Alert archive / Vermont / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Burlington, VT

May 17, 2025Washington County, Vermont

NWS Burlington, VT issued this flash flood warning at May 17, 2025, 4:57 PM EDT for Washington County, Vermont. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 17, 2025, 4:57 PM EDT (20:57 UTC)
Expired: May 17, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Burlington, VT
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Washington County, VT

The radar

The Burlington radar (KCXX), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:01 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 17, 5:10 PM EDT	FLOOD	Montpelier, VT	Water on streets as storm drains back up
May 17, 5:48 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sse Montpelier, VT	Heavy rainfall has caused gravel and debris to accumulate in the roadway on River Street.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 51 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 375 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 810 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 93 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 69 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

671 
WGUS51 KBTV 172057
FFWBTV
VTC023-180000-
/O.NEW.KBTV.FF.W.0003.250517T2057Z-250518T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Burlington VT
457 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

The National Weather Service in Burlington has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Washington County in central Vermont...

* Until 800 PM EDT.

* At 457 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Barre, Montpelier, Berlin, E F Knapp State Airport, Middlesex, 
  East Montpelier, Barre City, Moretown, Barre Town, Plainfield, 
  Waterbury, Montpelier Junction, West Berlin, Riverton and South 
  Barre.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law 
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National 
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 4417 7248 4417 7259 4424 7269 4429 7276
      4434 7269 4426 7247

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Neiles

2 follow-up statements

832 
WGUS71 KBTV 172150
FFSBTV

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
550 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

VTC023-180000-
/O.CON.KBTV.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250518T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Washington VT-
550 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING 
FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

At 550 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have 
fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Barre, Montpelier, Berlin, E F Knapp State Airport, Middlesex, 
  East Montpelier, Barre City, Moretown, Barre Town, Plainfield, 
  Waterbury, Montpelier Junction, West Berlin, Riverton and South 
  Barre.

Various streets are flooded in and around Montpelier. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law 
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National 
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 4417 7248 4417 7259 4424 7269 4429 7276
      4434 7269 4426 7247

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Neiles

210 
WGUS71 KBTV 172353
FFSBTV

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
753 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

VTC023-180003-
/O.EXP.KBTV.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-250518T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Washington VT-
753 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR 
CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Additional flooding is no longer expected 
to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4417 7248 4417 7259 4424 7269 4429 7276
      4434 7269 4426 7247

$$

Neiles

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Burlington, VT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 17, 3:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 17, 3:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Burlington VT
323 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Scattered strong, potentially severe, thunderstorms will move
through the North County this afternoon and evening with potential
for damaging winds, large hail, very heavy rainfall, and dangerous
lightning. These storms will pass this evening with low pressure
slowly moving through the region Sunday through Monday with much
cooler temperatures and continued chances of rain.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 316 PM EDT Saturday...

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect through 8PM. Multiple
  severe warned thunderstorms have occurred with reports of
  downed trees and up to golf ball size hail.

The atmospheric setup is ideal for isolated to scattered strong
thunderstorms this afternoon with 1000-2000 J/kg CAPE and ample
shear. Storm modes will be mixed discreet supercell and multi-
cellular lines. While chances are low, can't rule out a rare
tornado. Wetbulb zero heights are near ideal for large hail as well
with several reports of 1.75 inch hail already. These storms will
track east through the afternoon with one more wave of forced
showers/storms possible later this evening. The evening wave may not
produce as many strong cells due to the environment being worked
over from earlier storms, but can't rule out some stronger elements
either. Finally, the last concern will be flash flooding. Multiple
rounds of heavy rainfall will increase susceptibility to flooding in
heavier storms. Locations like Cambridge, VT have seen ample rainfall
and are experiencing minor flooding; any further rain from a strong
thunderstorm will likely lead to localized flash flooding.

