Scattered showers and thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding near Brattleboro on July 17. Several roads were damaged.
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 ALY wrote it up.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding near Brattleboro on July 17. Several roads were damaged.
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 Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 17, 6:08 PM EST, 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Albany NY
708 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
An approaching upper level low pressure system will keep our
weather rather unsettled with occasional showers and some
thunderstorms across eastern New York and western New England.
The rainfall could be heavy at times and result in additional
flooding, especially where heavy rain has already occurred. Then
a cold front approaches on Tuesday with additional threat of
showers and thunderstorms.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
...Severe Thunderstorm Watch #382 remains until 11 PM for
Schoharie County, Albany County, Rensselaer County, Berkshire
County and points southward...
...Flash Flood Watch for eastern New York and western New
England with the exception of the southern Adirondacks through
noon Sunday...
MESOSCALE UPDATE...Robust convection across the southern
portions of our CWA appears to be running out of deeper surface
based CAPES as the quasi-stationary boundary is beginning to
lift northward toward a more stable environment. The severe
weather potential is slowly waning as we transition toward the
moderate-heavy rainfall event. Upper cyclonic curved jet, H300,
just north of Lake Ontario with increasing entrance region
dynamics and ageostrophic lift was underway. H850 moisture
transport vectors from the south-southwest and magnitudes
increasing with PWAT values close to 2 inches was moving into
the region. Per hires guidance and synoptic trends, expect the
rainfall and embedded convection to increase in coverage across
the region. Flooding/Flash Flooding may increase soon as do
adhere to later updates. We thank those whom sent us valuable
reports thus far!
Main updates were to PoP/Wx grids and QPF forecasts from latest
mesoscale models and WPC.
Prev Disc...
High PWAT anomalies and mesoscale boundaries across the region
with daytime heating with approaching upper trough are all
resulting in the active weather across the CWA. Of note, sea
breeze boundary and warm front south of Albany are quite active
as impressive instability gradient was in place. Values of zero
to over 2K J/Kg across the southern counties with equally
impressive low level lapse rates over 7.5 C/Km across Ulster,
Dutchess and Litchfield Counties. For tonight, near and short
term guidance all suggest the upstream trough and mesoscale
boundaries will converge across eastern New York later this
evening and spread into western New England overnight. Due to
warm precipitation processes with warm cloud depths, effective
rainfall producing events are to be expected. We will keep the
Flash Flood Watch in place with no changes at this time. Further
north of I90, rather stable atmosphere with some potential of
deformation to evolve late tonight, however, flash flood
potential appears rather lower at this time. See hydro section
below for additional details. Overnight lows generally into the
60s.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Rather slow moving upper trough axis and 925-850 moisture
transport from the southwest continues, additional periods of
rain/showers/t-storms are to be expected. Furthermore,
deformation axis is forecast to be in the vicinity of the Dacks
as model QPF vary significantly at this time. So placement of
where the heavier rainfall occurs remains rather low. Otherwise,
as per local research shows, these upper lows offer forecast
challenges that become more apparent as the event unfolds. So we
will keep scattered PoPs in the forecast as per WPC Excessive
Rainfall Outlook, we will expand the 'marginal risk' through
most of the CWA on Sunday. Highs generally into the 60s across
the terrain to 70s for valley locations.
This upper trough/low is forecast to move overhead Sunday night.
Nocturnal convection along with deformation axis as PWATs remain
above 1.50", additional threat for heavy rainfall does exist.
Locations southeast of Albany appear a dry slot of sorts may
limit coverage and intensity as we will lower PoPs somewhat.
Overnight lows into the upr 50s across the terrain to lower half
of the 60s for valley locations.
Monday, NCEP Model Suite and international guidance all agree
with overall trends of the initial slow departure of this upper
low with a gradual increase in its forward propagation through
the afternoon hours. This should aid with a decrease in coverage
and intensity of the convection, but, we will need to watch for
some upslope convection into the Taconics, southern Greens and
Berkshires with these departing lows. Highs Monday afternoon a
bit cooler with cloud coverage with mainly 70s and a slight dip
in those dewpoints as well.
Monday night, narrow ridge of high pressure and rising heights
aloft should make for a tranquil, albeit brief, period of
weather for the region. Some patchy fog will be possible under
variable cloud coverage as overnight lows range between 55F-65F
across the region.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
The main theme in the long term is developing upper-level troughing
across the region along with at least a couple of passing storm
systems bringing the chance for some showers and possible
thunderstorms.
