Vermont, 1998

Flash Flooding in Vermont, June 17, 1998

June 17, 1998 · NWS BTV · 2 events in 1 county or zone

A slowly moving broad area of low pressure over the eastern Great Lakes and New York state combined with an unstable atmosphere to result in slow moving thunderstorms across portions of the area. These thunderstorms were accompanied by torrential downpours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 slowly moving broad area of low pressure over the eastern Great Lakes and New York state combined with an unstable atmosphere to result in slow moving thunderstorms across portions of the area. These thunderstorms were accompanied by torrential downpours. Specifically, in the Vermont towns of Hancock and Orwell, roads were flooded.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Addison

When
June 17, 2:30 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where
Addison County, Hancock
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
44.031, -73.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Addison

When
June 17, 2:30 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where
Addison County, Orwell
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
44.031, -73.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, June 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: 5669052, 5669053.