Yesterday’s rainstorm turned thunder storm turned tornado watch walloped Essex County, but fortunately spared Essex the worst damage.
Our streams and rivers are swollen, in some cases well beyond their banks. The scaffolding at the Belden Noble Library (straddling Library Brook for repairs to storm damage from last summer) had its proverbial feet swept out from underneath it. Lake Champlain has already jumped 6” and it’s littered with logs and debris swept up with flooding. And many roads have been washed out including a lengthy section of Rock Harbor Way, temporarily preventing my nephew and brother-in-law from coming or going. (I’m hoping to add a photo soon to show the dramatic damage.)
Emily and Scott let us know that the Westport Yacht Club driveway washed out.
Fortunately, Bob, Phil, and Aaron managed to prioritize repairs in a timely manner.
We’re super grateful, especially considering how many demands were being made on their time, skills, and equipment!
Susan and Tony spent much of the day wrangling trees and debris out of the lake and off of our waterfront.
Susan’s tool of choice was a standup paddle board (or, as the case may be, a sit-down paddleboard…) 
Tony alternated between raking and collecting detritus with garbage can, and Gator-ing load after load to Rosslyn’s backlands for composting.
Although these photos were taken at the end of the day, and the lake looks practically placid, other waterways in the vicinity were tumultuous torrents. I witnessed the Boquet River roaring through Willsboro this afternoon, and this video below captures the frothy force upstream in Wadhams.
In fact, social media has a bumper crop of photos and videos, documenting the drama and damage. But instead of finishing on a down note, let’s close with this beautiful image of a rainbow scene beyond the Essex town dock. Sometimes stormy weather balances concern with beauty!
What a meteorological adventure…
What do you think?