EAST HARDWICK – Zero: that’s the precipitation amount observed at the East Hardwick rain gauge this weekend, marking an end to the persistently wet weather of several Saturdays and Sundays the past few months.
photo by Jenny Bayles
It’s worth noting the weekends recently have still afforded some window of fair weather, but with an interruption for a round of precipitation. The most recent episode of rain held off until late Monday as a cold front sagged south through Vermont, bringing a round of thunderstorms and some slightly cooler and less humid conditions. That front currently is located over southern New England and will remain in that vicinity for a couple of days. A focused area of showers and thunderstorms on Monday did result in a one- to two-inch rainfall swath from east-central Chittenden County into parts of central Lamoille, southern Orleans, and west-central Caledonia counties.
We are also in proximity of an upper-level trough that will provide intermittent chances for showers throughout the forecast period the next three days. The first round will likely arrive by daybreak tomorrow, although a stray thunderstorm with daytime heating is also possible this afternoon. Things will also be a bit more humid as more moisture is pulled in from the south.
A period of steadier rain is possible during the daytime hours primarily from a trough crossing the region, followed by lingering showers. Friday will feature increasing sunshine although the nearby upper-level disturbance means a couple of showers or thunderstorms still cannot be ruled out.
A ridge of high pressure builds in for the first half of the weekend, with progressively moderating highs to seasonal normals. Precipitation looks to hold off largely until Sunday afternoon, when more showers and thunderstorms will approach with the passage of a frontal boundary.
This week marks the anniversary of multiple significant flash floods in our region. There is a chance of isolated flash flooding on Thursday, but this is highly unlikely to match the intensity seen in the previous two years. It is still important to use this anniversary as a reminder to ask yourself: am I in an area historically susceptible to floods? Do I have plans to evacuate before the situation reaches a crisis? Are the essentials I need to bring with me (food and water provisions, medicines, cash, etc.) ready to go? Be sure to have a reliable way to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.
Flood watches are issued for a large area when the risk of flooding is increased, although it is unclear exactly when and where the flooding will occur. You should be aware of your local weather conditions, have everything in place should you need to evacuate, and be prepared to respond to subsequent warnings or observations of sharp river rises.
Flash flood warnings are issued when a specific area is imminently expecting or experiencing rapid rises on waterways. Local ditches and storm drains may also become quickly overwhelmed. If you are in a flood-prone area, this is your cue to move to a safe location on higher ground. Do not cross flooded roads. Less than a foot of water may cause a vehicle to lose traction with the ground. The ground underneath may also be washed out. More information on flood safety and preparedness is available at the following links: weather.gov/safety/flood or vem.vermont.gov/.
Now, back to the forecast:
Wednesday: Partly sunny. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High: 77. Low: 57. Light and variable winds.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain. High: 78. Low: 59. South wind 5-10 mph.
Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High: 81. Low: 57. West wind 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: 85. Low: 61. Southwest wind 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny with increasing clouds. Showers and thunderstorms by the afternoon. High: 84. Low: 60. SW wind 5-10 mph.
Tyler is our weather reporter and a community journalist. He works as a nurse and EMT, volunteers with Hardwick Rescue and helps to train new EMTs.
