Flash Flooding and Flood in Vermont, July 16 to 17, 2000

A stalled frontal boundary across extreme southern Vermont interacted with a strong upper level disturbance from July 15 into early July 16. The result was a slow-moving low pressure area which formed over Virginia. This low pumped a deep layer of tropical air into the region and produced the second widespread heavy rainstorm of the summer. Two to four inches of widespread rain fell, with locally higher amounts across the higher terrain of Windham County. Specific amounts included 3.00 inches at Bennington and 5.17 inches at West Wardsboro, in Windham County. This rain produced enough runoff to cause the Battenkill to exceed the six foot flood stage by about a foot at Arlington, Bennington County, a 47 year high. The swelled river flooded the Batten Kill Canoe company and adjacent river property. Also, the Deerfield River rose 6 feet above unofficial flood stage in Wilmington, Windham county. Several roads were reported under water. The widespread heavy rain event set the stage for more widespread flooding later Sunday. The air remained very moist and unstable in wake of the rainstorm. More thunderstorms erupted late in the day across southern Vermont. These storms moved very slowly, trained over the same region, and were further enhanced by the steep terrain. The thunderstorm rainfall, as well as the earlier rainstorm, dumped in excess of 8 inches locally at Newfane, Windham county. Since the ground was already saturated, the heavy rains from the thunderstorms produced flooding and flash flooding across the region. In Shaftsbury, Bennington county, County Route 67 was washed out. U.S. Route 7 was closed due to flooding and rockslides. Numerous other roads were closed, some even washed out. In the city of Bennington, more roads were flooded or washed out. In Windham County, a five mile stretch of State Route 30 was closed due to flooding and residents were evacuated. Street flooding was reported at Brattleboro. Severe damage took place on South Wardsboro and Steep Way Roads. A home suffered mud damage as mud - laden water had flowed through the house. Lightning from a thunderstorm struck a man while he was jogging in the city of Bennington, injuring him.