The combination of a strong area of low pressure moving across Ontario and Quebec provinces in Canada and strong high pressure in the Canadian Maritimes created a strong pressure gradient that resulted in low-level winds of 45 to 60 knots, from the south, between 3,000 and 6,000 feet on October 7th. The air mass across New England and New York was warmer than normal along with an approaching cold front that traveled from Ontario province across New York during the early afternoon and Vermont during the mid to late afternoon.
This cold front was the focus for a nearly solid line of convective rain showers, but not unstable enough to develop thunderstorms. The updrafts associated with these showers were enough, at times, to translate these low-level winds aloft down to the surface. The end result was scattered wind gusts of 50 mph or greater across portions of Vermont producing numerous downed trees or tree limbs on utility lines resulting in more than 25,000 customers without power at the peak.
Some measured wind gusts from ASOS or mesonet sites included: 51 mph in St. Johnsbury and 50 mph in Lyndonville (Caledonia county), 47 mph at the Rutland State airport in North Clarendon (Rutland county), 41 mph at the NWS office at Burlington Int'l airport (Chittenden county) as well as Knapp State Airport in Berlin (Washington county).

Strong Wind in ESSEX, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 16:15:00 to 07-OCT-13 16:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in Essex county, including Maidstone, Lunenburg and Guidhall.

Strong Wind in WASHINGTON, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 15:30:00 to 07-OCT-13 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in Washington county, including Worcester, Barre, Plainfield and Waterbury Center.

Strong Wind in LAMOILLE, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 15:30:00 to 07-OCT-13 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in Lamoille county, including Stowe and Jeffersonville.

Strong Wind in ORANGE, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 16:45:00 to 07-OCT-13 17:15:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in Orange county, including Chelsea and Thetford.

Strong Wind in WINDSOR, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 16:45:00 to 07-OCT-13 17:15:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in Windsor county, including White River junction, Randolph, Royalton and Hartford.

Strong Wind in EASTERN ADDISON, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 15:00:00 to 07-OCT-13 15:20:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in eastern Addison county, including Bristol, Monkton and East Middlebury.

Strong Wind in EASTERN RUTLAND, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 15:00:00 to 07-OCT-13 15:20:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in eastern Rutland county, including Sudbury, Clarendon, Mendon.

Strong Wind in CALEDONIA, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 16:10:00 to 07-OCT-13 16:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in Caledonia county, including Lyndonville, St. Johnsbury, Danville.

Strong Wind in EASTERN CHITTENDEN, VERMONT
From 07-OCT-13 15:00:00 to 07-OCT-13 15:20:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Several reports of tree branches on utility lines in several communities in eastern Chittenden county, including Huntington, Bolton, Richmond, Jericho and Underhill.