From Meteorologist Steve Glazier,
To answer the headline question, no. This is not an unusual snowfall on this last day of the calendar winter season. On the left you'll find two graphics showing the biggest snowfalls in March on record for Burlington and some sizeable snows even into April! I even threw in a May snow accumulation to cover any light at the end of the tunnel for you :)
I know I can hear it already, "You know in my day it really used to snow!...." and not to tease/target those folks, but in the past few years we haven't had many of these late season snowfalls. We'll call it 'once a year on average' over the past few years for the Queen City.
Last year was an odd year overall. As the snow falls March 19, 2013 just one year prior the high temperature soared to 79 degrees in Burlington! We didn't really have a winter in some people's opinions.
However in 2011 you may recall the big March snowstorm that still sits at the top of the list as the biggest event in March history for Burlington. Granted that happened in the first week of the month, as opposed to this third week we're in this year.
In 2010 March it was pretty quiet, but do you recall getting more than five inches of snow in late April?! The last week in April (27-28) blanketed people's hopes for warmer weather (temporarily) with a two-day snow total in Burlington of 5.5"!
In 2009 the last, largest measurable snowfall for Burlington was 2.3" on the 9th. After that it was a pretty quiet transition to spring.
The year 2008 had one accumulating late-March snow on the 28th, yielding a total of 3.2".
As of about 12 p.m. March 19, 2013 the Burlington area had received nearly 4" of snow with more to come. The expected total amount will likely be between 6-8", thus not getting on the top five list for March snowstorms. However maybe this is our "once a year" storm toward the latter part of winter and we could be in the clear from here. Although I've learned in meteorology, especially in northern New England, don't make assumptions like that :)
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