Flash Flood — Caledonia, Vermont

2024-07-30 · near Danville, Caledonia, Vermont

Event narrative

Dept. of Highways reported US 5 washed out just south of the State Police Barracks. NWS Storm surveys confirmed a significant washout at this location, and along several points on Concord Ave. in St. Johnsbury where locally severe flash flooding occurred at the intersection with Gilman Avenue. Here a bridge was completely destroyed and several homes significantly damaged.

Wider weather episode

A cluster of nearly stationary thunderstorms affected portions of Caledonia, Essex and Orleans Counties in northeastern Vermont during the early to mid morning hours of July 30, 2024. This produced rainfall amounts from 4 to as much as 8 inches in these areas which led to severe, and in some cases catastrophic flash flooding. The department of highways, state/local emergency management, and NWS Storm Surveys confirmed the hardest hit areas were in the towns of Morgan, Lyndon and St. Johnsbury, VT. Preliminary assessments show five bridges destroyed, five homes destroyed, damage to 20 to 30 additional homes, and numerous roads washed out. Total damage costs will likely near or exceed $10 million dollars.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.3941, -72.0858)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1202473. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.