A strong cold front moved through a moderately unstable air mass across northern New York during the late afternoon and early evening hours of August 18th. However, the atmosphere stabilized during the evening hours across Vermont as this cold front moved across the region with scattered thunderstorms and isolated reports of wind damage in Hardwick (Caledonia county), Tinmouth (Rutland county)…
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.
A strong cold front moved through a moderately unstable air mass across northern New York during the late afternoon and early evening hours of August 18th. However, the atmosphere stabilized during the evening hours across Vermont as this cold front moved across the region with scattered thunderstorms and isolated reports of wind damage in Hardwick (Caledonia county), Tinmouth (Rutland county) and penny size hail in Greensboro (Orleans county).
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 18, 6:31 PM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 731 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PUSH SOUTH THROUGH THE NORTH COUNTRY INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THIS WILL BRING PRECIPITATION TO THE REGION DURING THIS TIME. HIGH PRESSURE THEN BUILDS OVER THE AREA DURING THE DAY TUESDAY...RIGHT INTO THE END OF THE WEEK. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL APPROACH THE REGION BY THE WEEKEND FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIPITATION. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/... AS OF 405 PM EDT MONDAY...REGION UNDER SVR THUNDERSTORM WATCH ATTM AS STRONG FRNTL BOUNDARY SLOWLY TRUDGES SOUTHWARD. TEMPS ACROSS THE REGION INTO THE 70S/80S WITH TD/S INTO THE 60S. UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL SUPPORT POTENTIAL SEVERE TS WITH WIND AND HAIL. MDLS HAVE SHOWN SLOW MVMNT W/ FRNT WHICH PUTS ACTIVITY AFT EVENING COMMUTE...ALTHOUGH SCT TS POPPING UP AHEAD OF SYSTEM. EXPECTING THIS TO PUSH THRU THE CWA OVERNGT. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 405 PM EDT MONDAY...FRNTL BOUNDARY WILL BE SOUTH OF THE CWA BY TUESDAY MORN. NORTHERLY FLOW AHEAD OF APPROACHING SFC RIDGE WILL KEEP LL CLD COVER OVER MUCH OF THE CWA THRU THE MORNING HRS. WILL BEGIN TO THIN OUT DURING THE AFTNOON AND FINALLY CLR BY THE EVENING. THIS WILL SET UP THE CWA FOR A NICE RADIATIONAL COOLING NIGHT. MDL GUIDANCE TEMPS PUT PORTIONS OF THE DACKS INTO THE 30S...WHICH WOULD GIVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SCT FROST. 850 TEMP 0F 2-4C OVER THE DACKS W/ CLR SKIES WOULD SUPPORT THIS...SO NEXT SHIFT WILL HAVE TO DECIDE IF A FROST ADVISORY IS WARRANTED. HIGH PRESSURE CRESTS OVERHD ON WED FOR ANOTHER NICE DRY DAY OVER THE AREA. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 240 PM EDT MONDAY...HIGH PRESSURE CENTER MOVES OVER REGION ON THURSDAY...AND SHIFTS SLOWLY EAST INTO THE GULF OF MAINE BY SATURDAY. GRADUAL MODERATION IN TEMPS EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AS AIRMASS MODIFIES AND RETURN SOUTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPS BY NEXT WEEKEND. AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE EXPECTED BY SUNDAY IN ADVANCE OF UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES REGION. BEST CHANCE FOR SEEING SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH THIS FEATURE LOOKS TO BE SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY MONDAY. && .AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY...ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AT THIS TIME IN ADVANCE OF STRONG COLD FRONT...WHICH WILL DROP SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. EXPECT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE ACROSS VERMONT AND NORTHERN NEW YORK THIS EVENING MAINLY BTWN 00Z-06Z TUES. A PERIOD OF IFR CONDITIONS AND PERHAPS SOME STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THE COLD FRONT WILL BE ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER BY 02Z...AND SOUTH OF THE REGION BY 08Z TUES. WINDS WILL SHIFT INTO NW OVRNGHT WITH PASSAGE OF FRONT. POST FRONTAL LLVL MSTR LINGERS ACRS MUCH OF THE AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. ANY SHWRS WILL END...BUT SOME AREAS OF MVFR/IFR CIGS WILL PERSIST TILL ABOUT 14Z TUES...AFTER WHICH TIME THERE WILL BE A DECREASE IN CLOUD COVER. 00Z WEDNESAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES TUESDAY AND BE OVER VERMONT AND NORTHERN NEW YORK THROUGH FRIDAY...MOVING OFF THE EAST COAST SATURDAY. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. SOME AREAS OF RADIATION FOG ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD IN THE SHELTERED VALLEYS...MAINLY BTWN 06Z-12Z EACH DAY...INCLUDING TAF SITES KMPV/KLSK. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...NONE. NY...