‘Not Again': For Third Year In A Row, Flash Floods Slam Vermont On Same Date
For the third straight year, flash floods ripped through parts of Vermont on that exact date — this time, damaging homes and stranding residents in the small town of Sutton after up to 5 inches of rain fell in just a few hours Thursday. The downpour overwhelmed local waterways, causing a nearby brook to burst its banks and cut off access to more than a dozen residences.
Swift-water rescue teams were called in from nearby communities to assist evacuations, including two homes where people needed to be pulled to safety. And while this year's storm wasn't as widespread or deadly as previous years, the emotional toll was heavy.
(MORE: Flowing Water Can Do As Much Damage As A Tornado)
"It wasn't like last time, it was worse," Sutton resident Michelle Tanner told the Associated Press. "Oh my god it was like 'not again'...We don't know if the house will make it again."
Her daughter, Tanika Allard, said she felt helpless.
"I wanted to cry. It's like the third year they've almost lost everything."
(MORE: Texas River Rises 30 Feet In One Hour, Again)
Just days earlier, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott had warned residents of the mounting toll these storms are taking: 'In the last two years, more than 150 cities, towns, and villages across Vermont felt the impacts of flooding, which caused over a billion dollars in damage.' He noted that storms in July 2023 and 2024 also struck on the same dates, adding an eerie twist to an already devastating pattern.
Last year, flash flooding linked to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl killed two people and swept away an apartment building in central Vermont. The year before, Vermont experienced rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour, also with deadly consequences.
(MORE: What To Do Before, During And After A Flood)
Why does it keep happening this time of year?
July is the second-rainiest month for Burlington, just after June, according to meteorologist Sara Tonks.
"July is when warm, humid air is most abundant in northern parts of the U.S., and the jet stream slowing down during this time of year helps allow storms to stall over one location," adds senior meteorologist Chris Dolce.
Meteorologist and climate expert Jennifer Gray also points out that Vermont's mountainous terrain makes the region more vulnerable to flash flooding when heavy rain hits.
As towns like Sutton begin yet another round of cleanup and rebuilding, one thing is clear: this is no longer a once-in-a-century event. It's starting to become a heartbreaking new normal.
Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.
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