Vermont, 1998

Ice Storm in Vermont, January 6 to 9, 1998

January 6 to 9, 1998 · NWS BTV · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A storm system moved from the Tennessee Valley on Wednesday (January 7) and Thursday (January 8) into New England thereafter. A cold front across New England and New York associated with an Arctic High Pressure system across Canada resulted in a flow of low level cold air into Vermont.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$480,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BTV wrote it up.

A storm system moved from the Tennessee Valley on Wednesday (January 7) and Thursday (January 8) into New England thereafter. A cold front across New England and New York associated with an Arctic High Pressure system across Canada resulted in a flow of low level cold air into Vermont. Warm moist air riding over this low level cold air resulted in icing across portions of this area. Significant icing was generally restricted between 1500 and 2500 foot level. Ice accumulations during this event were generally 3/4 of an inch or less. The impact on the region ranged from ice accumulations damaging tens of thousands of trees. Downed power lines resulted from the weight of the ice with several thousands with out power. Farmers who lost electricity were unable to milk cows with loss of income and damage to cows. Automobile travel was negatively impacted with a number of roads closed due to ice and fallen trees. There were numerous traffic accidents.INDIRECT injuries were reported due to carbon monoxide poisoning while improperly using generators. Falling tree limbs and other debris was a significant hazard during and following the storm.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Caledonia

When
January 6, 9:00 PM EST to January 9, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Caledonia forecast zone
Property damage
$80,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.465, -72.102 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Essex

When
January 6, 9:00 PM EST to January 9, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Essex forecast zone
Property damage
$80,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.728, -71.736 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Orleans

When
January 6, 9:00 PM EST to January 9, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Orleans forecast zone
Property damage
$80,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.829, -72.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Orange

When
January 6, 9:00 PM EST to January 9, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Orange forecast zone
Property damage
$80,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.006, -72.377 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Windsor

When
January 6, 9:00 PM EST to January 9, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Windsor forecast zone
Property damage
$80,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER

Ice Storm, Rutland

When
January 6, 9:00 PM EST to January 9, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Rutland forecast zone
Property damage
$80,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
43.580, -73.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Vermont in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Vermont, January 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5656641, 5656642, 5656643, 5656644, 5656645, 5656646.