Tuesday will be the warmest day of the period as a warm and humid
air mass will be in place ahead of the approaching upper-level
trough and surface cold front. High temperatures Tuesday will reach
the 70s and 80s with dewpoints in the 60s. This should result in
1000-2000 J/kg of CAPE and could result in some organized activity.
We are not outlooked for severe weather at this time but will
monitor trends in the coming days. In addition, rainfall intensity
looks to be lower compared to recent days. Showers will linger
Tuesday night and Wednesday before the front completely departs the
area to the east. With the extra clouds and showers, high
temperatures Wednesday will range from the upper 60s in the higher
terrain to around 80 in the mid-Hudson Valley.
Another cold front is progged to pass across the region sometime
Thursday and Friday with another period of showers and thunderstorms
with Saturday possibly staying dry. Highs Thursday through Saturday
will range from the upper 60s to around 80 each day.
Lows during the period will be mainly in the 50s, except the mid-50s
to mid-60s Tuesday night.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Through 00z/Mon...An approaching storm system will continue to bring
periods of rain this evening with a lingering thunderstorm still
possible at KPOU. Variable flight conditions from MVFR/VFR outside
of rain and thunderstorms to IFR/MVFR in rain and/or thunderstorms
are expected until about 06z/Sun.
After 06z/Sun, rain activity will become more isolated to scattered
in nature and continue on and off through the rest of the TAF
period. Ceilings will be mainly IFR/MVFR with visibilities likely
fluctuating between MVFR/VFR in and out of showers. Some of these
showers could contain moderate to locally heavy rainfall. KPOU may
have ceilings lift back to VFR after 18z/Sun.
Wind will be variable (though most times out of the north to
northeast) at 10 kt or less through the period.
Outlook...
Sunday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Scattered SHRA...TSRA.
Monday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA.
Monday Night: Low Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Tuesday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA.
Tuesday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA.
Wednesday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA.
Wednesday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Thursday: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
An approaching upper level low pressure system will keep
our weather rather unsettled with occasional showers and some
thunderstorms across eastern New York and western New England.
The rainfall could be heavy at times and result in additional
flooding, especially where heavy rain has already occurred. Then a
cold front approaches on Tuesday with additional threat of showers
and thunderstorms.
High RH values tonight will exceed 90 percent with chances for
rain and thunderstorms. These elevated levels remain in the
forecast on Sunday as well with additional showers and
thunderstorms. A light northerly wind or variable direction at
speeds less than 10 mph.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Flash flooding and some river flooding issues remain a concern
the remainder of this weekend.
Showers and thunderstorms with rainfall rates exceeding an inch
per hour have already occurred to the south of Albany. Later
tonight, additional moderate to heavy rainfall are expected.
Antecedent soils conditions are wet which has lowered Flash
Flood Guidance, especially in parts of the Taconics, Berkshires
and southern Vermont. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until
noon on Sunday.
Forecast points along the Housatonic River Basin remain elevated
due to recent heavy rainfall and some points are forecast to
reach flood stage Sunday night into Monday. The Mohawk and
Hudson Rivers also remain elevated. Exactly where and how
quickly the heaviest rain falls will determine which rivers
respond. In addition, topographically enhancements may lead to
locally higher rainfall amounts, especially in parts of the
eastern Catskills and southern Adirondacks. We will continue to
collaborate with the Northeast River Forecast Center to ensure
the river forecasts reflect the latest trends.
A brief break in the wet weather is possible Sunday night into
Monday.
For details on specific area rivers and lakes, including observed
and forecast river stages and lake elevations, please visit the
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service /AHPS/ graphs on our
website.
&&
.ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...Flash Flood Watch through Sunday morning for CTZ001-013.
NY...Flash Flood Watch through Sunday morning for NYZ038>041-043-
047>054-058>061-063>066-082>084.
MA...Flash Flood Watch through Sunday morning for MAZ001-025.
VT...Flash Flood Watch through Sunday morning for VTZ013>015.