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...JN NEAR TERM...JN SHORT TERM...JN LONG TERM...RJS AVIATION...RJS/DUMONT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 350 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 NYZ026>031-034-035-087-VTZ001>012-016>019-192000- NORTHERN ST. LAWRENCE-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-EASTERN CLINTON- SOUTHEASTERN ST. LAWRENCE-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-WESTERN CLINTON- WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-SOUTHWESTERN ST. LAWRENCE-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- 350 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 838 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW YORK...CENTRAL VERMONT...NORTHEAST VERMONT...NORTHWEST VERMONT AND SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 632 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 VTZ008-010-012-018-182330- WASHINGTON-ORANGE-WINDSOR-EASTERN ADDISON- INCLUDING...AINSWORTH STATE PARK...ALLIS STATE PARK...ALPINE VILLAGE...BRADFORD...BRADFORD CENTER...BRAINTREE...BROOKFIELD... CHELSEA...CORINTH...CORINTH CENTER...CORINTH CORNERS...EAST BARRE... EAST BRAINTREE...EAST BROOKFIELD...EAST CORINTH...EAST ORANGE...EAST ROXBURY...EXIT 17 I91...EXIT 4 I89...EXIT 5 I89...GRANVILLE... HANCOCK...NEWBURY...NORTH RANDOLPH...ORANGE...RANDOLPH CENTER... ROXBURY...SOUTH BARRE...SOUTH NEWBURY...SOUTH NORTHFIELD...SOUTH WASHINGTON...TOPSHAM...TOPSHAM FOUR CORNERS...WAITS RIVER... WASHINGTON...WELLS RIVER...WEST BROOKFIELD...WEST CORINTH...WEST NEWBURY...WEST TOPSHAM AND WILLIAMSTOWN 632 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 AT 624 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER GRANVILLE IN ADDISON COUNTY VERMONT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR BROOKFIELD BY 650 PM...NEAR WILLIAMSTOWN BY 700 PM...NEAR WASHINGTON BY 710 PM...NEAR EAST ORANGE...WAITS RIVER BY 720 PM AND NEAR TOPSHAM BY 730 PM. SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. SEEK SHELTER WHEN THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. MB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 715 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 VTZ003-004-006-007-190015- LAMOILLE-CALEDONIA-ORLEANS-ESSEX- INCLUDING...CANAAN AND MORRISVILLE 715 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008 AT 712 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ORLEANS AND LAMOILLE COUNTIES IN NORTHERN VERMONT...FROM HOLLAND TO WOLCOTT...MOVING EAST AT 33 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR NORTON...WESTMORE BY 730 PM...NEAR STANNARD...SHEFFIELD BY 740 PM...NEAR CANAAN...WEST BURKE BY 750 PM...NEAR LYNDONVILLE...EAST BURKE BY 800 PM...NEAR VICTORY AND GRANBY BY 810 PM. SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE INSIDE TO SAFETY AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING WEATHER. MB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
717 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NW CHIPMAN 44.84N 75.28W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN WADDINGTON.
0609 PM TSTM WND DMG LISBON 44.73N 75.32W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0609 PM TSTM WND DMG NORFOLK 44.80N 74.99W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0627 PM TSTM WND DMG POTSDAM 44.67N 74.99W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
&&
ERICEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
722 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0658 PM TSTM WND DMG 15 S MALONE 44.63N 74.29W
08/18/2008 FRANKLIN NY AMATEUR RADIO
8 TO 10 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE.
&&
ERICEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
743 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0735 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N SARANAC 44.68N 73.74W
08/18/2008 CLINTON NY AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES ON RYAN RD.
&&
DONNYDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
758 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0548 PM HAIL SWANTON 44.92N 73.12W
08/18/2008 M0.25 INCH FRANKLIN VT TRAINED SPOTTER
0551 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NW CHIPMAN 44.84N 75.28W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN WADDINGTON.
0609 PM TSTM WND DMG NORFOLK 44.80N 74.99W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0609 PM TSTM WND DMG LISBON 44.73N 75.32W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0627 PM TSTM WND DMG POTSDAM 44.67N 74.99W
08/18/2008 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
0658 PM TSTM WND DMG 15 S MALONE 44.63N 74.29W
08/18/2008 FRANKLIN NY AMATEUR RADIO
8 TO 10 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE.
0730 PM TSTM WND DMG PERU 44.58N 73.53W
08/18/2008 CLINTON NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN...TIME ESTIMATED.
0735 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N SARANAC 44.68N 73.74W
08/18/2008 CLINTON NY AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES ON RYAN RD.
&&
ERICEThe Burlington radar (KCXX), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:00 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree and several large branches downed by thunderstorm winds in Tinmouth.
Penny size hail reported in Greensboro.
Several reports of trees down along Route 16 between Hardwick and Greensboro.
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: 131324, 131323, 131325.