On May 26th, record warmth combined with a westward moving backdoor surface cold front from eastern Quebec-Maine-New Hampshire and a mid-atmospheric disturbance that moved south from Quebec to produce numerous thunderstorms in the northern Champlain Valley during the evening hours. Eventually, these thunderstorms combined with storms in the Champlain Valley of New York to develop a large…
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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.
On May 26th, record warmth combined with a westward moving backdoor surface cold front from eastern Quebec-Maine-New Hampshire and a mid-atmospheric disturbance that moved south from Quebec to produce numerous thunderstorms in the northern Champlain Valley during the evening hours. Eventually, these thunderstorms combined with storms in the Champlain Valley of New York to develop a large meso-scale Convective Complex that affected southern Vermont, eastern New York, western Massachusetts and Connecticut during the nighttime hours.
There were numerous reports of branches and trees downed by thunderstorms winds, as well as hail up to one inch in diameter and some lightning strikes. Some trees fell on power lines, vehicles, mobile homes and a few houses with 20,000 customers without power at the height of the event. The hardest hit location was in Wells near Lake St. Catherine.
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 May 26, 6:23 PM EST, 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 723 PM EDT WED MAY 26 2010 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION THIS EVENING AND COMBINED WITH AN INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS. A TREND TOWARD COOLER AND DRIER WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... AS OF 333 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...HOT AFTERNOON ACROSS THE CWA WILL TRANSLATE INTO THE EVENING HRS AHEAD OF FRNTL BOUNDARY. CLUSTER OF TRW OVER ONTARIO/QUEBEC NOSING SE AND LOOK TO AFFECT WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA THRU EARLY EVENING. BEST DYNAMICS ATTM APPEAR TO BE CONCENTRATED OVER N NY...AS CVLY EAST BECM MORE CAPPED AS AIRMASS DRIES OUT. WILL CONTINUE MENTION SL CHANCE OF TRW/RW FOR FROPA TNGT. STRONG INSTAB OVER N NY/ST LAW VALLEY WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY EVENING...W/ CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS SUGGESTING WIND/HAIL THREAT IF STORMS DO WORK INTO AREA AND WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED THIS EVENING. TD/S IN THE 70S TAPERS OFF SHARPLY WORKING EAST. NOT EXPECTING WIDESPREAD TRW ACTIVTY IF IT DOES DEVELOP. LATEST SWOMCD DOES INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR LATER WATCH. SOME RECORD TEMPS HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED LATER THIS AFTERNOON. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 333 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...MDLS KEEP REMNANTS OF FRNTL BOUNDARY LINGERING OVER WESTERN NY/PA DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. VERY CLOSE TO CLIPPING WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA AS BOUNDARY COULD MEANDER INTO SW CWA DURING THE DAY. WILL MENTION POPS OVER THIS AREA W/ CHANCE OVER ST LAW VALLEY TO SL CHANCE OVER DACKS/SC VT. SOME LGT -RW FOR MORNING HRS...THEN CHANCE FOR A TRW AS DAYTIME HEATING INCR INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRNT. RIDGE WILL NOSE BACK INTO THE AREA THURSDAY NGT INTO FRIDAY. MORNING HRS EXPECTED TO SEE LEFTOVER CLDS TO THE SOUTH BFR RIDGE IN PLACE OVER ENTIRE CWA FOR NICE DAY FRIDAY. TEMPS FOR FRI/FRI NGT EXPECTED TO BE MORE NEAR NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 352 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE OVER THE REGION SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...WITH FAIR AND DRY WEATHER EXPECTED. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY EAST FROM THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES ON MONDAY AND WILL MOVE SOUTH OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECTING SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECTING MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...AS THE COLD FRONT SLOWLY WORKS THROUGH THE REGION. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...BRINGING COOLER TEMPERATURES AND FAIR AND DRY WEATHER. HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED GRIDDED MOS GUIDANCE FOR MAX AND MIN TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY...MAINLY VFR EXPECTED THROUGH THE FIRST 24 HOURS. MAIN CONCERN FOR THE PERIOD IS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY THIS EVENING. KBTV AND KPBG CAN EXPECT A PERIOD OF NORTH WINDS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS AND MVFR VISIBILITY IN MODERATE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 01Z...WITH VICINITY THUNDER THROUGH 02Z. OTHERWISE...EXPECT MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. OUTLOOK 18Z MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY... 00Z FRIDAY THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...MAINLY VFR UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. LATE DAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE AFTER 18Z MONDAY AS SURFACE FRONT APPROACHES. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...NONE. NY...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...JN NEAR TERM...JN SHORT TERM...JN LONG TERM...WGH AVIATION...MB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 423 PM EDT WED MAY 26 2010 NYZ026>031-034-035-087-VTZ001>012-016>019-272030- 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- 423 PM EDT WED MAY 26 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW YORK...CENTRAL VERMONT...NORTHEAST VERMONT...NORTHWEST VERMONT AND SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SOME STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. THE BEST CHANCE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IS ACROSS THE SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY AND THE ADIRONDACKS IN NORTHERN NEW YORK. AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM IS ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN GREEN MOUNTAINS IN VERMONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
703 PM EDT WED MAY 26 2010
NYZ029-087-270000-
SOUTHEASTERN ST. LAWRENCE NY-SOUTHWESTERN ST. LAWRENCE NY-
703 PM EDT WED MAY 26 2010
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY...
