Hail — Franklin, Vermont

2018-05-04 · near Richford, Franklin, Vermont

Event narrative

Dollar to possibly golf ball size hail reported.

Wider weather episode

An energetic storm system moved from the Great Lakes across the St. Lawrence Valley into Ontario/Quebec during the afternoon and evening hours of May 4th. Instability was marginal for thunderstorm development during the evening hours with thunderstorms ahead of a cold front. However, winds were unseasonably strong in the atmosphere, accounting for some thunderstorms to produce damaging winds and there was some localized damage in non-thunderstorm winds accompanying the arrival of colder air.

Very brief heavy rainfall of up to 2 inches in less than an hour accounted for localized flash flooding and a mudslide. Strong winds and a lake level at/above flood stage caused for 4 to 6 foot waves to batter a causeway between Colchester and Grand Isle on Lake Champlain, resulting in numerous washouts and a closure of the causeway.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (45.0000, -72.6700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 744779. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.