A mid-atmospheric wind core and disturbance moved ahead of the surface cold front into a hot, humid and very unstable air mass across northern New York then proceeded to rapidly move through much of northern Vermont during the evening hours of July 19th. Widespread wind damage in the form of downed trees and power lines that fell on vehicles and structures across the region.
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 mid-atmospheric wind core and disturbance moved ahead of the surface cold front into a hot, humid and very unstable air mass across northern New York then proceeded to rapidly move through much of northern Vermont during the evening hours of July 19th. Widespread wind damage in the form of downed trees and power lines that fell on vehicles and structures across the region. More than 15,000 customers were without power across the state.
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 Jul 19, 5:52 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 652 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 .SYNOPSIS... THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE THIS EVENING...WILL MOVE SOUTH OF THE CANADIAN BORDER TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. THE STORMS WILL BE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF COOLER AND DRIER AIR...BRINGING RELIEF FROM THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY. THE HEAT WAVE WILL COME TO AN END WITH HIGHS IN THE 80S SATURDAY...THEN COOLING MORE SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND LOWS IN THE 40S AND 50S. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL BE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... AS OF 650 PM EDT FRIDAY...QUICK UPDATE TO POPS TO TRACK LINE OF STORMS...AND ADJUST TEMPERATURES. DROPPED THE HEAT ADVISORY WHILE I WAS AT IT, TEMPS HAVE FALLEN BELOW CRITERIA. LINE SEVERE STORMS MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN NEW YORK AT THIS TIME. STORMS MOVING INTO AREAS WITH CAPE OVER 2000 J/KG AND 06 KM BULK SHEAR OVER 40KTS. BETTER SHEAR NORTH OF THE BORDER...AND AS STORMS MOVE FURTHER SOUTH EXPECT THEM TO WEAKEN OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. AFTER 06Z AS FRONT NEARS AND PRECIP MAKES A RENEWED PUSH THROUGH THE AREA WILL SEE POPS INCREASE FURTHER SOUTH. TEMPS...STILL A WARM NIGHT WITH SOUTHERLY FLOW REINFORCING DEWPOINTS IN THE 70S. ONE MORE WARM MUGGY NIGHT THEN RELIEF IS ON ITS WAY. USED A BIAS CORRECTED MIN TEMP FORECAST AS IT SHOULD HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THIS PERSISTENT PATTERN. && .SHORT TERM /8 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 430 PM EDT FRIDAY...WELCOME CHANGES ON THE WAY IN THIS TIME PERIOD AS CANADIAN COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY. THE KICKER IS THE 500 MB TROUGH THAT DIGS OVER THE EASTERN PROVINCES AND NEW ENGLAND...WITH A VIGOROUS VORT MAX ROTATING THROUGH THE BASE OF THE TROUGH 12Z SATURDAY TO 00Z SUNDAY. FRONT WILL BE A SLOW MOVER FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST...REACHING RUTLAND/WINDSOR COUNTIES LATE IN THE DAY SATURDAY. BAND OF LIKELY POPS ALONG THE FRONT FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AIDED BY FORCING FROM THE SURFACE FRONT... OOLING ALOFT WITH DEVELOPING TROUGH...AND UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION FROM THE VORT MAX. AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE WE ENTER A PERIOD OF COLD (COOL) AIR ADVECTION SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY...WITH 1000-500 MB THICKNESS DROPPING TO 560 DAM. SURFACE DEWPOINTS...PRESENTLY IN THE LOW 70S...WILL DROP INTO THE 40S FOR SUNDAY...WITH NOTICEABLE DRYING. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN ON SUNDAY...AND SUNSHINE...DRY AIR...AND SEASONABLE BUT COOLER TEMPS WILL MAKE A PLEASANT DAY INDEED. ENJOY. