After just a few days of sun, the National Weather Service is warning that widespread and severe thunderstorms could again result in flash flooding throughout Vermont.
The inclement weather, which began Monday, is projected to continue until at least Tuesday night, according to a statement from the agency.
“Statewide, the average will be 1 to 2 inches, some places getting a little bit less, some getting more,” said Scott Whittier, a meteorologist at the weather service’s Burlington office. “Some localized communities could see 4 inches of rain.”
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to progress into the night across most of Vermont and northern New York.
Meteorologists at the weather service said they anticipate showers and thunderstorms to continue into Tuesday night, with heavy rainfall likely. Additional flash flooding is possible both days but especially on Tuesday, according to the statement.
Addison, Rutland, Windsor, and some parts of Washington and Orange counties are the most susceptible to flash flooding because they’ve had the heaviest rainfall in the past week, Whittier said.
“If they didn’t get that rain, Thursday and Friday, then I wouldn’t have expected any issues tonight,” he said.
The rainfall Monday night will mainly affect Addison, Rutland and Windsor counties, with the heaviest rainfall occurring between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesday’s rain will be more widespread across the state, but concentrated in central and eastern Vermont, he said.
Bennington and Windham counties are unlikely to be affected by the thunderstorms, Whittier said.
This storm comes just days after Addison County was inundated by up to 6 inches of rain, causing downtown Middlebury to flood. Flooding last Friday also forced residents in Rutland to evacuate. And just weeks ago, Vermont was pummeled with more than 8 inches of rain, causing catastrophic damage throughout the state.
The weather service forecasts more rain will fall Thursday and over the weekend, but likely not as severe as the storm incoming in the earlier half of the week.
The increased frequency of storms is linked to climate change, Whittier said. In his 30 years of experience, he’d never seen such a series of high-precipitation events.
Emma Cotton contributed reporting.
