Two Flash Flood Emergencies were issued in Vermont early Tuesday morning after storms moved across the region and dumped nearly 8 inches of rain in some spots.
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. – Residents in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom have been warned to seek higher ground as rivers and streams overflow their banks, sending rushing water into neighborhoods after torrential rain led to two rare Flash Flood Emergencies in the region early Tuesday morning.
“A considerable to locally catastrophic flash flood situation has unfortunately unfolded across portions of Caledonia County and Northeast Kingdom overnight,” the National Weather Service office in Burlington said.
Water covers a road in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.
(Saint Johnsbury Police Department/Facebook)
Heavy rain and thunderstorms swept across northern New England overnight Monday into Tuesday morning, with several inches of rain falling in a short amount of time.
The FOX Forecast Center said 7.97 inches of rain fell in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, over a period of six hours starting around 11 p.m. Monday night, and a month’s worth of rain fell in just two hours.
This prompted a Flash Flood Emergency for parts of Caledonia County, including St. Johnsbury and Danville, Vermont, until 8:15 a.m. local time.
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Shelter in place issued as flooding washes away roads, bridges
A large section of roadway is seen washed away after catastrophic flooding in the Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, area.
(Saint Johnsbury Police Department/Facebook)
The flash flooding across portions of northern Vermont washed away roads and bridges across the region, and police have told residents in St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville to shelter in place and not travel unless personal safety comes into question. Water rescues have also been reported in the area.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” the NWS said. “Seek higher ground now. Life-threatening flash flooding of low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.”
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REVAMPS FLOOD ALERTS
Rocks and debris are seen in the water below a road near Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.
(Saint Johnsbury Police Department/Facebook)
The second Flash Flood Emergency was in effect for portions of Essex and Orleans counties in northeastern Vermont, including communities like Morgan Center, and will remain in effect until at least 8:15 a.m. local time.
The NWS said it has extended the Flash Flood Warning in the area through at least 10:45 a.m., even though the bulk of precipitation has passed.
“Rain has ended, but excess runoff continues to flow through streams, creeks and rivers,” the NWS said. “Flash flooding is ongoing.”