BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Ice jam flooding occurred on several rivers across Vermont and the North Country Sunday afternoon, and the threat for additional ice jams and flooding will continue through midweek. Early week warmth and midweek rainfall will create optimal conditions for ongoing river ice breakup.
More ice jams possible: Mild temperatures will continue through the middle of the week, with highs in the 50s and 60s Monday and Tuesday, and 40s and low 50s Wednesday. Daytime warmth, combined with overnight temperatures staying near or above freezing, will allow the snowpack to keep melting continuously. We’ve already seen significant melting over the last few days. Many areas have lost 4″ to 8″ or more of snow depth, which equals up to up 2″ of liquid water.
While Monday and Tuesday will be dry, precipitation returns Wednesday and Thursday, with an additional half inch to an inch and a half of liquid precipitation possible. As of right now, it looks like a lot of it will fall as rain. The combination of rain and snowmelt will keep river levels elevated which could lead to additional ice jams.
Rivers to monitor this week include the Mad River, Ausable River, Otter Creek and Winooski River, which could potentially exceed minor flood stage at some point in the next few days. Even without ice jams, plan for rivers to be running high, including smaller tributaries and streams.
Updates about ongoing ice jams:
Mad River (Washington County, Vermont): An ice jam remains in place at the Waitsfield Covered Bridge as of Sunday evening. The river gauge near Moretown is still at minor flood stage. Flooding has been reported along the Heart of the Valley Trail and is expected to continue while the jam remains in place. Mad River Valley TV has a livestream of the Great Eddy Covered Bridge in Waitsfield, which you can use to keep an eye on conditions.
The river is expected to fall below flood stage late Sunday night, but could rise again as additional snowmelt and rainfall impact the area through midweek. A Flood Warning remains in effect for areas along the Mad River until late Monday morning, including Warren, Waitsfield and Moretown.
Missisquoi River (Franklin County, Vermont): An ice jam near Enosburg Falls caused flooding along the Missisquoi River Sunday afternoon. The bridge at Boston Post Road was reportedly inaccessible due to flooding.
A Flood Warning remains in effect for areas along the Missisquoi River and VT-105 from Richford to Enosburg Falls until 5 a.m. Monday.
Ausable River (Clinton County, New York): The Ausable River near Au Sable Forks dropped below flood stage late Sunday afternoon after a brief spike from an ice jam earlier in the day. While the jam in Au Sable Forks has cleared, there are additional ice jams on other parts of the river. An ice jam in Clintonville and a secondary jam forming in Keeseville Village were not causing flooding as of Sunday evening, but additional flooding could occur if ice shifts downstream in the coming hours and days.
A Flood Warning remains in effect for the Ausable River from Keene to Keeseville until just after midnight Monday morning.
Great Chazy River (Clinton County, New York): Minor river flooding is occurring on parts of the Great Chazy River due to an ice jam release. A campground near Sample Lumber in Mooers reportedly experienced flooding, and a small ice jam near Perry Mills is another area of concern.
A Flood Warning is in effect for the Great Chazy River from Mooers to Champlain until 11:45 a.m. Monday.
Be prepared for changing conditions: Ice jams can form very quickly and unpredictably. Water can rise several feet in just a few minutes. If you live, work or travel along flood prone rivers or streams, stay alert for rapidly changing conditions and monitor forecasts closely over the next few days. Emergency officials in the Mad River Valley are urging people who live near the river to have a go-bag ready and an escape route planned in the event of an evacuation.
Never walk on ice, and stay well away from the water’s edge. Do not drive through flooded areas and do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Download the First Alert Weather App to be notified immediately any time a Flood Warning is issued for your area.
The First Alert Weather Team will continue to monitor river conditions and ice jam activity as this thaw continues. Stay with us on air, online and on the First Alert Weather App for updates on flooding and river conditions through Wednesday.
