On July 10, 2024
Featured

On flood anniversary, Vt again faces heavy, potentially dangerous rains

By Juan Vega de Soto/VTDigger

On July 10 last year, heavy rains that had begun the night before unleashed catastrophic floods across Vermont. 

This Wednesday, exactly a year later, torrential downpours may once again threaten the state with flooding, according to a forecast issued Monday, July 8, by the National Weather Service. 

The culprit? The collision of Tropical System Beryl with the hot, humid air already hanging over the state, according to Seth Kutikoff, a meteorologist from the Burlington branch of the National Weather Service.

“This fuels heavy rain and thunderstorms,” said Kutikoff.

And although the current expectation is a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain — with some areas getting 2 to 4 inches — there “are increasing indications” the state could see up to 4-6 inches between Wednesday and Friday mornings, according to the weather service, “with isolated 6-8 inches” in some towns.

If that materializes, the rainfall “would be comparable” to the 3-9 inches that fell during a 48-hour-period last July, causing widespread flooding throughout the state, according to the weather service forecast.

A big concern, according to Kutikoff, is that much of northern Vermont has seen twice the amount of rainfall it typically gets around this time of year. Similar conditions were present ahead of last summer’s flooding.

“The soil in some localized areas can’t absorb any more water,” said Kutikoff. 

Still, Kutikoff emphasized that, as of Monday, it remained a worst-case scenario that this week’s flooding could rival last summer’s.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl are expected to hit the state on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, with the potential for “scattered to perhaps numerous flash flooding” events.

“We are not expecting anywhere near the coverage and total amounts of rain we saw last year,” he said.

The most likely outcome is isolated flash floods in areas that sustain the most rain, according to Kutikoff, which is most likely northern part of the state. He is keeping his eye on an east-west line running from Essex County through southern Orleans, Caledonia, Lamoille and Chittenden counties.

“That doesn’t mean there will be flash floods there, just that that’s where the highest risk of them is,” said Kutikoff. 

Kutikoff said the public should not be too concerned about seeing something on the scale of last summer. But he recommended that people take precautions, such as avoiding roads at risk of flash flooding on Wednesday and Thursday and check the NWS forecasts frequently, since conditions could change for better or for worse. 

“There’s still a chance that the heavier rains go up to southern Canada, and there’s still a possibility that rainfall could increase all over Vermont,” said Kutikoff.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

The state of real estate

February 12, 2025
  By Katy Savage   The local housing market picked up considerably after a slow start to 2024. Limited inventory remained a major driving factor with the total number of units sold up slightly by 1.9% across Rutland County and slightly down in the Upper Valley -3.5%, according to a regional analysis by Sotheby’s International Realty.…

A vision in the clouds: Scandinavian-inspired luxury living at 2,400 feet

February 12, 2025
By James Kent At one of the highest buildable elevations in Killington, a new vision for mountain living is taking shape. This two-home compound offers a rare blend of modern Scandinavian design, cutting-edge energy efficiency, and breathtaking panoramic views. Envisioned by architect and developer Erik Rhoden, this project brings Nordic craftsmanship and innovation to Vermont’s…

Feds pause Killington’s $25m RAISE grant

February 12, 2025
By Polly Mikula Killington was awarded a $25 million federal RAISE grant  with an additional $1 million local match to reconstruct Killington Road but those funds are now suspended per President Trump’s executive order to pause all funding for programs that include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Killington Town Planner Lisa Davis Lewis told the…

State’s Education Transformation Proposal, including a school choice lottery for all, is met with mixed reviews

February 12, 2025
By Polly Mikula Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal would allow every student to opt into a school choice lottery system within their regional school district.  Testimony from Education Secretary Zoie Saunders in the House Education Committee, Thursday, Feb. 6, was the first public explanation of how school choice would work in Scott’s “transformation” plan. “It’s very provocative,”…