We’re naming that storm The Grinch.
It messed around with the holidays, but for creating a lot of anxiety and being meddlesome, The Grinch wasn’t unable to ruin much of anything.
That’s a good thing. A very fortunate circumstance, given the potential for destruction.
Consider that according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, on average, one inch of rain is the equivalent of 13 inches of snow. (Although this ratio can vary from 2 inches for sleet to nearly 50 inches for very dry, powdery snow under certain conditions that were not present this week.) Depending upon whom you rely for weather statistics (we are going with the National Weather Service), most of Vermont received about 2.5 inches of rain in the 24-hour period between 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and Dec. 18. That would have been nearly 30-plus inches of snow, or more. While that would have guaranteed a White Christmas, digging out from a snowstorm of that magnitude in the days leading up to a major holiday would have felt downright Grinch-like.
Granted, no one wants to be pumping out basements, or scrambling to fix driveways (and some roads) before temperatures dip below freezing again. The storm provided its challenges, for sure.
Across central Vermont, there also was a psychological factor. The heavy rain — even before it turned to flood stage — was triggering anxiety for many, and probably some Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for many who just got back on their feet following the July storm. (We recognize that there are still families and individuals whose homes sustained such significant damage in the summer storm that they have had to relocate or find other suitable living arrangements for these winter months.)
When it became obvious Monday afternoon that the region was going to hit another flood stage — there was nowhere for the rain and melting snow pack to go — anxiety worsened. We would urge folks who are feeling that trauma and anxiety to be sure to reach out for help and get some proper counseling and care.
Broadcasters on Tuesday morning were using euphemisms like “dodging the bullet.” These weather events are never insignificant. They have a cost, and are not just part of an occasional news cycle. They are serious and scary, even if they do not provide to be catastrophic. We appreciate the governor and his staff coordinating news conferences (during the flooding on Monday and on Tuesday afternoon after floodwaters had receded out of danger zones). Between COVID and weather events, Gov. Phil Scott has perfected his role as commander in care. His legacy probably will not be rooted in his politics but rather in being available in crises (too many of them, frankly) and getting help to Vermonters in need. In some ways, that is better leadership than any political party could afford. (He has spent so much time at podiums, he has not had to actively campaign for governor for three terms now.)
The forecast for the rest of the week (and through the Christmas portion of the holiday season) looks far less Grinch-like. Once the rivers, streams, brooks and creeks get down to more seasonal water levels, we can breathe more easily. But as the last four consecutive Mondays have shown us, weather is fickle and tricky. If you recall, we had a very wet and volatile summer and fall. There is no reason to believe that the precipitation trend is going to turn off at the spigot. We are in a weather pattern that is going to continue to be disruptive at times. And while lots of snow is good for ski areas (especially now that their snowpack got wiped out in a 24-hour period) and other outdoor recreationists, plowing, shoveling, canceled school and missing work can be stressful in many other ways, mostly financial. Mother Nature does not seem to want to keep a balance. We have now seen three major weather events in almost a year. On Dec. 23, 2022, we saw a period of unseasonably warm temperatures give way to high winds and heavy rains that toppled trees and caused flooding, quickly followed by a change in temperature that went from around 60 degrees to minus 10. Then, in early July (and extending for weeks of heavy rains), there was widespread flooding that devastated Barre and Montpelier, as well as other communities across Vermont. It’s only been a few weeks that things have felt “normal.”
It will happen again. The Grinch will be back, almost as if this happens every year now.
In the meantime, we must continue to lift each other up, and provide support through the holiday season. Since many downtowns were spared further trauma (particularly the Granite and Capital cities), let’s show our continued investment in community and finish holiday shopping in local stores that were just fearing for their livelihood again.
Shop local. Feel fortunate. Count blessings. And show the kindness that makes our hearts grow four times every day. But especially on these hard days that are coming far too frequently.
