Brattleboro

May 2025 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

May was a very wet month with a number of cool days.  Measurable rain on 17 days with a trace on 4 days totaling 10.23″.  NOAA normal for May at this location is 3.64″.  This is the 3rd highest monthly total in the 6+  years I have been a CoCoRaHS observer.  The other 2 highest were both in the month of July with flooding in parts of the state.

Year to date total is 24.77″ compared to the average of 17.61″.  All numbers are from my location in the S.E. corner of Brattleboro and will very with location.

April 2025 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

A little wetter than average April with cool weather in the first half but warmer days in the second half. Measured 4.62″ this month with measurable moisture on 17 of 30 days compared to the normal of 3.85″.  For the calendar year my number is 14.54″ compared to the NOAA average of 13.97″.

Also recorded 2.7″ of snow, bringing the season total to 54.5″. My snow average is 62.6″ per season.  All numbers are from my location in the SE corner of Brattleboro and do vary with location.

Hands Off March in the Rain in Brattleboro

by local | Activism

A good size crowd (estimated at near 2000 by the Reformer) met at the Center Congregational Church on Main St.  There they listened to Rep. Becca Balint speak, then walked to the Town Common For more speeches.  It was a loud but civil crowd.  All on a rainy day.

March 2025 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

A warmer first half of the month and a rainy second half totaling 3.61″ of moisture compared to a NOAA normal of 3.62″.  Only recorded 0.2″ of snow all month.  Earlier in the winter many were saying what a snowy winter we are having, but the season total so far is 51.8″ compared to my average of 62.5″.   Most all snow was melted by the middle of March.  Still possible to receive snow in April.

For the calendar year, total moisture is 9.92″ compared to the average of 10.12″.  Very close to normal.  All numbers are from my home in the S.E. corner of Brattleboro and do vary by location.

February 2025 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

February was a wet, mostly snowy month.  Total moisture recorded for the month was 4.74″ compared to the NOAA average of 3.11″.  For the calendar year 6.31″ compared to the normal of 6.50″.

Snow for the month measured 26.3″ compared to my average since 1993 of 16.5″.  The most I have recorded in February is 40.0″ in 2014-15 and the least is 0.0″ in 2012-13.  For the season, snow total stands at 50.4″, about a foot below the season average of 62.5″ with March and April to go.  My snow stake out in the yard is at 14″ this morning and will vary greatly upon how much sun you receive along with how much snow has fallen.

January 2025 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

A dry month with fairly normal temps. Measured 1.57″ of moisture compared to a NOAA normal of 3.39″.  Even with the relatively cold temps most of the month, about 1/2 of the moisture fell as rain.

Snow for the month totaled 12.6″ compared to my average of 16.5″.  My average in just the years 1993-2010 was 19.4″. Total snowfall so far this season stands at 25.3″ at my location.  For comparison Mt Snow ski area lists their season total at 93″.  They do exaggerate a little but they also have been receiving much more snow this year and skiing has been good for several weeks.

December 2024 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

For the month of December measured 4.25″ compared to a normal of 4.30 inches.  Most fell as rain but we did receive 8.4″ of snow compared to my average of 13.8″.  The approximate water equivalence of the snow was 0.55″,  so a very dry cold snow from western clipper systems.

I have been measuring snow since 1993.  The average December snow from 93-2010 = 16.1″ and from 2011 to current = 11.3″.  Snowfall on average continues to fall as total precipitation increases.  All this time we were well into climate change.  Wish I had data from the 1960s when I don’t remember a lot of rain storms in winter.

November Precipitation 2024

by local | Nature

Dryness has abated somewhat with 2 larger storms in the past 10 days.  Precipitation for the month measured 3.01″  compared to the normal of 3.53″.  The second storm included snow for many including here with 4.3″ and more at higher elevations.  My November snow average going back to 1993-94 is 2.8″.  There have been 5 years with 10 or more inches in November over that time period.

For the calendar year my total stands at 41.68 inches compared to the norm of 43.24″.  One month to go.  All numbers are from my location in the SE corner of Brattleboro.

Brattleboro October Precipitation

by local | Nature

Continued dry with only 2 rain events during the month totaling 1.38″.  Normal rain for October is 4.77″. For the calendar year the total is now 38.67″ compared to the NOAA average of 39.71″.  At the end of August the calendar year total was a +5.37″ and now we are over an inch below normal.  It has been enjoyable weather.

Across Windham County, CoCoRaHs stations reported a high of 2.71″ and a low of 0.73″ for the month of October.  I did see a few snowflakes in the air one day this month.  All my numbers are from a rain gauge located in the S.E. corner of Brattleboro.

September Precipitation

by local | Nature

A dry month with rain on only 4 days at my location totaling 1.19″.  The NOAA average for September is 4.21″. This also marks the end of the Water year or hydrologic year that runs Oct 1 – Sept. 30.  My total for this period is 51.32″ compared to the normal of 47.54″.