Temperatures cool sharply tonight into Sunday with highs in the 50s
and 60s. With the cold core of the low overhead, more showers are
anticipated, but no severe thunderstorms since temperatures cool off
dramatically. Upper low drags northeastward Sunday night pulling
rain with it. Low's in the mid 30s to low 40s are anticipated.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY/...
As of 316 PM EDT Saturday...Vertically stacked low pressure will
hover over Nova Scotia to start the workweek, drawing in cooler air
from the north and northwest on Monday. Lingering moisture will help
trigger additional showers, mainly across the far northern
Adirondacks, northern Greens, and the Northeast Kingdom.
Northwesterly winds will be breezy with gusts up to 15-25 knots,
higher on the mountaintops with a weak low level jet overhead. NW
winds, showers, and increased cloud cover will result in highs
struggling to reach the upper 40s to upper 50s in the afternoon. As
we head into the overnight hours Monday night, showers should taper
off as drier air noses in from the west, though if showers linger
long enough to coincide with colder temperatures (lows falling into
the mid 30s to mid 40s), we could see some snow mixing in at the
highest elevations. No accumulation is expected. Winds will continue
out of the northwest with perhaps occasional gusts but overall
decrease at night.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 316 PM EDT Saturday...The pattern is forecast to stay active
and wet into next weekend, though models continue to depict a range
of varying scenarios and storm tracks. Precip is possible each day.
Due to the above normal precipitation chances this week, we'll also
see highs in the 50s/60s and lows in the 40s, keeping conditions
chilly.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Through 18Z SUNDAY...Mix of IFR to VFR given periods of
thunderstorms. Some of these storms will be capable of producing
large hail and damaging winds as well. Most favorable time for
storms will be 18-22Z with chances falling sharply after 00Z.
Erratic gusty winds are expected with periods of continuous
lightning to impact most terminals. After 00Z CIGs likely
become a mix of VFR/MVFR before sagging to MVFR/IFR by 12Z with
chances of showers increasing Sunday.

Outlook...

Sunday Night: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Likely SHRA.
Monday: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA.
Monday Night: Mainly MVFR, with areas VFR possible. Chance SHRA.
Tuesday: Mainly MVFR, with local VFR possible. Slight chance
SHRA.
Tuesday Night: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. NO SIG WX.
Wednesday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Slight chance
SHRA.
Wednesday Night: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Chance
SHRA.
Thursday: Mainly MVFR, with areas VFR possible. Likely SHRA.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Several rounds of heavy rainfall have occurred and will continue
to occur through this evening as several troughs strongly force
convection. Given storm mode of mix supercell/multicell line,
heavy rainfall from individual cells, training cells, and
multiple rounds of thunderstorms will result in isolated flash
flooding. Highest chances of this will be from the Adirondacks
to locations just east of the Green Mountains. Conditions
improve overnight with troughs passing eastward.

&&

.BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VT...None.
NY...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...Boyd
NEAR TERM...Boyd
SHORT TERM...Storm
LONG TERM...Storm
AVIATION...Boyd
HYDROLOGY...

Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 2:38 PM EDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Burlington VT
238 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

NYZ026>031-034-035-087-VTZ001>011-016>021-181845-
Northern St. Lawrence-Northern Franklin-Eastern Clinton-
Southeastern St. Lawrence-Southern Franklin-Western Clinton-
Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Southwestern St. Lawrence-Grand Isle-
Western Franklin-Orleans-Essex-Western Chittenden-Lamoille-Caledonia-
Washington-Western Addison-Orange-Western Rutland-Eastern Franklin-
Eastern Chittenden-Eastern Addison-Eastern Rutland-Western Windsor-
Eastern Windsor-
238 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 277 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, central
Vermont, northeast Vermont, northwest Vermont and southern Vermont.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 17, 4:26 PM EDT, 31 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Burlington VT
426 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNE Wadhams           44.24N  73.46W
05/17/2025                   Essex              NY   Emergency Mngr

            Small tree down on Rt 10 Lewis Wadhams Road

&&

Event Number BTV2500947

JMS

Special weather statement, May 17, 4:28 PM EDT, 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Burlington VT
428 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

VTZ007-008-010-018>020-172115-
Caledonia VT-Eastern Rutland VT-Western Windsor VT-Washington VT-
Eastern Addison VT-Orange VT-
428 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN ORANGE...SOUTHWESTERN
CALEDONIA...SOUTHEASTERN ADDISON...NORTHEASTERN RUTLAND...
NORTHWESTERN WINDSOR AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM
EDT...

