Flash Flooding in Vermont, December 17, 2000

Name: Flash Flooding in Vermont, December 17, 2000
Start: 2000-12-17T14:00
End: 2000-12-17T16:30
Location: Vermont

December 17, 2000 · NWS ALY · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

A complex storm system began to evolve on Saturday December 16 across the Mississippi Valley. A surface low tracked north into the eastern Great Lakes by December 17.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: $60,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 ALY wrote it up.

A complex storm system began to evolve on Saturday December 16 across the Mississippi Valley. A surface low tracked north into the eastern Great Lakes by December 17. At the same time, the associated upper level trough became negatively tilted as it moved toward the northeast on Sunday. This allowed for rapid deepening cyclogenesis. Unseasonably warm and moist air was transported northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This scenario brought a record breaking rainstorm to southern Vermont. Rainfall averaged 2-3 inches. Peru in Bennington county specifically receiving 3.21 inches and Ball Mountain in Windham county, 3.02 inches. The rain fell very heavily at times, up to an inch per hour. The rain, combined with snowmelt and frozen ground, lead to a significant runoff and flooding. Dorest in Bennington county reported street flooding. Also in Bennington county, Wright Creek at West Ruppert flooded onto a bridge. In Windham county, the Brimstone Creek flooded at Ames Hill. Route 30 and Route 9 were flooded in the city of Brattleboro. The Saxtons River flooded Route 121.

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Bennington

When: December 17, 2:00 PM EST
Where: Bennington County, Dorset
Property damage: $11,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.036, -73.093 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bennington

When: December 17, 2:00 PM EST
Where: Bennington County, West Rupert
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.036, -73.093 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Windham

When: December 17, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Windham County, Brattleboro
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.991, -72.714 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Windham

When: December 17, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Windham County, Saxtons River
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.991, -72.714 (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

Every storm in Vermont in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Vermont, December 2000

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: 5169106, 5169107, 5169108, 5169109.