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 420 PM EDT FRIDAY...IT'LL BE A GORGEOUS START TO THE WORK WEEK MONDAY WITH COOL CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTH COUNTRY SLOWLY DRIFTING EAST OFF THE NEW ENGLAND COAST THROUGH THE DAY. AFTER A COOL START WITH MORNING TEMPS IN THE 40S AND 50S...ABUNDANT SUNSHINE COMBINED WITH INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PROVIDE AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S. CONDITIONS BECOME MORE UNSETTLED THOUGH GOING INTO MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AS A BROAD UPPER TROUGH DIGGING SOUTHEASTWARD OUT OF CANADA WILL TRACK SEVERAL SHORTWAVES AND A SURFACE COLD FRONT ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND INTO THE NORTHEAST. LATEST GFS AND ECMWF SOLUTIONS COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT IN REGARDS TO TIMING...HIGHLIGHTING BEST DEEP LAYER MOISTURE AND UPPER SUPPORT MOVING INTO THE FORECAST AREA LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY SO WILL GO WITH SOME LOW LIKELY POPS FOR RAIN/SHOWERS AND JUST A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS AS INSTABILITY LOOKS WEAK. SURFACE FRONT SLOWLY SHIFTS SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH SOME LINGERING SHOWERS LIKELY AROUND...BUT OVERALL TREND GOING INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT WILL BE BACK TOWARDS DRIER WEATHER. FOR THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT STALLS SOUTH OF THE CWA ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC KEEPING THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP OUT OF OUR AREA...SO HAVE GONE WITH A MAINLY DRY FORECAST WITH ONLY SOME LOW CHANCE POPS FOR THURSDAY ACROSS CENTRAL/SOUTHERN VERMONT. TEMPS WILL BE VERY SEASONAL WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S...AND LOWS IN THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY...VFR WITH GUSTY SOUTH/SOUTHWEST WINDS THROUGH 21Z /UP TO 25KTS/. WATCHING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT TO ENTER THE OTTAWA VALLEY. TIMING THIS LINE THROUGH 21Z AT MSS...23Z FOR PBG...AND AFTER 00Z FOR THE REST OF THE TAFS. LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...LIGHTNING...AND TEMPO MVFR/IFR VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. MAINLY VCSH EXPECTED AFTER 06Z AS COLD FRONT SLOWLY APPROACHES WITH LIMITED FOG/MIST POTENTIAL GIVEN STRENGTH OF LOW-LEVEL WINDS. FRONT TO CLEAR THRU SAINT LAWRENCE AND CHAMPLAIN VALLEYS 11Z- 15Z BUT WILL LIKELY LEAD TO CONTINUED PERIODS OF SHOWERS/STORMS FOR MPV AND RUT THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY. WINDS SHIFT TO NORTHWEST UNDER 10KTS UPON FROPA. OUTLOOK 18Z SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...SCATTERED SHOWERS/STORMS AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON COULD PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY THROUGH MIDDAY AND SOUTH. SOUTHWEST WINDS SHIFT TO NORTHWEST WITH A COLD FRONT SATURDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY AND MONDAY...VFR UNDER BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE...EXCEPT FOG/BR WITH MVFR/IFR AT MPV/SLK EACH MORNING BTWN 06-11Z. && .MARINE... A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN THIS AFTERNOON AS A LOW LEVEL JET MOVES OVER THE REGION FROM WEST TO EAST. STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CHANNEL UP THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SURFACE WINDS INCREASING TO NEAR 25 KTS AFTER 16Z TODAY. THE LOW LEVEL JET WILL BE SLOW TO PROGRESS EASTWARD OUT OF THE AREA...THEREFORE SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BE BETWEEN 20-25 KTS INTO THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE REGION PRODUCING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS. A LAKE THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE EVENING OR LONGER. AN INVERSION WILL FORM NEAR THE SURFACE LATE THIS EVENING... ALLOWING WINDS TO DECREASE...BUT MAY STILL HAVE GUSTS NEAR 25KTS THROUGH THE REST OF THE NIGHT. && .CLIMATE... HEAT WAVE HAS BEEN REACHED WITH PAST 4 DAYS MEETING OR EXCEEDING 90F AT KBTV. EXPECT HEAT WAVE TO CONTINUE WITH MAX TEMP IN THE LOW TO MID 90S TODAY...BEFORE A COLD FRONT APPROACHES ON SATURDAY. MAX TEMP RECORDS FOR TODAY. BEST SHOT OF REACHING OR BREAKING RECORD MAX TEMPS ON FRIDAY AT KMPV AND KMSS. SHORTER PERIOD OF RECORD AT THESE SITES THAN AT K1V4 AND KBTV. KBTV 94/1942 KMPV 92/1991 K1V4 95/1991 KMSS 93/1991 && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...NONE. NY...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...HANSON NEAR TERM...HANSON SHORT TERM...HANSON LONG TERM...LAHIFF/SISSON AVIATION...LOCONTO MARINE... CLIMATE...
