Thunderstorms and torrential rain unleashed another wave of violent floods on Tuesday, July 30, devastating parts of northeastern Vermont. Floods across the Northeast collapsed roads and houses and crushed vehicles.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for an area including Burke, Cabot, Danville, Lyndonville, St. Johnsbury, Walden, and Wheelock on Wednesday evening, July 31. However, the rain fell short of the 6-8 inches forecast, and the warning has since been removed. The weather is forecast to improve on Thursday and Friday, but more rain is forecast for the weekend.
Residents in areas of Lyndonville were without water and power as flash floods had washed out more than half a dozen sections of road, cutting off access to the main road. Volunteers delivered food, water, and other supplies to affected residents.
It is the fifth catastrophic rain event in the area in the last 13 months, but it is by far the worst. Areas of Vermont experienced major flooding earlier in July in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The flooding destroyed roads and bridges and inundated farms. According to Lyndonville Fire Chief Jeff Corrow, “This is an event that we’ve never had before to this degree, so we’re venturing down a road that we haven’t been on, and it’s not a good road to be on.”
