Valley. Today will feature nearly identical weather to today, with increased cloud cover and seasonably warm temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. Some high and mid level cloud cover associated with a decaying coastal low in the Mid- Atlantic will continue to overspread the region, however dry weather will continue to persist. Overnight lows will be milder compared to the last few nights, with temperatures in the mid 40s to upper 50s expected.
Thursday will feature some clearing skies as a trough attempts to dig into the region from the northwest and break down the persistent high. Temperatures will gradually increase into the upper 70s to low 80s. Clearing skies in the afternoon will see a return to increasing clouds by the evening as the trough approaches.
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.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 120 AM EDT Wednesday...High pressure will continue to break down Thursday night, with southerly flow across the region. A weak cold front will approach the region Thursday night, with little to no moisture associated with it. Some slight chances for showers will be possible, but any precipitation actually reaching the surface will be nonexistent or negligible, with drought conditions persisting across the region. The best chance for any precipitation (20-35%) will be across the Adirondacks and northern Greens behind the front. Models show any moisture increases will be behind the front and after the wind shift which indicates orographic influences. As a result, the precipitation will likely be terrain driven upslope based with any precipitation hard to achieve in the Champlain Valley. Temperatures overnight will generally drop into the 40s and low 50s areawide. Highs on Friday will be dramatically different with values 15-20 degrees lower than Thursday in the 60s. Clearing skies will return with plenty of sunshine expected. As winds shift to the north/northwest, winds in the Champlain Valley and at summit levels could be gusty up to 15 to 20 mph with some channeling enhancement possible in the Champlain Valley. Winds do not look to be near fire weather thresholds with the current forecast, but we will continue to monitor the potential for any fire weather concerns as we get closer to the weekend.
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.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 158 PM EDT Tuesday...Post frontal cold air advection is favored to maximize early Friday with northerly flow and gusts 15 to 25 mph. Strongest gusts will be in the Champlain Valley and on ridges. While there will be marginal fire weather concerns in very localized spots given ongoing drought, there are still leaves on trees tempering any stronger concerns at this time. Widespread frost will be possible outside of the Champlain Valley Friday night/Saturday morning as winds decrease with high pressure centering overhead again. Model output statistical guidance continues to point to lows around freezing for the Adirondacks and portions of northeastern Vermont with mid 30s for most locations and upper 30s to low 40s in the Champlain Valley. There are some indications that the pattern could begin to shift early next week, but will refrain from getting too hopeful for meaningful rainfall. A system could drag along the northern edge of the ridge bringing some showers as early as Monday. It remains to be see, however, if the ridge will hold stronger and shunt these chances more northward.
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.AVIATION /05Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Through 06Z Thursday...The aviation challenge continues to be associated with fog potential this morning. Current GOES-19 IR satl imagery shows mid/upper lvl clouds spreading into central VT, while current obs show a 3 to 5 degree spread between temps/dwpts. Also hindering fog development is a progged 10 to 15 knot south/southwest wind at 200 to 400 feet agl. So based on these observations have just utilized tempo for IFR fog at SLK/MPV btwn roughly 08z/09z to 11z/12z with MVFR br at EFK/MSS for a couple hours near sunrise. Otherwise, any shallow ground fog will lift by 12z with vfr conditions prevailing at all sites with south winds developing at 3 to 6 knots.
Outlook...
Wednesday Night: VFR. NO SIG WX. Thursday: VFR. NO SIG WX. Thursday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Slight chance SHRA. Friday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. NO SIG WX. Friday Night: VFR. NO SIG WX. Saturday: VFR. NO SIG WX. Saturday Night: VFR. NO SIG WX. Sunday: VFR. NO SIG WX.
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.BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...None. NY...None.
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$$ SYNOPSIS...Danzig NEAR TERM...Danzig SHORT TERM...Danzig LONG TERM...Boyd AVIATION...Taber
NWS BTV Office Area Forecast Discussion