In northern Vermont, catastrophic upland flooding often results when fronts stagnate or stall. Using the July 14-15,1997 event as a case study, the atmospheric and environmental factors that were most conducive to causing over $12.5 million in damages across the northern counties were identified. These factors include the orientation of the topography, the humidity and temperature characteristics of the atmosphere, stalling of highly convective rain cells and anthropogenic influences such as forest debris that clogged rivers and streams.

This work was supported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Relevant Publications:

• Dupigny-Giroux, L.-A., Hannng, J.R. and Engstrom, E. (2005) Orographic influence on frontally-produced flooding in northern Vermont: The July 14-15 event, Physical Geography, Vol. 26, No. xx, pp.. (in press)