Talked to a Town employee last week and the town reservoir (Pleasant Valley) was only down 8 inches at the time so no water shortage.  I can remember the reservoir being down 6 or more feet with the old road across showing.  This is opinion that I try to stay away from, but I enjoyed this past month with drier than normal weather and temps not too hot or too cold on average.

Donate to the Amazing Hospice Hunt!

by giddyitup | Culture

The Hospice Amazing Hunt is happening again this Saturday, September 28 to support Brattleboro Area Hospice. This is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year and we could use more donations! Teams of four will be racing around downtown Brattleboro, searching for clues in unexpected places around town.

If you are able, please donate to the team of your choice here! All proceeds go to Brattleboro Area Hospice’s multitude of free programs supporting those who are dealing with serious illnesses, at the end of their life, and grieving loved ones. For more information about their programs, visit: https://brattleborohospice.org/

Last Brattleboro Walking History Tours of the Season!

by giddyitup | History

Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary continues their walking history tour of Brattleboro, Vermont, leading participants on a journey through time while supporting a worthy cause. The final dates for this unique fundraiser are on Saturdays, September 28, and October 26 at 11 am.

Led by knowledgeable local Rotarian guides, attendees will spend 90 minutes walking up Brattleboro’s Main Street, delving into its fascinating history from its early beginnings to its present-day charm. 

Tours walk from one end of Main Street to the other (approximately 7/10 of a mile) with about 10 stops explaining Brattleboro’s history and culture. The tour will last approximately 1.5 hours and will go from Plaza Park (across from the Co-op) to the Brattleboro Common. Older kids are welcome, but the tour is designed for adults.

August Precipitation

by local | Nature

A wetter month with 5.28″ of rainfall compared to the average of 4.32″.  There was measurable rain on 10 of the first 11 days and on 20 of August’s 31 days.  For the calendar year 36.10″ compared to the NOAA average of 30.73″. Across Windham County I see monthly totals as high as 7.59″ in Marlboro and a low of 3.75″ in Rockingham.  My numbers are from the South east corner of Brattleboro.  For more information visit CoCoRaHS.org

July Rainfall

by local | Nature

For my location a dry month with 2.27″ measured compared to the NOAA normal of 4.28″.  The moisture we did receive was evenly spread across the month with 4 being the most completely dry days in a row.  You can see the effects of less rain with lawns starting to turn brown in sunny areas.  Within the CoCoRaHs network my location is the driest in the state for July. 

In Windham County there are a couple of stations reporting over 4″ for the month so many locations are not as dry.  Up north it is a different story with near record rainfall.  A station in St. Johnsbury has measured 17.73″ for the month. 

June Precipitation

by local | Nature

June rainfall of 4.23″ compared to a NOAA average of 4.52″.  Just a little below normal.  The first 20 days of the month were quite dry then several days of heavier rainfall brought us to near normal.  For the calendar year still well above at 28.55″ compared to the NOAA average of 22.13″.  Any rainfall we were to receive today would be recorded/reported tomorrow at 7am, the start of a new month.  All numbers are from my location in the SE corner of Brattleboro.

April Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

Monthly precipitation of 5.04” compared to a NOAA normal of 3.85”. A couple larger storms in the first half brought most of the moisture with a much dryer second half of April. For the calendar year the total is 21.00” compared to the NOAA average of 14.3” or 148% of normal. All numbers are from my location in the S.E. corner of Brattleboro and can vary from one location to another. My snow total for the season is 40.4” compared to my yearly average of 62.8”.

March Precipitation Report

by local | Education

March precipitation total is 7.88″.  NOAA normal is 3.62″ so we are 218% above average for the month. Yearly precip stands at 15.99″ compared to NOAA average of 10.12″ or 158% of normal.   Normal is a NOAA term which is a 30 year average for the years 1990- 2020.  The average or normal changes every 10 years.  I think of the terms as interchangeable.  NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the National Weather Service.  

Snowfall at my location this winter season is 35.1″.  There are no official averages for this area but my average for the past 30 years is about 64″ so we are low even though the moisture is high.

Kevin O’Keefe on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

You don’t have to run away to join the Circus, it can come to you! Kevin creates original productions with kids, does Circus Yoga with all ages, and makes everything fun. He shows how anyone can be part of Circus. Kevin is also a writer of essays, poems and memoir.  His Circus work has been featured twice in The New Yorker magazine.

The ONE and ONLY Brattleboro

by Terry Martin | Opinion

The ONE and ONLY Brattleboro

First, let me emphasize that I would not change anything growing up in Brattleboro!

According to the U.S. Census Reports, Brattleboro’s population in 1950 was 11,522; in 1960, it was 11,734 (when I went into the Army); in 1970, it was 12,239 (highest); in 2010, it was 12,046; and in 2022, it was 12,106. So, our population has been pretty unwavering for the last fifty years with no growth.

Mariam Diallo on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Education

With teens like this, who needs adults ?!! A sophomore at BUHS, Mariam Diallo is grounded, talented and enthusiastic. She’s involved in bringing more youth voices and perspectives to all aspects of our community.