The National Weather Service offices and Emergency Management in New 
York and all of the New England
states (including Vermont) have recognized the week of April 27th thru 
May 3rd as Severe Weather Awareness Week.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/btv/html/SevereAwareness/ 

This annual recognition is a way for the NWS and other agencies to "get 
the word out" to the public and others on the
potential dangers associated with Severe weather (Tornadoes, Strong 
winds, lightning and flooding). Although most people
focus on tornadoes, severe thunderstorms can cause extensive damage as 
well. Here in VT, storm climatology suggests that
a tornado occurs once every two years across Vermont and that it is 
relatively weak compared to the central United States.

Last year (2007), Vermont and northern New York witnessed an 
exceptionally large amount of severe thunderstorms, including
a long-lived supercell (8/16) that moved from near Plattsburgh, NY 
across  Lake Champlain and east into the Connecticut River valley
with widespread damage. Remember, flash flooding is a common threat 
across VT and northern NY during the warm season due to rich,
abundant moisture, weak slow moving boundaries and thunderstorms. The 
Flash Flooding across the Barre area on July 11, 2007 was
an excellent example as well as the Montgomery Flood of 1997 and much of 
VT during late June of 1998.

Please take a moment to look at the above site and check the various 
links referenced and additional links that are located on NWS BTV
Severe Weather page.

Lesley-Ann...could you place the above link on your web site as years 
past. - Thank you.

Thanks,
Scott

-- 
Scott L. Whittier
Senior Meteorologist               DOC/NOAA/National Weather Service
[log in to unmask]            Burlington Intl Airport
802-862-2475 x239                  1200 Airport Drive
www.weather.gov/btv                S. Burlington VT 05403-6028
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The contents of this message are mine personally and do not
necessarily reflect any position of the Government or the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.