AT 658 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
EDWARDSVILLE...MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR MACOMB AROUND 715 PM...GOUVERNEUR AROUND 730
PM AND WEST FOWLER AROUND 745 PM.
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...MOVE INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.
LAT...LON 4444 7579 4445 7579 4447 7580 4450 7578
4469 7553 4411 7521 4412 7525 4428 7560
4440 7584
BANACOSThe Burlington radar (KCXX), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:10 UTC.
21 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter size hail reported as well as several large trees downed by thunderstorm winds on Sanderson road.
Partial roof torn off a home, as well as some tree damage.
Trees downed by thunderstorm winds, as well as quarter size hail.
Large trees downed by thunderstorm winds as well as quarter size hail on Sanderson road.
Quarter size (One inch diameter) hail reported in Colchester.
Dime to nickel size hail reported.
Large branches downed and boat blown off trailer due to thunderstorm winds.
Quarter size hail reported.
Large trees down, including 20 foot maple tree snapped and fell on house on Creek Glen road.
Numerous trees and large branches down along Route 15 and Susie Wilson road.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) got injured due to lightning strike to a nearby tree at the Rescue building.
Measured wind gusts of 58 mph as well as some downed tree branches.
Quarter size hail reported in Winooski.
Partial school gymnasium roof ripped off of Essex Elementary school due to thunderstorm winds.
Nickel to quarter size hail reported in downtown Burlington.
Quarter size hail reported.
Several large branches down along Oak Hill Road in St. George between Williston and Hinesburg.
Quarter size hail reported in Charlotte.
Several broken and uprooted trees along Bennett road and neighboring streets.
Several large limbs down along Route 116 in Bristol.
Numerous trees and power lines down across Middlebury.
Fifty foot or larger (50+ feet) Elm tree uprooted and fell on house that resulted in minor to moderate damage.
Numerous trees and power lines down across Orwell.
Quarter size hail and several trees down along Fire Hill Road.
Trees down as well as quarter size hail along Fire Hill road in Florence.
Measured 59 mph wind gust in Chittenden.
Quarter size hail as well as numerous trees down along Sandhill road in Castleton.
Numerous trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds along Route 4 between Rutland and Castleton as well as Route 7 between Pittsford and Rutland.
Several large trees downed by thunderstorm winds as well as quarter size hail on Sandhill road.
Several trees downed by thunderstorm winds in various locations in and around Poultney.
Numerous large pines, maples and elm trees fallen on vehicles, homes and cottages between South Poultney and Wells along the shores of Lake St. Catherine and Route 30, including West Lake Road, Endless Brook Parkway and Idylewild Park Road.
Several large Elm trees downed by thunderstorm winds with some minor roof and porch damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Vermont in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Vermont, May 2010
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: 223136, 223150, 223151, 223152, 223137, 223138, 223147, 223139, 223153, 223154, 223156, 223319, 223140, 224913, 223141, 223142, 223155, 223143, 223342, 223320, 223321, 223338, 223322, 223144, 223334, 223323, 223145, 223324, 223329, 223325, 223332, 223335.