Weather: Harsh cold & wind continue (12/27/2017)

If you thought Wednesday was cold, Thursday we're diving head first into the arctic. It starts Wednesday night. Wind chills in the Champlain Valley, western Vermont & Upper Valley will be around -15 to -25 while we're sleeping. It'll be colder than that in the Adirondacks & Northeast Kingdom; wind chills will drop to around -25 to -40!  Actual air temperatures will hover near -10 & -20°. Thursday morning I can't rule out a stray flurry or two but the impact will be minimal. During the afternoon we stay partly to mostly sunny but highs barely move, if you get to 0° you're lucky. Unfortunately the wind keeps kicking and the wind chill stays harsh all day and Thursday night. If Burlington doesn't hit 0° (our forecast high is 0°), it'll be the first time since January 22, 2014; it was -2° that day. We'll spend the rest of the year in the deep freeze with highs barely above 0° through Sunday afternoon and lows around -5 to -15° in the warmest valleys. Take off 5-10° for the Daks & Northeast Kingdom. The wind will calm down some Friday & Saturday, that will help take some of the edge off but it'll still be painfully cold.

In terms of snow, there won't be much. There's a small chance for passing snow showers Saturday and Sunday with little to no accumulation, mountains may squeeze out a dusting to 3". If you're skiing or riding over the next 3-5 days, please be careful. The higher up you go, wind chills will be close to -30 to -55, frostbite can happen really fast when it's that cold.

New Year's Eve, it continues! Temperatures will be below 0° when the ball drops and there is concern that we get windy again.  Expect more sun Monday afternoon with highs barely back above 0° Monday afternoon. Tuesday will be similar and Wednesday we might get to 10° again! Let's hope that's the coldest air of 2018.

Stay warm!

-Chief Meteorologist Sean Parker