Montpelier is expected to have major flooding Monday night with the Winooski River topping out at a whopping 19.8 feet, close to the record set during Tropical Storm Irene, the National Weather Service forecasted Monday.
Officials urged caution and notified local business and residents of the potential for significant flooding downtown and along Bailey Avenue near Montpelier High School, Route 2 and Route 302, according to a press release from the city.
Fire Chief Robert Gowans said people in flood-prone areas should “start looking for a place to go” before roads become too inundated for travel.
Some of the city’s lowest points, including around 60 State Street, have already flooded. The river is predicted to swell to 15 feet by Monday afternoon, at which point it is expected to flood Bailey Avenue and sections of Route 2 and Route 302, according to the release.
The city has opened an emergency operations center and evacuation spot at the Barre Auditorium, Katie Trautz, the executive director of local business group Montpelier Alive, said via email. She told business owners to prepare their shops by keeping things off the floor, and said that cars should be off the road by mid-afternoon.
