The first rain from Tropical Storm Henri began falling in Vermont on Sunday, although forecasters say the most precipitation and possibility for flooding won’t arrive until Monday.
“The potential main impacts will be in the state’s four southern counties, especially as you get later in the day,” said Scott Whittier, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Burlington. “But it will not be as solid — it will be largely scattered and a lot more showery.”
That’s good news for Vermonters who remember the statewide devastation from Tropical Storm Irene 10 years ago this week.
“Is it going to be equivalent to Irene?” Whittier said. “No. we’re not looking at anything like that.”
Even so, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the southern and central Vermont counties of Addison, Bennington, Orange, Rutland, Windham and Windsor.
Rain is expected to fall most of Monday, with 1.5 to 3 inches in Bennington and Windham, 1 to 2 inches in Rutland and Windsor and lesser totals north. That could spark possible flash flooding along small streams, in poor drainage areas or mountainous areas where water can roll down and pool.
“It all depends on the location,” Whittier said. “Closely monitoring conditions is key.”
Local and state government entities, starting with Vermont Emergency Management, and utilities including Green Mountain Power have spent the past several days preparing for the storm.
Emergency shelter workers and water rescue teams are on standby. Gov. Phil Scott, for his part, has asked President Joe Biden to grant a pre-landfall emergency declaration that would allow the state to more quickly receive federal support.
“The request was made out of an abundance of caution in case the storm overwhelms state and local capacity to respond,” Vermont Emergency Management spokesperson Mark Bosma said.
Bosma is part of a State Emergency Operations Center that opened Sunday.
“Vermonters, particularly those in the southern half of the state, are encouraged to prepare for a variety of possible hazards,” he said.
The National Weather Service is offering similar advice — as well as some reassurance.
“If you’re in Vermont watching national news and seeing all this hype, you’re thinking, ‘Oh my God,’” Whittier said. “Until it actually happens, it’s hard to portray that everything’s clear. We still need to be vigilant, but for the most part we’re going to miss out.”
This story has been updated.
