The frequency of days during which the maximum reaches at least 90 F varies with location and from year to year. Such high daytime readings can be followed by nighttime temperatures of 60 F or lower. The average daily temperature range is 20 -30 F, with more variation observed in the southern parts of the state than the north. Winter temperatures vary more than their summer counterparts from one place to the next. The daily temperature range of about 20 F is much less than the summer range.
Many locations experience sub-zero days on a regular basis.
The influence of the North Atlantic Ocean on the precipitation regimes is best observed in southeastern Vermont, becoming weaker with increasing distance from the ocean. Most of the precipitation is generated by frontal systems. During the summer, thunderstorms are responsible for the heaviest local rainfall intensities. Road washouts, flooding and soil erosion are occasional effects of such storms. Freezing rain occasionally occurs, sometimes more than once per winter in certain regions.