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 440 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 NYZ028-035-VTZ001-002-005-009-202045- EASTERN CLINTON-EASTERN ESSEX-GRAND ISLE-WESTERN FRANKLIN- WESTERN CHITTENDEN-WESTERN ADDISON- 440 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 423 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW YORK...CENTRAL VERMONT AND NORTHWEST VERMONT. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. NYZ026-027-029>031-034-087-VTZ003-004-006>008-016>018-202045- NORTHERN ST. LAWRENCE-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHEASTERN ST. LAWRENCE- SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-WESTERN CLINTON-WESTERN ESSEX- SOUTHWESTERN ST. LAWRENCE-ORLEANS-ESSEX-LAMOILLE-CALEDONIA- WASHINGTON-EASTERN FRANKLIN-EASTERN CHITTENDEN-EASTERN ADDISON- 440 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 423 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW YORK...CENTRAL VERMONT...NORTHEAST VERMONT AND NORTHWEST VERMONT. .DAY ONE...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...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VTZ011-202045- WESTERN RUTLAND- 440 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VTZ010-012-019-202045- ORANGE-WINDSOR-EASTERN RUTLAND- 440 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VERMONT AND SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. HOT AND HUMID WEATHER WILL CONTINUE...WITH A WARM MUGGY NIGHT ON TAP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY...AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONG...PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT 506 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 NYZ028-VTZ001-002-005-192300- EASTERN CLINTON-GRAND ISLE-WESTERN FRANKLIN-WESTERN CHITTENDEN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PLATTSBURGH...ALBURGH...SOUTH HERO... ST. ALBANS...BURLINGTON 506 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013 ...EXPECT A SUDDEN WIND SHIFT ACROSS LAKE CHAMPLAIN... AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHERN QUEBEC PROVINCE WILL MOVE QUICKLY SOUTHWARD ACROSS LAKE CHAMPLAIN THROUGH 600 PM. THE IMPACT OF THIS FEATURE WILL BE TO SHIFT WINDS QUICKLY TO THE NORTH WITH GUSTS IN THE 30 TO 40 MPH RANGE. BOATERS ACROSS LAKE CHAMPLAIN...ESPECIALLY FROM THE CANADIAN BORDER SOUTH TO THE BURLINGTON AREA...SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS SUDDEN WIND SHIFT AND TAKE ANY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS NOW TO PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING WIND SHIFT. EVENSON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
557 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0544 PM TSTM WND DMG OGDENSBURG 44.69N 75.49W
07/19/2013 ST. LAWRENCE NY TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS DOWN AND TELEPHONE POLE SNAPPED IN
HALF
&&
EVENT NUMBER BTV1300270
MUCCILLIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
637 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0606 PM TSTM WND DMG POTSDAM 44.67N 74.98W
07/19/2013 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN AREA...INCLUDING ON PIERREPONT
AVE...CLARKSON AVE...HEATH ROAD...AND MAY ROAD
&&
EVENT NUMBER BTV1300271
MUCCILLIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
639 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM TSTM WND DMG CANTON 44.60N 75.17W
07/19/2013 ST. LAWRENCE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS NORTHERN SAINT LAWRENCE
COUNTY
&&
EVENT NUMBER BTV1300272
MUCCILLIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
656 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0612 PM TSTM WND DMG BRUSHTON 44.83N 74.51W
07/19/2013 FRANKLIN NY FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ON COUNTY ROUTES 7 AND 8
&&
EVENT NUMBER BTV1300273
MUCCILLIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
713 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0612 PM TSTM WND DMG MOIRA 44.82N 74.56W
07/19/2013 FRANKLIN NY PUBLIC
WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE IN MOIRA
&&
EVENT NUMBER BTV1300274
MUCCILLIThe Burlington radar (KCXX), 12 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:16 UTC.
29 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees down, as well as shingles blown off homes in and around Milton. Damage to some vehicles and homes due to fallen trees/branches.
Numerous trees down and yard furniture and debris.
Several trees and power lines down across Westford.
Power lines down across Route 7 between Colchester and Milton.
Several reports of scattered large branches or trees down.
Several trees down along River road.
Numerous trees down through Jeffersonville.
Scattered to numerous trees down as well as utility lines.
Numerous trees down.
Several trees and utility lines down at Johnson College and neighboring streets.
Several to numerous trees down with damage to vehicles.
Several trees down along Route 15 and neighboring roads.
Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm winds.
Several trees downed and uprooted. Several power lines down.
Numerous trees down, uprooted, utility lines down and damage to vehicles and structures throughout Stowe. Stowe recreational bike path significantly damaged due to fallen trees.
Several trees down.
Several trees down.
Several trees down near and around Lake Willoughby.
Several roads blocked by fallen trees, including Buchler and Peak. Scattered utility damage and some light structural damage including a shed blown some 40-50 feet.
Several trees down in and around Sutton.
Multiple trees down throughout Hardwick.
Scattered trees down in and around Woodbury.
Several trees down along Routes 5/114 in East Burke.
Several trees down in Lyndon and Lyndonville as well as Routes 5A and 5.
A few trees down.
Trees down blocking Route 11 near Route 125.
Trees down in sections of East St. Johnsbury toward Concord.
Several trees down.
Numerous trees and utility wires down in Guildhall and Maidstone State Forest. Route 102 closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Vermont in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Vermont, July 2013
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: 455224, 455229, 455227, 455226, 455233, 455230, 455232, 455234, 455235, 455238, 455237, 455256, 455260, 455258, 455259, 455262, 455265, 455266, 455267, 455272, 455271, 455274, 455268, 455269, 455263, 455280, 455277, 455275, 455278.