Vermont Begins Slow Descent Out Of Humidity Hell. Also, Wild Storm Hits Part Of Champlain Valley Saturday

Storm clouds over Colchester, Vermont swirl as a severe
thunderstorm approached late Saturday afternoon,

We were expected some garden variety storms Saturday, but the one that struck the southern Champlain Islands and northwestern Chittenden County was anything but. Anyone who was in that storm had an exciting hour or so. 

The largely isolated severe storm blew up on approach from New York toward South Hero, Vermont. In South Hero, there were many branches and trees down, and hail reached the size of quarters and even half dollars. 

It must have been chaos at Sand Bar State Park.  A very warm, humid day that surely lured crowds to the beach was interrupted by the storm packing 62 mph winds at the park. The storm continued on into the Burlington metro area, with slightly less wind but with torrential, blinding rain. 

Burlington had 1.09 inches of rain in just an hour, quickly flooding streets in Burlington, South Burlington and Williston. The total rainfall of 1.22 inches in Burlington was a record for the date.

After Burlington, the storm broke up into numerous showers and storms that gave most of the northern half of Vermont a decent wetting. The exception was the most of the northern Champlain Valley. St. Albans just had a trace of rain in a brief sprinkle. 

Another severe storm caused a lot of damage in western Massachusetts, including a partial building collapse in Springfield, Massachusetts that displaced 46 people. 

After that storminess, Vermont will gradually descend out of the intense humidity that has plagued us for the past three days.

TODAY

Williston Road in South Burlington flooded after 
Saturday's severe storm. Moments after this
photo was taken, police closed the road.

We're starting the day almost as humid as it's been for the past few days. The humidity will continue to go down slightly, so by afternoon, it won't exactly be comfortable, but still noticeably better than yesterday. 

Early this morning, we still had some clouds and widely scattered sprinkles around, but it should largely clear up by afternoon. 

There's a little wildfire smoke in the atmosphere - we'll have to get used to that as the western U.S. continues to burn - but the smoke won't be enough to block the sun or cause a lot of health issues. 

MONDAY

Dawn will break Monday with air more comfortable than we've seen in days. Still mild, with a low within a few degrees either side of 60 degrees.

It will turn somewhat more humid again, but not as bad as yesterday. Another cold front is coming, and clouds will increase. Showers and storms will start to creep in during the afternoon. Scattered stuff, hit or miss. Some of us will stay dry during the day. 

We'll have quite a few showers and rumbles of thunder around Monday night. They won't amount to much. Most of us will see a quarter inch of rain or less.

TUESDAY

Probably a nice day. Sunshine, somewhat less humid air will help.  Highs should reach 80 degrees, or maybe low to mid 80s in the warmer valleys. 

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY

The next cold front in our gradual cool down and humidity flushing will approach.  Wednesday might temporarily be a little more humid than Tuesday, but not anywhere nearly as bad as we just endured. This will be a quick moving system, so the rain Wednesday night and Thursday again won't be particularly heavy. 

FRIDAY/SUNDAY

Cool weather! Quick moving, weak weather disturbances will keep light showers chances going. But the sun will be out during at least part of the days will be sunny. And it won't be humid! Highs will only be in the 70s and lows will drop into the 50s.