Mild Winter in Burlington Vermont area

National Weather Service says Vermont winter warmest ever At the National Weather Service office in Burlington, the average temperature for the three (2001/2002 winter) months was 28.7 degrees, which is 8.4 degrees above the normal of 20.3 degrees. This surpassed the previous record of 27.5 degrees by 1.2 degrees. Temperatures averaged 27.5 degrees during the winters of 1932-1933 and of 1905-1906. This winter's record was established despite the fact that only two daily maximum temperature records were tied or broken. In Burlington, there have not been any zero or colder readings this season, which is the first time since the service began keeping records in 1883. Normally Burlington has 26 such readings in a winter.

Mild Winter Doesn't Mean Bad Ski Season It hasn't been much of a winter to date, as Saturday's weather will attest to. Burlington tied the record high for the date, climbing to 66 degrees with plenty of Spring-like sunshine. Normally, mild winter weather does not spell success for ski slopes. But this year is different. At Bolton Valley Ski Resort, its been a winning combination of snow, slopes, and sunshine. While the Champlain Valley has seen its warmest winter on record with little snow, the mountains have held their own. That means it has been just cold enough to make snow on the ski slopes, and they've picked up more natural snow as well. The warm temperatures up and down the east coast this winter have forced many skiers to travel farther north this year, hitting places like Vermont. ... That's not the case this year, for while it is mild here in the northeast, it is even warmer and drier the farther south you travel ^popular

The threat of forest fires has officials across the state urging caution. The year-long drought has made woods and fields fire hazards. Last fall - firefighters had their hands full. Forest fires -- like one in Hinesburg -- were more common because of extremely dry conditions. Estey is referring to this winter -- the mild season has only worsened the dry conditions out there. Estey issues burning permits, but lately those are not easy to get. "Today I'd refuse permits," he said. "It's too windy and dry --even though its cold." At a time of year when fields should be covered in white snow -- there is brown grass as far as the eye can see. Fire officials say the little amount of snow we've had this year translates into a ground that gets drier -- quicker -- and increases the likelihood that something like a stray cigarette could send everything up in flames. ^popular