&&
SYNOPSIS...BGM
NEAR TERM...BGM
SHORT TERM...BGM
LONG TERM...Rathbun
AVIATION...Rathbun
FIRE WEATHER...BGM/Speciale
HYDROLOGY...BGM/SpecialeHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albany NY 440 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021 NYZ032-033-042-181100- Northern Herkimer-Hamilton-Northern Warren- 440 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the southern Adirondacks in eastern New York. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A widespread moderate to heavy rainfall is expected tonight. Poor drainage flooding of low lying areas and isolated flash flooding may be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. There is a chance of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed tonight. NYZ038>041-043-048>050-082>084-VTZ013>015-181100- Southern Herkimer-Southern Fulton-Montgomery-Northern Saratoga- Northern Washington-Western Schenectady-Eastern Schenectady- Southern Saratoga-Northern Fulton-Southeast Warren- Southern Washington-Bennington-Western Windham-Eastern Windham- 440 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern Vermont and the Lake George Saratoga Region, Schenectady County and the Mohawk Valley in eastern New York. .DAY ONE...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...Sunday through Friday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. There is a chance of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to relay rainfall amounts and flooding to the National Weather Service in Albany New York while following all local, state and CDC guidelines. CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ047-051>054-058>061-063>066-181100- Northern Litchfield-Southern Litchfield-Northern Berkshire- Southern Berkshire-Schoharie-Western Albany-Eastern Albany- Western Rensselaer-Eastern Rensselaer-Western Greene-Eastern Greene- Western Columbia-Eastern Columbia-Western Ulster-Eastern Ulster- Western Dutchess-Eastern Dutchess- 440 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 382 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts and the immediate Capital Region, Catskills, Taconics and mid-Hudson Valley in eastern New York. .DAY ONE...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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. There is a chance of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions to the National Weather Service in Albany, New York while following all local, state and CDC guidelines.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
622 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021
NYZ052-053-059-060-172300-
Eastern Albany-Western Rensselaer-Eastern Greene-Western Columbia-
622 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN COLUMBIA...
SOUTHEASTERN ALBANY...NORTHEASTERN GREENE AND SOUTHWESTERN RENSSELAER
COUNTIES...
At 622 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Athens, or 7
miles northwest of Catskill, moving north at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hudson, Catskill, New Baltimore, Ravena, Coxsackie, Athens,
Castleton-On-Hudson, Kinderhook, Lorenz Park, Feura Bush, Selkirk,
Coeymans, Cairo, Stockport, Stuyvesant, Clarksville, Coeymans Hollow,
Brookview, Van Hoesen Station and Spawn Hollow.
This includes Interstate 87 between exits 21 and 22.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4223 7401 4249 7403 4262 7403 4254 7362
4221 7380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2222Z 190DEG 22KT 4231 7394
FrugisPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
646 PM EDT SAT JUL 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0634 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 SE ANCRAM 42.02N 73.59W
07/17/2021 M3.39 INCH COLUMBIA NY COCORAHS
JUST OVER THE PAST 2 HOURS, CULVERTS AND PUBLIC ROADS
UNABLE TO HANDLE WIDESPREAD WATER AND FLOW WAY OVER
STREAM BANKS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY2103663
BGMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
649 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021
NYZ063-172315-
Western Ulster-
649 PM EDT Sat Jul 17 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN ULSTER COUNTY...
At 649 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles northeast of
Grahamsville, or 17 miles northeast of Liberty, moving northeast at
20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Woodstock, Woodland Valley Campground, West Shokan, Kenneth L Wilson
Campground, Mount Tremper, Phoenicia, Denning, Samsonville,
Palentown, Big Indian, Sundown, Oliverea, Brodhead, Chichester,
Woodland, Branch, Seager, Boiceville, Frost Valley and Byrdcliffe.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4188 7445 4195 7463 4196 7463 4213 7449
4209 7414 4205 7413 4185 7432 4182 7450
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 243DEG 17KT 4195 7448
FrugisPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
705 PM EDT SAT JUL 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0618 PM FLASH FLOOD ANCRAM 42.05N 73.63W
07/17/2021 COLUMBIA NY 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING CONDITIONS ON STATE ROUTE 82 NEAR POOLE HILL
ROAD IN ANCRAM. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY2103664
RATHBUNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
708 PM EDT SAT JUL 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0618 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 SSE COPAKE 42.05N 73.53W
07/17/2021 COLUMBIA NY 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING CONDITIONS ON STATE ROUTE 22 SOUTH OF BOSTON
CORNERS ROAD IN THE TOWN OF ANCRAM. TIME ESTIMATED BY
RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY2103665
RATHBUNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
710 PM EDT SAT JUL 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNE RED HOOK 42.01N 73.86W
07/17/2021 M1.37 INCH DUTCHESS NY COCORAHS
RAINFALL OCCURED IN 40 MINUTES.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY2103666
BGMThe Albany radar (KENX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:35 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding caused a culvert to fail and washed out a bridge at Hinesburg Road and Melchen Road in Brattlesboro, VT. A vehicle drove into the washed out section of road and overturned, but there were no injuries. Akley Road was also closed due to flooding.
Multiple roads were damaged due to flooding in West Brattleboro.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Vermont in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Vermont, July 2021
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: 975674, 975675.