Flooding Alert from National Weather Service

 

fROM JEANNIE JOHNSON, EMERGENCY MANAGER, CABOT PLAINS ROAD, CABOT, VERMONT:

Confidence is high that northern NY and Vermont will be affected by a significant rainstorm beginning tonight and lasting into early Sunday.

Unlike the localized torrential downpours of the past couple of days, this will be a widespread continuous moderate rain for the region. Rather than fast occurring flash flooding, we are looking at widespread flooding, especially on most small streams and many of the main-stem rivers -- and low-lying areas.

The rain will develop this evening and overnight, and with the ground already saturated in many areas, smaller streams will quickly rise -- likely going over their banks either late tonight or by Saturday morning.

The areas most at risk for the most significant flooding are the eastern Adirondacks and the northern 1/3rd of Vermont where we've seen the heavy rain and flash flooding already.

Rivers will likely be reaching flood stage by early Saturday afternoon at the latest -- and continue to rise the remainder of Saturday before peaking sometime on Sunday.

There is the potential that we may see some rivers reach moderate flood stage -- at this time we believe those rivers most at risk are the: Lamoille, Missisquoi, Passumpsic and Au Sable.

Not as confident about the Winooski or Otter Creek reaching moderate flood levels, but these will at least go into minor flood.

Rain won't be tapering off until Sunday.

In addition to the flooding, we are also concerned with landslides, and additional erosion of river banks and roads that were damaged by the flash flooding last evening.

Just a side note, there will be enough cold air with this storm that we expect accumulating snows at the highest elevations -- probably above 2500 feet.

We will be issuing a Flood Watch for much of the region shortly.

Please continue to monitor our forecasts, warnings and river conditions.

River Conditions are at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=btv

As always, forecasters can be reached 24/7 by calling 1-800-863-4279.

Andy Nash
Meteorologist-in-Charge
NOAA/National Weather Service - Burlington VT
802-862-8711 x222
weather.gov/burlington