At 427 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Middlesex to near Berlin to near
Northfield to near Rochester. Movement was east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Braintree Hill, Calais, East Randolph, Plainfield, Randolph Center,
East Bethel, Orange, East Braintree, West Berlin, Chelsea, Upper
Graniteville, Maple Corner, Stillwater State Park, South Cabot,
Websterville, East Montpelier, Marshfield Village, Randolph, East
Calais, and Rochester.

This includes Interstate 89 between mile markers 26 and 58.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central, southern and northeastern Vermont.

&&

LAT...LON 4445 7229 4431 7223 4413 7228 4387 7251
      4384 7297 4409 7276 4421 7270 4439 7265
TIME...MOT...LOC 2027Z 253DEG 16KT 4437 7262 4424 7262 4412 7268 4393
7284

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Duell

Local storm report, May 17, 4:35 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Burlington VT
435 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0347 PM     Hail             Stowe Fork              44.50N  72.76W
05/17/2025  E1.00 inch       Lamoille           VT   Public

&&

Event Number BTV2500948

TD

Local storm report, May 17, 4:36 PM EDT, 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Burlington VT
436 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0302 PM     Hail             1 WSW Richmond          44.39N  73.02W
05/17/2025  E1.50 inch       Chittenden         VT   CoCoRaHS

            0.5-1.5 inch hail

&&

Event Number BTV2500949

NEILES

Local storm report, May 17, 4:47 PM EDT, 10 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Burlington VT
447 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     Flood            2 NE South Lincoln      44.09N  72.95W
05/17/2025                   Addison            VT   Public

            Road washouts on and along Lincoln Gap Rd

&&

Event Number BTV2500951

JMS

Local storm report, May 17, 4:55 PM EDT, 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Burlington VT
455 PM EDT Sat May 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     Flood            1 SSW Shelburne         44.37N  73.24W
05/17/2025                   Chittenden         VT   Public

            Stream on shoulder of road overflowed, debris on road

&&

Event Number BTV2500952

JMS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Burlington, VT issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 16, 9:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Washington	44 min
May 17, 8:19 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Addison	56 min
May 17, 8:30 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Addison, Chittenden, Orange, Washington, Windsor	45 min
May 17, 9:14 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Caledonia, Lamoille, Orange, Washington	16 min
May 17, 9:59 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Caledonia	46 min
May 17, 11:06 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Orleans	39 min
May 17, 11:48 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Franklin	42 min
May 17, 2:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Chittenden	46 min
May 17, 2:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Chittenden, Grand Isle	42 min
May 17, 2:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Addison, Chittenden, Lamoille, Washington	64 min
May 17, 2:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Addison	53 min
May 17, 2:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Addison, Chittenden	52 min
May 17, 3:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Grand Isle	47 min
May 17, 3:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Addison, Chittenden, Washington	60 min
May 17, 3:31 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BTV	Addison, Chittenden, Windsor	20 days
May 17, 3:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Chittenden, Lamoille, Washington	39 min
May 17, 3:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans	39 min
May 17, 4:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Lamoille	47 min
May 17, 4:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans	33 min
May 17, 4:23 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Caledonia, Lamoille, Orleans	52 min
May 17, 4:27 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BTV	Addison, Chittenden, Washington, Windsor	20 days
May 17, 4:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Washington	47 min
May 17, 4:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Caledonia, Lamoille, Orange, Washington	45 min
May 17, 5:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Essex	60 min
May 17, 5:28 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BTV	Addison, Orange, Washington	3 hr
May 17, 5:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Orange	38 min
May 17, 5:55 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	BTV	Windsor	35 min
May 17, 6:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BTV	Orange, Windsor	30 min
May 17, 7:16 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	BTV	Washington	4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Vermont, 2025 Every flash flood warning in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.