A surface low tracked across the southern Adirondacks and central Vermont during the afternoon and early evening hours of May 15th. South of the storm track (Rutland-Windsor counties southward) areas got into the warm sector, thus marginally to moderately unstable.
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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.
A surface low tracked across the southern Adirondacks and central Vermont during the afternoon and early evening hours of May 15th. South of the storm track (Rutland-Windsor counties southward) areas got into the warm sector, thus marginally to moderately unstable. Along and north of the track, there were only pockets of instability due to occasional breaks in cloud cover. A strong mid-level jet max moved along the boundary, thus creating widespread severe wind damage south of the track, especially extreme southern VT, NH, NY, and MA. A few isolated wind damage reports occurred north of the track.
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 15, 3:40 PM EST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Burlington VT 440 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and thunderstorms are expected through early this evening as a cold front crosses the North Country. Thunderstorms are most likely over southern Vermont, and may contain locally heavy rainfall, locally gusty to strong winds, and small hail. Rain will end by midnight tonight, and the weekend will feature drier weather with temperatures in the 60s. More rainy weather is expected for early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 440 PM EDT Friday...A Tornado Watch is in effect for Rutland and Windsor Counties, effective until 10 pm. Low pressure is currently centered over or very near Lake Ontario this afternoon, with a warm front stretching eastward through the central St Lawrence Valley to the northern Champlain Valley, then shunting south of the Northeast Kingdom. The cold front associated with this system meanwhile stretches through Lake Erie and into Ohio. This whole system will move eastward this afternoon into early this evening, crossing the region by midnight. Convection is finally starting to fire out ahead of the cold front, from east of Lake Ontario southwest through western NY/PA. This will also move eastward, moving into our area. Shear is ample with this system owing to an shortwave trough and 50+ kt jet rotating across the Great Lakes, and already seeing 0-6km values of 40-50 kt across upstate NY into western VT. The question is instability; cloud cover has been ample over our area, particularly north, and seeing a batch of stratiform rain moving along the international border at this hour. Further south, in central and particularly southern VT, there have been more breaks, allowing temperatures to warm into the upper 60s to lower 70s. Dewpoints are hovering around 60 as well. With shear to increase with the incoming jet and shortwave, expect a broken line of showers and thunderstorms to traverse across the region, with bowing segments and possible isolated cells as well. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats, but increasing shear keeps a low chance of a tornado or two. Accordingly, SPC has issued a Tornado Watch for Rutland and Windsor Counties until 10 pm. The storms will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall, which may result in localized flooding, though the storms should be progressive enough to preclude any widespread issues. Showers and thunderstorms will traverse across the area through 10 pm, with the cold front to follow shortly thereafter. Precipitation will quickly exit ahead of the front, though a few scattered showers will develop as a weak secondary front moves through. Winds will turn to the northwest and then eventually north, so showers will linger longest in the northern mountains. Clouds will hang around through the night as well, which will help to keep temperatures in the mid 40s to lower 50s. Saturday will be a decent day as well, with clouds gradually dissipating through the afternoon. Highs will && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 440 PM EDT Friday...Sunday is shaping up dry as the next weather system continues to be delayed with today's 12Z guidance. Weak warm air advection should occur all day with significant moisture transport delayed until late in the day. Thinking with very light winds any low-level clouds in the morning may be tough to break, but expecting generally partly sunny skies and seasonably warm conditions in the 60s. Precipitation chances ramp up quickly Sunday night as a warm front extending northeastward from a low pressure area near Lake Erie provides focus for stratiform rain to develop. Aside from the ECMWF which is about 6 hours slower, very good model agreement in onset of rain from west to east after 7 PM, arriving after midnight in the Northeast Kingdom. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 440 PM EDT Friday...The latest trends have shifted precipitation back northward, which puts the North Country in position to receive enough rainfall for some flooding concerns. Current indications are that 1 to 2 inches of total precipitation along with high rainfall rates are possible, with greater chances generally as you go southward. By Monday afternoon, the current consensus brings showers gradually to an end from north to south as low pressure shifts southeastward. Exactly how the precipitation pattern evolves at that point is something we will keep a close eye on, as there are still indications that the subtropical low likely near the North Carolina coast will interact with the system to our west. This will keep chances of precipitation going through Tuesday as our low pressure system gets cut off from the steering flow and moves slowly southward. Temperatures should generally stay in the 50s on Monday with slightly warmer conditions on Tuesday. Channeled northeast winds in the 10-15 mph range will be favored with this pattern for the St. Lawrence Valley, with lighter winds elsewhere. The remainder of the forecast period is more uncertain than normal as the evolution of cut off low