Droughts in Vermont

LOCAL: 2001 very dry, warm in 2001 as Vermont faced deep snows, a searing drought and a cascade of records for high and low temperatures. Averaged out over the year, the Vermont weather was warmer and much drier than normal. Within that trend came July frosts, April dust, May snow and December heat. The weather of 2001 could fill a new chapter in the Vermont Weather Book, the David Ludlum bible of state weather lore in which Cate made his 1985 observations on Green Mountain weather. ... Vermonters rang in the New Year knee-deep in snow and watched as the snow grew even deeper as the season wore on. ... The biggest storm of the winter, the third largest snowstorm on record in Burlington, struck Town Meeting Day. The storm dumped 22.9 inches of snow on the city. Most communities held their annual town meetings anyway. ... snowstorms struck every few days ... The drought worsened as summer wore on. River levels in the Winooski and other Vermont waterways fell to record lows.

Dry year in Vermont shriveled crops, dried wells The dry weather of 2001 brought about changes large and small around Vermont. ... The drought stunted second and third crops of hay around Vermont and it limited snowmaking at ski resorts that hadn't prepared by filling ponds. It dropped the level of Lake Champlain so low -- 93 feet -- that boats ran aground more frequently, hitting ob- stacles that used to be far underwater. Burlington got only a little better than 23 inches, more than 11 inches below normal -- which put 2001 at the fourth-driest ever for Vermont's largest city. Ten of 12 months in 2001 registered less than normal precipitation. ... Homeowners ran out of water when their springs, and then their wells, started drying up in the summer and fall. Many drilled new wells, causing a flurry of business for drilling companies. For a well to run dry is unusual, said Frost -- something he used to see in only one in 100 wells.

Low lake level brings problems to the surface Lake Champlain has reached its lowest level in 30 years, leaving beaches around the lake looking like windswept deserts littered with driftwood and an occasional tire, milk crate or other bits of junk. The lake was at 93.75 feet Friday, or about 2.5 feet lower than the average January lake level of 96.23 feet. The cause is Vermont's ongoing drought. The low lake level reduces the likelihood of spring flooding, according to Greg Hanson, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Burlington. However, the lake's low water presents problems: -- Boaters needing more than 2 feet of water to float their vessels can't get into the Winooski River, said David Bourbeau of the U.S. Coast Guard. -- Stranded driftwood and debris will challenge parks and recreation departments around the lake this spring as workers tidy beaches in preparation for the summer season. -- Low water will test the ability of certain lakeside structures to survive the extremes.

Feb. rain doesn't ease drought A nearly year-long drought in Vermont shows no signs of easing despite near normal precipitation in February and a soggy storm forecast for today. In most of Vermont, rainfall has been eight to 10 inches below normal since April. Farmers are worried about groundwater levels, and some homeowners continue to struggle with depleted wells. Vermont's dry weather is part of a wide drought affecting much of the East Coast and Upper Midwest. Burlington's precipitation was 0.26 inches above normal in February, the first wetter-than-normal month since August.February is normally Vermont's driest month of the year. A few tenths of an inch of extra water will do little to ease the state's drought, said Bob Bell, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in South Burlington. ... The extra rainfall in February helped a little. River levels are closer to normal. Lake Champlain's level has risen several inches, though it is still more than a foot below normal, National Weather Service data shows.

The threat of forest fires has officials across the state urging caution. The year-long drought has made woods and fields fire hazards. Last fall - firefighters had their hands full. Forest fires -- like one in Hinesburg -- were more common because of extremely dry conditions. Estey is referring to this winter -- the mild season has only worsened the dry conditions out there. Estey issues burning permits, but lately those are not easy to get. "Today I'd refuse permits," he said. "It's too windy and dry --even though its cold." At a time of year when fields should be covered in white snow -- there is brown grass as far as the eye can see. Fire officials say the little amount of snow we've had this year translates into a ground that gets drier -- quicker -- and increases the likelihood that something like a stray cigarette could send everything up in flames. ^popular

Vermont Looks for Solutions to Ongoing Drought It began eleven months ago, and today, the ongoing drought continues to cause more problems and affect more people. And that has the state of Vermont, and its politicians in Washington, looking for ways to combat the severe water shortage that grows worse each month. ... The warmest winter on record hasn't helped the situation. Over the last six months, more than 150 farmers have reported water outages and crop losses. But farmers aren't the only ones facing problems. As the drought worsens, more Vermonters are affected. Well owners are seeing their wells dry up, and there is a 3-4 week backlog of well drilling assignments. Local governments are stressing that it is time to talk conservation. And while it may be voluntary for the moment, mandatory measures may be put in place this summer. The drought is a different, more silent type of weather disaster, with no clear solution. The parched landscape is at the mercy of mother nature. While it takes a long time to get into a drought, it takes even longer to get out of one. Beneficial spring rains and snowmelt may help in the short-term, but a long wet spell is necessary for a more long-term solution.

Dry weather in August has raised concern that a recently ended drought is returning, but a little well-timed rain would ease the threat. August will turn out to be the fifth driest on record, National Weather Service data show. Burlington accumulated 1.16 inches of rain during the month, about a quarter of the normal amount. The dry August was part of a bipolar summer that, when averaged out, featured near normal temperatures and precipitation. June was cool, and among the wettest on record. July was near normal and August was unusually hot and dry. The early summer rain pulled Vermont out of a drought, which started in the spring of 2001. ... Generally above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall are expected over the first half of September, though meteorologists warn that long-range forecasts are sometimes inaccurate.