An unseasonably cold and unstable mid-atmospheric area of low pressure traversed New York and Vermont on August 10th. Steering winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere were light, and the slow movement of the storms increased the heavy rain threat.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS BTV wrote it up.
An unseasonably cold and unstable mid-atmospheric area of low pressure traversed New York and Vermont on August 10th. Steering winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere were light, and the slow movement of the storms increased the heavy rain threat. Soil conditions were nearly saturated from repeated heavy rainfall over previous weeks. Widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms moved across the region during the afternoon, resulting in flash flooding.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Aug 10, 1:55 PM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
255 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY TODAY
INTO EARLY TUESDAY...BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIPITATION TO
THE REGION. AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE REGION BY
MIDWEEK...WITH YET ANOTHER CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION INTO NEXT
WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
AS OF 1102 AM EDT SUNDAY...PREVIOUS FORECAST IN GOOD SHAPE.
HOWEVER...WILL UPDATE THE ZONE FORECAST TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO
THIS MORNING AND TO MIDDAY. SATELLITE LOOP SHOWING CLOSED UPPER
LOW OVER SOUTHEAST ONTARIO JUST EAST OF LAKE HURON AT THIS TIME.
THIS CLOSED UPPER LOW WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST THROUGH MONDAY.
COMPOSITE RADAR LOOP SHOWING SOME SCATTERED LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS
ACROSS THE ADIRONDACKS AND SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY AT THIS
TIME...WITH THUNDERSTORMS FURTHER SOUTH FROM THE MOHAWK VALLEY OF
NEW YORK TO NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. VISIBLE SATELLITE LOOP SHOW
CUMULUS CLOUDS DEVELOPING ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE GREEN
MOUNTAINS AT THIS TIME. EXPECTING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO
DEVELOP ACROSS VERMONT THIS AFTERNOON AS ATMOSPHERE
DESTABILIZES...WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH
POSSIBLE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 429 AM EDT SUNDAY...MON MORNING SFC SYSTEM CONTINUES TO
PUSH SLOWLY OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENG. THIS WILL SHIFT CORE OF
REMAINING HEAVIEST RW ACTIVITY TO E AND S VT W/ SE WINDS AS MAIN
FLOW. PRECIP TAPERS OFF FROM W TO E BY MON NGT...WITH LINGERING
RW ACROSS E VT AS LOW LIFTS N AND E INTO CANADIAN MARITIMES.
EXPECTING SOME LIMITED CLRING OVER N NY AS SFC RIDGE EDGES INTO
THE AREA.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 250 PM EDT SUNDAY...BROAD UPPER LOW WILL BE LOCATED OVER
SOUTHERN QUEBEC WEDNESDAY...AND MAKE ITS WAY SLOWLY EAST THROUGH
THURSDAY. SERIES OF SHORTWAVES WILL ROTATE AROUND THE LOW DURING
THIS PERIOD...BRINGING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO
THE REGION. BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BE DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS EACH DAY...DUE INSTABILITY FROM
DAYTIME HEATING. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS WILL DECREASE ON FRIDAY AS
UPPER LOW GRADUALLY MAKES ITS WAY INTO EASTERN CANADA AND WEAK
AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA FOR LATER FRIDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY. DEEP TROUGH OVER THE CENTRAL U.S. ON SATURDAY
WILL LIFT NORTHEASTWARD SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...BRINGING
BACK A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE FORECAST AREA. TEMPS WITHIN A FEW
DEGREES OF SEASONAL NORMS DURING THE PERIOD.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
THROUGH 18Z MONDAY...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
ARE MOVING INTO THE FORECAST AREA AT THIS TIME AND WILL AFFECT
THE REGION THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING. MORE
ORGANIZED SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN 18Z AND 02Z AS
THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES MORE UNSTABLE AND AN UPPER LEVEL LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES SLOWLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER OF NEW
YORK. EXPECT VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...WIND GUSTS IN THE 20 TO 40
KNOT RANGE...AND SMALL HAIL WITH ANY OF THE STORMS DURING THIS
TIME PERIOD. THIS WILL RESULT IN IFR CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY
OF THE STORMS. OTHERWISE AFTER 02Z EXPECT SOME LINGERING RAIN
SHOWERS AND MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD.
18Z MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BE SLOW TO
DEPART WITH THE THREAT OF RAIN LASTING THROUGH TUESDAY. EXPECT
MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS AT TIMES MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY IN SHOWERS
AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. BETTER CONDITIONS ON WED/THURS AS
LOW PRESSURE DEPARTS. UPPER LEVEL TROUGH LINGERS OVER THE AREA
HOWEVER...WITH JUST A FEW ISOLD RAIN SHOWERS POSSIBLE OVER THE
HIGHER TERRAIN...BUT WILL NOT BE A MAJOR IMPACT TO AVIATION
OPERATIONS.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
AS OF 429 AM EDT SUNDAY...A POTENT UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM...CURRENTLY OVER WESTERN NEW YORK THIS MORNING...WILL MOVE
SLOWLY EAST AND SOUTHEAST THROUGH MONDAY. AREA GETS INTO THE UPPER
DIFFLUENCE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE UPPER LOW AND THIS WILL
INCREASE DYNAMIC SUPPORT OVER THE AREA. THIS WILL HAPPEN AS THE
ATMOSPHERE BECOMES INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AND FROM MIDDAY
ONWARD...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP. THE STORMS WILL
BE SLOW MOVING...ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE EAST...BUT INDIVIDUAL CELLS
WILL BE MOVING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES
AROUND 1.3 INCHES...THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF STORMS...AND POSSIBLE
TRAINING OF ECHOES...THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING WILL EXIST AS 1
TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE
SATURATED SOIL CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA CANNOT HANDLE
PRECIPITATION OF THIS MAGNITUDE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THESE AMOUNTS WOULD EXCEED FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE VALUES FOR THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY...AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE AS CONVECTIVE AS THE EVENT FOR
TODAY...THE LONGER DURATION OF PRECIPITATION COULD COMPLICATE THE
SITUATION. THUS THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.