pressure has low predictability. Some model guidance keeps it far enough north to bring us periods of showery weather and cloud cover through the week until the low finally opens up and can depart to the east. Other guidance brings this low well south of our region, which would put us in a great spot for dry and seasonably warm weather. At this point, the most likely scenario from Wednesday through Friday is a warming trend with highs mainly in the 70s and rain-free conditions. && .AVIATION /21Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Through 18Z Saturday...Most areas currently VFR with IFR currently at KMSS and KSLK as precipitation is moving into those areas. Expect conditions to deteriorate at all terminals during the mid to late afternoon as a broken line of showers and thunderstorms crosses from west to east. Best chances of thunderstorms lies between 21Z and 02Z, especially over southern Vermont. Any thunderstorms could contain locally heavy rain, gusty winds, and small hail, and IFR conditions. Rain will end after 03Z, but ceilings will be slow to lift and IFR/MVFR conditions are expected to continue through 12Z. May also see some reduced visibility due to BR during the overnight hours. Southwesterly winds 5-10 kts will will trend variable this afternoon as the center of a low pressure system tracks over the North Country, then become northwesterly 5-10 kts after 00Z Saturday. Outlook... Saturday Night: VFR. NO SIG WX. Sunday: VFR. Chance SHRA. Sunday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Likely RA, Chance SHRA. Monday: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Likely RA, Chance SHRA. Monday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Chance SHRA. Tuesday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. NO SIG WX. Tuesday Night: VFR. NO SIG WX. Wednesday: VFR. NO SIG WX. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...None. NY...None. && SYNOPSIS...Hastings NEAR TERM...Hastings SHORT TERM...Kutikoff LONG TERM...Kutikoff AVIATION...Hastings
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Burlington VT 412 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 VTZ011-012-019-162015- Western Rutland-Windsor-Eastern Rutland- 412 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 ...TORNADO WATCH 187 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 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. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ034-035-VTZ008>010-018-162015- Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Washington-Western Addison-Orange- Eastern Addison- 412 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York and central Vermont. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A line of showers and thunderstorms will cross the region this afternoon and evening. Some thunderstorms may be strong and be capable of producing strong winds, small hail, and locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ026>031-087-VTZ001>007-016-017-162015- Northern St. Lawrence-Northern Franklin-Eastern Clinton- Southeastern St. Lawrence-Southern Franklin-Western Clinton- Southwestern St. Lawrence-Grand Isle-Western Franklin-Orleans-Essex- Western Chittenden-Lamoille-Caledonia-Eastern Franklin- Eastern Chittenden- 412 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern New York, northeast Vermont and northwest Vermont. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Convective showers with a slight chance for some embedded thunderstorms will develop this afternoon. Some showers/thunderstorms may contain some locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. 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 609 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 NYZ034-035-VTZ004>009-017-018-152315- Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Essex-Caledonia-Eastern Chittenden-Western Chittenden-Washington-Western Addison-Eastern Addison-Lamoille- 609 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN ESSEX... SOUTHERN LAMOILLE...SOUTHERN CALEDONIA...SOUTHERN ESSEX... NORTHWESTERN ADDISON...CHITTENDEN AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES... At 608 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Underhill to 6 miles southeast of Au Sable Forks New York. Movement was east at 45 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Essex Junction, South Burlington, Burlington International Airport, Montpelier, Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Essex, Willsboro, Calais, Monkton Ridge, Waterbury Village, Monkton, Monkton Boro, Essex Junction Village, Williston, Worcester, Middlesex, Marshfield, Cabot Village and Hinesburg. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 4439 7185 4410 7295 4435 7375 4455 7285 TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 285DEG 38KT 4453 7293 4439 7356 Hastings
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Burlington VT 614 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 NYZ034-035-VTZ008>010-012-018-019-152300- Western Essex-Eastern Essex-Eastern Rutland-Windsor-Washington-Western Addison-Eastern Addison-Orange- 614 PM EDT Fri May 15 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ESSEX...WESTERN ORANGE...ADDISON...NORTHEASTERN RUTLAND...NORTHWESTERN WINDSOR AND SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... At 613 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Crown Point, moving east at 35 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Middlebury, Moriah, Crown Point, Cornwall, Weybridge, Waltham, Salisbury, Bristol, Lincoln, Rochester, Whiting, New Haven, Granville, Goshen, Port Henry, Addison, Hancock, Shoreham, Warren and D A R State Park. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 4386 7356 4413 7355 4414 7276 4384 7275 TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 267DEG 32KT 4399 7344 Hastings
The Burlington radar (KCXX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:17 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees downed by thunderstorms winds in Ticonderoga.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, May 2020
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: 881616.