A strong, potent upper atmospheric system, as well as a developing surface low, raced across the Ohio River Valley during the afternoon of February 5th. This system intensified and moved rapidly across south central New York during the evening (994 mb at 7pm EST) and New England into the Gulf of Maine by early morning of the 6th (980 mb at 1am EST).
This quick-hit storm started around dusk and was largely finished by midnight with snowfall rates up to 3 inches per hour. A heavy wet snowfall (8:1 snow/water ratios) of 6 to 12 inches occurred across the northern third of Vermont, 4 to 8 inches of snow and sleet with some freezing rain across the central third of Vermont and primarily sleet and freezing rain with a few inches of snow across southern Vermont. In addition, there were several organized lines of thunderstorms that contained snow, sleet or freezing rain that moved across the entire state between 830 and 10 pm EST.
Snow depths (and Snow water equivalents) after this storm were generally 18 to 30 inches (4 to 6 inches in the valleys with 36 inches or greater (6+ inches) across the higher terrain. This resulted in heavy snow loads and nearly a dozen structure failures of garages, barns and carports. A few of these barn collapses have injured or killed livestock, including in the towns of Chester (Windsor county) and Enosburg Falls (Franklin county) to name a few.

Winter Storm in WESTERN ADDISON, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 16:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain occurred as well as 15 to 30 minutes of thunder and lightning. Snowfall accumulations were 6 to 10 inches, including 10 inches in Lincoln and 7 inches in Bridport.

Winter Storm in EASTERN CHITTENDEN, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow mixed with sleet as well as 15 to 30 minutes of thunder and lightning. Snowfall accumulations were 6 to 12 inches, including 10 inches at the NWS office in South Burlington and Westford.

Winter Storm in WESTERN CHITTENDEN, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow mixed with sleet as well as 15 to 30 minutes of thunder and lightning. Snowfall accumulations were 6 to 12 inches, including 10 inches at the NWS office in South Burlington and Westford. An un-occupied barn collapsed due to the weight of the snow in Essex.

Winter Storm in EASTERN FRANKLIN, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 18:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow as well as some lightning and thunder occurred with snowfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, including 12 inches in Enosburg Falls with 10 inches in St. Albans and Swanton. A barn collapsed due to the weight of the snow in Enosburg Falls.

Winter Storm in WESTERN FRANKLIN, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 18:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow as well as some lightning and thunder occurred with snowfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, including 12 inches in Enosburg Falls with 10 inches in St. Albans and Swanton.

Winter Storm in GRAND ISLE, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A heavy wet snow as well as 10 to 15 minutes of thundersnows occurred with snowfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, including 9 inches in Grand Isle.

Winter Storm in LAMOILLE, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow as well as 10 to 15 minutes of thundersnows occurred with snowfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, including 9 inches in Morrisville with 8 inches in Jeffersonville and Eden.

Winter Storm in ORANGE, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow along with sleet, freezing rain and 10 to 15 minutes of thundersnows occurred with snowfall accumulations of 6 to 9 inches, including 8 inches in Brookfield. The weight of the heavy wet snow contributed to a few barn roof failures in Wells River and Tunbridge.

Winter Storm in ORLEANS, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 18:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow along with sleet and 10 to 15 minutes of thundersnows occurred with snowfall accumulations of 7 to 14 inches, including 14 inches in Irasburg, 10 inches in Newport and 7 inches in Stannard.

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow along with sleet, freezing rain and 10 to 15 minutes of thundersnows occurred with snowfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, including 10 inches in Cabot, 8 inches in Waterbury and Marshfield and 7 inches in Plainfield.

Winter Weather in EASTERN RUTLAND, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 16:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow quickly changed to a prolonged period of sleet and freezing rain as well as some thunderstorms. Combined snow and sleet accumulations were 3 to 6 inches.

Winter Weather in WESTERN RUTLAND, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 16:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow quickly changed to a prolonged period of sleet and freezing rain as well as some thunderstorms. Combined snow and sleet accumulations were 3 to 6 inches.

Winter Weather in WINDSOR, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 16:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow quickly changed to a prolonged period of sleet and freezing rain as well as some thunderstorms. Combined snow and sleet accumulations were 3 to 6 inches. The weight of this additional snow, sleet and freezing rain contributed to several roof barn collapses in Chester.

Lightning in ADDISON, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 21:15:00 to 05-FEB-11 21:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: WEST ADDISON
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A lightning strike started a fire that eventually destroyed an un-occupied seasonal camp in Addison.

Winter Storm in EASTERN ADDISON, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 16:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain occurred as well as 15 to 30 minutes of thunder and lightning. Snowfall accumulations were 6 to 10 inches, including 10 inches in Lincoln and 7 inches in Bridport.

Winter Storm in ESSEX, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 19:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow as well as 15 to 30 minutes of thundersnows occurred with snowfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, including 10 inches in Island Pond.

Winter Storm in CALEDONIA, VERMONT
From 05-FEB-11 18:00:00 to 06-FEB-11 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A heavy wet snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain occurred as well as 15 to 30 minutes of thunder and lightning. Snowfall accumulations were 6 to 10 inches, including 10 inches in Sheffield, 9 inches in Sutton and Walden with 8 inches in St. Johnsbury. Lightning struck the NOAA Weather Radio transmitter at Burke Mountain, which caused it to go off-air for awhile.