GMP prepares for potential outages from winter storm to hit Monday and Tuesday

Vermont Business Magazine Forecasters are calling for a snowstorm to start this afternoon that could bring 4 to 7 inches of snow and strong winds, and continue through Tuesday with possible freezing rain. Green Mountain Power has been tracking the storm and forecast since Friday, and is prepared to ensure customer safety and reliability throughout the storm.

“We are monitoring the weather closely and are prepared for the possibility of outages from winds and ice,” said Kristin Carlson, GMP’s chief communication executive. “In addition to our internal crews who are ready to respond, we also have lined up external resources if needed. The public should stay away from down power lines, as they may be live and dangerous, and be aware that downed trees could have power lines tangled in them and may also be unsafe.”

The storm is set to hit southern Vermont first Monday afternoon, and then continue with some forecasted statewide impacts with ice on Tuesday.

“Our top priority is to keep the public safe and get the lights back on. Our crews are ready. We will continue to monitor conditions and will keep customers updated through Facebook, Twitter and media announcements,” said Carlson.

For storm safety tips go to: http://www.greenmountainpower.com/community/safety/be-safe-in-a-storm/

To get the latest information on outages and restoration times, customers can sign up for text service alerts, by texting REG to 46788 or GMPVT, or signing up online at greenmountainpower.com/textalerts. Customers can also sign up for GMP’s app to report outages with a touch of a finger at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search for GMP.Customers may also report outages by calling 1-888-835-4672, or visiting GMP’s Outage Center page at www.greenmountainpower.com

WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT (www.weather.gov/btv)
1045 AM EST MON JAN 23 2017
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS
EVENING TO 10 PM EST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BURLINGTON CONTINUES THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MIXED PRECIPITATION...FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING
TO 10 PM EST TUESDAY.

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN NEW YORK AND ALL OF CENTRAL...EASTERN... 
  AND NORTHERN VERMONT...INCLUDING THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AND 
  NORTHEAST KINGDOM.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 7 INCHES OF HEAVY WET
  DENSE SNOW...ALONG WITH A TENTH TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE
  POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN VERMONT.

* MAXIMUM SNOWFALL RATE...UP TO A HALF INCH PER HOUR...MAINLY
  TUESDAY MORNING.

* TIMING...A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP AROUND
  MIDNIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN VERMONT AND EXPAND NORTH ACROSS ALL OF
  NORTHERN NEW YORK AND VERMONT BY THE TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE.
  PRECIPITATION WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY DURING THE
  TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE.

* IMPACTS...A HAZARDOUS TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE IS
  ANTICIPATED...ALONG WITH POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES 
  DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY WET SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH LOCALIZED WIND GUSTS UP TO
  35 MPH POSSIBLE ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES. 

* TEMPERATURES...LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S TONIGHTS. HIGHS IN 
  THE LOWER TO MID 30S.

* VISIBILITIES...BELOW 1 MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIOD OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR LOCAL MEDIA...OR
GO TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BURLINGTON FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS
WEATHER SITUATION.

Source: Green Mountain Power. NOAA. 1.23.2017. GMP serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont. More information at:www.greenmountainpower.com. Connect with GMP onFacebookand follow us onTwitter @GreenMtnPower.