&&
.BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VT...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR VTZ001>012-
016>019.
NY...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR NYZ028-031-034-
035.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JN
NEAR TERM...WGH
SHORT TERM...JN
LONG TERM...RJS
AVIATION...JAN
HYDROLOGY...EVENSONHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 414 AM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 NYZ028-031-034-035-VTZ001>012-016>019-110815- EASTERN CLINTON-WESTERN CLINTON-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX- GRAND ISLE-WESTERN FRANKLIN-ORLEANS-ESSEX-WESTERN CHITTENDEN- LAMOILLE-CALEDONIA-WASHINGTON-WESTERN ADDISON-ORANGE-WESTERN RUTLAND- WINDSOR-EASTERN FRANKLIN-EASTERN CHITTENDEN-EASTERN ADDISON- EASTERN RUTLAND- 414 AM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW YORK...CENTRAL VERMONT...NORTHEAST VERMONT...NORTHWEST VERMONT AND SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. NYZ026-027-029-030-087-110815- NORTHERN ST. LAWRENCE-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHEASTERN ST. LAWRENCE- SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHWESTERN ST. LAWRENCE- 414 AM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE AREA WITH LOCALIZED RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE 1 TO 2 INCH RANGE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
242 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM HAIL BRISTOL 44.14N 73.08W
08/10/2008 E0.88 INCH ADDISON VT PUBLIC
&&
GERALDMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
344 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0153 PM HAIL ORWELL 43.80N 73.30W
08/10/2008 E0.50 INCH ADDISON VT PUBLIC
0215 PM HAIL BRISTOL 44.14N 73.08W
08/10/2008 E0.88 INCH ADDISON VT PUBLIC
0220 PM HAIL SCHROON LAKE 43.83N 73.73W
08/10/2008 E0.50 INCH ESSEX NY PUBLIC
0325 PM DOWNBURST PAWLET 43.35N 73.18W
08/10/2008 RUTLAND VT PUBLIC
1.5 INCH RAIN IN PAST HOUR
&&
GERALDMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 355 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 VTZ008-010-012-018-102100- WASHINGTON-ORANGE-WINDSOR-EASTERN ADDISON- INCLUDING...BETHEL...RANDOLPH AND WHITE RIVER JUNCTION 355 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 AT 348 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER QUECHEE...MOVING NORTH AT 28 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR SHARON...6 MILES EAST OF SOUTH ROYALTON BY 410 PM...NEAR STRAFFORD...6 MILES EAST OF TUNBRIDGE BY 420 PM...5 MILES WEST OF WEST FAIRLEE BY 430 PM...NEAR VERSHIRE...5 MILES EAST OF CHELSEA BY 440 PM AND 6 MILES WEST OF CORINTH BY 450 PM. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO ONE HALF INCH AN HOUR OR HIGHER MAY ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS. DD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 409 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 VTZ004-007-102115- CALEDONIA-ESSEX- INCLUDING...ST. JOHNSBURY 409 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 AT 406 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER LOWER WATERFORD...MOVING NORTH AT 14 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR PASSUMPSIC BY 420 PM...NEAR ST. JOHNSBURY...CONCORD BY 440 PM...NEAR LYNDONVILLE BY 510 PM AND NEAR EAST BURKE BY 520 PM. SMALL HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING MAY ACCOMPANY THIS THUNDERSTORM. DD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 420 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 NYZ028-031-102115- EASTERN CLINTON-WESTERN CLINTON- INCLUDING...CHAMPLAIN...CHAZY...EXIT 41 I87...EXIT 42 I87...EXIT 43 I87...MOOERS...MOOERS FORKS...PERRY MILLS AND SCIOTA 420 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 AT 412 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER SCIOTA...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 17 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR MOOERS AT 420 PM AND PERRY MILLS BY 425 PM. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 35 MPH OR HIGHER MAY ACCOMPANY THE THUNDERSTORMS. JAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 429 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 VTZ003-006>008-010-102130- LAMOILLE-CALEDONIA-WASHINGTON-ORANGE-ORLEANS- INCLUDING...BARRE...MONTPELIER AND MORRISVILLE 429 PM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 AT 424 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER BARRE...MOVING NORTH AT 16 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR MONTPELIER BY 440 PM...NEAR EAST MONTPELIER...PLAINFIELD BY 450 PM...NEAR WORCESTER BY 510 PM...NEAR CALAIS BY 520 PM AND NEAR ELMORE BY 530 PM. HAIL UP TO HALF AN INCH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTS OF 35 MPH OR HIGHER MAY ACCOMPANY THE THUNDERSTORMS. DD
The Burlington radar (KCXX), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:48 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms produced flash flooding in Middletown Springs, where water covered Route 133.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Vermont in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Vermont, August 2008
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: 134098.