A sign warns swimmers of potential danger at Huntington Gorge in Richmond. / Free Press file
Severe weather can render even a familiar landscape into an unpredictable menace, often difficult to detect. Thatís especially true when water is involved.
The days since early May have been characterized by record rains, often coming with a startling intensity and violence.
Around the state, Vermonters have seen roads repeatedly flooded, buildings washed away, and stormwater systems and culverts overwhelmed.
The loss from each storm is often concentrated in a few areas, but the aftermath often brings to mind what Tropical Storm Irene left behind nearly two years ago.
Beyond the obvious damage lurk other dangers.
Even a relatively thin layer of water can cause tires to lose their grip on the road ó a phenomenon know as hydroplaning.
What might look like a minor spread of water over the road overflowing from a nearby flooded field could hide dangerous washouts that can trap vehicles.
The risk of driving through water without knowing what lays beneath the surface far outweighs any delays waiting for the roads to clear or the inconvenience of having to take an alternate route.
Runoff also can swell streams and rivers, turning favorite swimming spots into traps laced with dangerous currents and undertows that can sweep away swimmers.
The danger can last long after the rains have passed, with water pouring down into streams from mountain sides and storms farther upstream.
With even the state issuing warnings about unsafe swimming conditions in fast-running waters, itís best to resist the temptation to escape the heat and humidity with a dip in swimming holes.
This yearís seemingly endless string of intense weather is another reminder to never underestimate the force of nature.
For Vermonters, adjusting driving and other daily habits to match weather conditions during winter is second nature. The recent rains call for the same level of adaptability.
Common sense says that we must exercise a little extra caution during this period of unusual weather.
Your life depends on it.
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