Good morning. Vermont. I'm DJ Huzz.
Step outside right now and you'll feel 51 degrees. In early March. That's not a typo, we never dropped below 51 overnight. And today we're heading straight to 71 in Central Vermont, while that's 33 degrees warmer than normal. Southern Vermont hits 61, while northeast Vermont climbs to 65.
This is the kind of warmth that makes you dig out the shorts. But hold that thought.
Because here's what all this heat is doing to our rivers, ice jams are already sitting on the Mad River. Ausable River. And Missisquoi River. With temperatures this high, that ice is breaking up fast. A Flood Watch runs through Thursday afternoon for ice jam flooding and open water flooding. If you live near a waterway, keep your eyes on it, water levels can spike without warning.
As the sun sets. Tonight, mostly cloudy. Rain moves in after 8 P.M., while lows drop to the upper 30s to low 40s statewide.
Wednesday brings the rain in earnest. Southern and Central Vermont see highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. Northeast Vermont stays cooler near 50, while wednesday night, rain turns heavy. South winds gust to 37 miles an hour, while that's when flooding risk peaks.
Temperature-wise. Thursday, the cold front slams through, rain ends as wet snow. Temperatures crash from the mid 40s down to the low 20s by evening. West winds gust to 30. Standing water freezes into black ice — your commute Thursday evening will be treacherous.
Friday through the weekend, we settle back into typical March, highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. Light snow Friday night into Saturday, another system Sunday brings rain and snow showers.
Spring equinox is 10 days out. Mud season? Three weeks away.
Enjoy the warmth today, but keep your winter gear close. This ride isn't over.
Looking ahead.
See you this afternoon.