A very deep trough across the eastern seaboard allowed a deep, mild, moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to feed into the northeast United States, including VT and NY on December 17th and 18th.
Surface low pressure across Florida on December 17th moved north along the eastern seaboard into New England on December 18th. Mild, moist air delivered 1.5 to 3+ inches of rainfall to northeast NY along with temperatures in the 40s that promoted snowmelt of approximately 1-1.5 inches. Widespread saturated soil inundation flooding such as flooded fields, yards, spilling (flowing) into basements, low-lying roads and streams, eventually into small rivers and into the larger rivers of the Winooski, Passumpsic, Lamoille and Otter Creek watersheds.
The following rivers reached major flood stage; Winooski, Mad and Lamoille with Moderate flood stage levels observed along the Passumpsic, Missisquoi and Otter Creek.

Flood in LAMOILLE, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CAMBRIDGE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching moderate to major flood, including the Lamoille River. Many communities were impacted with some of the hardest hit communities including; Cambridge, Jeffersonville, Johnson and Stowe.

Flood in WASHINGTON, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WATERBURY ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching moderate to major flood, including the Winooski, Mad River and its tributaries. Many communities were impacted with some of the hardest hit communities including; Barre, Waitsfield, Moretown, Montpelier, Waterbury, Stowe, Plainfield and East Montpelier.

Flood in CHITTENDEN, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 20-DEC-23 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ESSEX JCT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching moderate to major flood, Several communities were impacted with some of the hardest hit communities being along the Winooski River in Richmond, Bolton, Essex Junction and Williston.

Flood in ORLEANS, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: JAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching moderate flood, including the Coventry and Missisquoi watersheds where several roads and homes were flooded. Many communities were impacted with some of the hardest hit communities included; Coventry, Lowell and Irasburg.

Flood in FRANKLIN, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MISSISQUOI
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching moderate flood, including the Missisquoi, Lamoille and Trout river watersheds where several roads and homes were flooded. Many communities were impacted with some of the hardest hit communities included; Montgomery, Fairfax and East Berkshire.

Flood in RUTLAND, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BRANDON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching minor to moderate flood, including the Otter Creek watershed where several roads and homes were flooded.

Flood in ORANGE, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WELLS RIVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching minor to moderate flood, including the Wells river where several roads and homes were flooded.

Flood in WINDSOR, VERMONT
From 18-DEC-23 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-23 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: TALCVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread heavy rainfall and substantial snow melt led to saturated soils and ponding of water and runoff across roads into streams and rivers with some gaged rivers reaching minor to moderate flood, including the Ottauquechee and Williams river watersheds where several roads and homes were flooded, including communities like Woodstock and Chester.