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As many as 11 million people in New England were still under flood watches today after a summer's worth of rain fell in parts of New York, forecasters said.
Flash flood warnings also remained for much of Vermont, and its capital city, Montpelier, was experiencing flooding in its downtown.
“Dangerous, widespread flash flooding from excessive rainfall is expected across New England through Tuesday morning; Highest risk for Vermont with expected impacts to transit routes," the National Weather Service warned.
Close to 10 inches of rain fell yesterday in New York's Hudson Valley, radar showed — the amount that usually falls throughout the three months of summer.
Warnings last night had applied to the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx.
A 1,000-year rain event
- Downtown Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, was flooded tonight. The National Weather Service warned the city and area could see "significant to catastrophic flooding."
- There have been more than 50 rescues by swift-water teams in Vermont as of 9 p.m. today, state emergency management officials said.
- The U.S. Military Academy West Point recorded 6.96 inches of rain in three hours — a 1-in-1,000-year rain event for the location.
- Reading, Pennsylvania, had its wettest July day on record yesterday, with 5.35 inches of rain.
- A woman in her 40s was swept away by rapid waters in Orange County, 60 miles north of New York City, as she sought higher ground with her dog.
- In New England, rainfall rates may exceed 2 inches per hour.
More than 50 rescues in Vermont, state says
There were more than 50 rescues by swift-water teams in Vermont today as the state deals with drenching rain and flooding, state emergency officials said.
Most of the rescues were in the towns of Londonderry, Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow and Middlesex, Vermont Emergency Management said in a 9 p.m. storm update.
Many rivers were expected to crest overnight at flood levels, the department said.
In Montpelier, downtown flooded and the Winooski River was at major flood stage, at around 20.8 feet as of shortly after 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. It was forecast to crest and start decreasing tomorrow.
Biden approves Vermont emergency declaration
President Joe Biden today approved an emergency declaration for Vermont after the state suffered heavy rains and flooding that, in addition to other cities, sent water into the capital, Montpelier.
More than 9 inches of rain fell, and downtown Montpelier flooded. Residents were told to stay off roads, and part of Interstate 89 was closed.
There had been more than 50 rescues by swift-water teams by 9 p.m. yesterday, officials said. Gov. Phil Scott said yesterday that flooding in some parts of the state surpassed that suffered in 2011 during Tropical Storm Irene.
Biden's approval of an emergency declaration allows for federal aid, and it authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief.
Interstate near Montpelier closed due to water; vehicles stranded
Flooding and high water in Vermont closed I-89 in both directions west of the capital city of Montpelier, and northbound lanes were closed south of the city, state police said.
Montpelier, population around 8,000, experienced flooding downtown during heavy rains that swelled the Winooski River, which is at major flood stage, officials said.
I-85 is closed in both directions between the Montpelier and Middlesex exits, and northbound lanes were closed between the Berlin and Montpelier exits, state police said.
Vehicles are also stranded by on-ramps. “There are no reports of immediate threats posed by high water, but the vehicles are unable to move due to flooding and road closures in the area,” state police said in a statement.
I-89 is an interstate that runs, in part, north to Montpelier, then northwest to Burlington and from there north to the Canada border.
Historic summer rains aren't done yet
Federal forecasters said Monday that some parts of New England already soaked by rain will continue to experience downpours and possible flash flooding through at least midnight.
The unusual storm that brought flooding from New York state to Maine is stalling and will produce more precipitation for New Hampshire, Vermont and the very northern reaches of upstate New York overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
The system, fed by a flow of air and tropical moisture from the southeast, could also produce more flash flooding, it said.
"A frontal boundary will remain stalled over the region through tonight," the weather service office in Gray, Maine, said in a forecast discussion. "This will result in numerous showers and drenching thunderstorms with flash flooding remaining possible."
Any drying out won't happen until midweek, it said, and by then federal forecasters will be trying to determine whether another front is headed for New England.
Dams in Vermont to release water over spillways, causing flooding
After heavy rain, the Army Corps of Engineers said tonight two dams in Vermont are expected to release water, which will cause flooding downstream.
They are Ball Mountain Dam in Jamaica and Townshend Dam in the Townshend and Windham area.
“We anticipate floodwaters to increase rapidly overnight, and we recommend taking precautions now. We encourage everyone to follow the guidance from their local emergency management officials,” the Army Corps of Engineers said.
The water is being released over spillways. Spillways are used to release water from reservoirs when they are full.
'Significant to catastrophic flooding' expected in Montpelier area, NWS says
The National Weather Service tonight warned of a serious situation in central Vermont and said Montpelier and surrounding areas were expected to get “significant to catastrophic flooding.”
Downtown Montpelier, the state capital, has flooded, said the police department there. City and other officials urged people to stay off the roads and to stay out of Montpelier.
The Winooski River was at major flood stage, the city said. Berlin, Montpelier and Chelsea still had rain falling tonight, the weather service said. "If you do not need to travel, please stay off the roads!" it said.
Downtown Montpelier floods projected to be worse than in 2011
Downtown Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, was flooded tonight, the city government said as it warned the inundation will be worse than flooding that occurred in 2011.
“Downtown Montpelier is flooded. Please stay out,” the government of the city of around 8,000 said on social media.
It said the flooding will be worse than in 2011, when Vermont had floods in May and also during Tropical Storm Irene in August.
The National Weather Service said there was major flooding in the area. “This is a very serious situation and officials are urging people not to travel,” it said tonight.
The waters were expected to rise until 2 a.m., the city said. The Winooski River, which runs through town, is at flood stage, officials said.
9 inches of rain recorded in Plymouth, Vermont
Plymouth, Vermont, got as much as 9 inches of rain and other areas got around 7 inches as the state has experienced flooding along with other parts of the Northeast, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service said at 7:30 p.m. that Plymouth, a small town in the central part of the state, had possibly 9 inches of rain, although the readings were considered preliminary.
In Morrisville, a public observation recorded just over 7 inches, and a trained spotter observed 6.23 in Ludlow, which, like Plymouth, is in Windsor County, according to the weather service.
Highland Falls, N.Y., woman says flooding was like a disaster movie
When Savannah Pitcher and other family members raced to their grandmother’s home amid flooding in Highland Falls, New York, yesterday, the scene did not look real.
“It looked like a natural disaster, something you would only see in the movies,” Pitcher said in an interview today.
Pitcher said she went away from the home to where she could cross as the waters were rising. When she got to the apartment, two others were there and said her grandmother was OK. Pitcher’s brother carried their grandmother to safety.
“I’ve never seen Highland Falls like this, ever,” Pitcher said. “Never.”