Flood Warning Continues Throughout The Night

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Created on Wednesday, 16 April 2014 17:38

Written by Elyssa Ellis

LYNDONVILLE- With the snow melting and rain showers the Northeast Kingdom keep getting, the Passumpsic River Valley is under a flood warning with towns in our area feeling the effects.

The storm that started Tuesday and the disappearance of over two feet of snow in the last few weeks rivers in the area are reaching flood stages.
The east branch of the Passumpsic River in Lyndonville is currently over 6.5 feet which is considered to be flood stage. This could make driving very difficult through the Passumpsic River Valley.

 The problem is people don't adhere to the barriers and they just go around and as we find every year as the nighttime comes around, our fire department will be out pulling people and cars out of the floods," Jack Harris the Chief of Police in Lyndonville said.

According to a Meteorology Professor at Lyndon State College the flooding we're seeing this time of year is typical, but it's being pushed along a bit quicker due to the scenario we're in.

"What's going to make this event a little unique is the fact that we're getting a lot of rainfall and we had very warm temperatures, so there's going to be a lot more river water," Dr. Jason Shafer said.

"Every year we end up with four or five cars that we have to pull out we've looked at putting ordinances in where if the fire department has to go in those people will be responsible for repaying I don't think as a town we have put that in yet, but we're close because it's a yearly thing," Chief Harris said.

The flood warning remains in effect through this evening. Many rivers and streams remain above flood stage and will continue to remain above stage through this evening. Field and road flooding is expected to continue throughout the day.

With the flood warning we're still under remember to use caution and leave yourself extra time if the road you usually use is closed.
The next possibility of rain isn't until Saturday.

Route five in St. Johnsbury was closed off due to flooding, but crews were out today clearing the roadway up. They anticipate the roadway to be open by later today. In Kirby, Mud Hollow Road, currently crews are repairing the road and is open at the present time. Center street in Lyndon has also reopened at the Miller's run bridge.