tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59477561043103618442024-03-19T01:48:20.211-07:00Paul's Local Weather JournalWinner of the 2006, 2008, and 2009 Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association award for Best Weathercast; Winner of the 2007 New York Emmy award; Five-time Emmy nomineePaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.comBlogger776125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-67695494324697205292024-03-19T00:06:00.000-07:002024-03-19T00:06:39.651-07:00Spring Arrives Today at 11:06 p.m. EDT in the Northern HemisphereToday is the last full day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere at 11:06 p.m. EDT. That's when the direct rays of the Sun pass over the Equator, technically creating "equal day and equal night" over the face of the Earth.<div>
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I've always observed the change of seasons with more reverence and awe than New Year's Eve. After all, the beginning of a new year is an arbitrary date which can actually be recognized just about any time during the year. However, an equinox or a solstice is a much more meaningful "event" and can be explained astronomically. The time is exact and changes every year although, for the most part, the date doesn't vary much.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef014e86cc8217970d-pi" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spring" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c04cc53ef014e86cc8217970d" height="300" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef014e86cc8217970d-800wi" title="Spring" width="400" /></a></div>
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The change of seasons is due to the 23.4 degree tilt of the Earth's axis. Because of the tilt, we receive the Sun's rays most directly in the Summer. In the Winter, when we are tilted away from the Sun, the rays pass through the atmosphere at a greater slant, bringing lower temperatures. If the Earth rotated on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun, there would be no variation in day lengths or temperatures throughout the year, and we would not have seasons.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/03/20/equinox.gif"></a>Now that Winter is just about in our rear-view mirror, how did we fare as far as snow is concerned? Officially, slightly more than one foot (15.6") of snow fell this season at the Bridgeport climate station, which is slightly more than half the normal snowfall (30.8) through today.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef014e5ff1bf2b970c-pi" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spring2" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c04cc53ef014e5ff1bf2b970c" height="300" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef014e5ff1bf2b970c-800wi" title="Spring2" width="400" /></a></div>
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Southwestern Connecticut didn't experience much of a Winter. However, recent history suggests that the official change of seasons in the Northern Hemisphere doesn't necessarily mean a smooth transition from Winter to Spring.<br />
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Happy Spring!<br />
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Paul</div>
</div>Paul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-61272260453398090192024-03-17T00:08:00.000-07:002024-03-19T00:09:40.535-07:00We're Enjoying the "Luck of the Irish" on St. Patrick's Day<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The air temperature is 59° F with a 35° dew point and a generous southwest breeze under a mix of sunshine and clouds at the mouth of the Mill River near Sasco Hill in Southport. <a href="https://t.co/eBPvaoa4ri">pic.twitter.com/eBPvaoa4ri</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1769392352395714709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-4861982969890740822024-03-16T00:10:00.000-07:002024-03-19T00:11:04.757-07:00Mild March Madness Continues Across Southwestern Connecticut<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The average temperature this month at the Bridgeport climate station is 47° F, which is 9.4° warmer-than-normal. Every day except March 1 has been warmer-than-normal, including seven days with average temperatures at least 10° above normal. <a href="https://t.co/uSck0AH3WK">pic.twitter.com/uSck0AH3WK</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1769023024970285434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-4401308616507558432024-03-15T00:45:00.000-07:002024-03-16T00:46:27.383-07:00Record High "Room Temperature" of 72 Degrees Established at Bridgeport Today<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bridgeport climate station established a record high temperature for today of 72° F (1:54 p.m. EDT), which eclipsed the previous mark of 65° set in 1990. The normal high temperature for March 15 is 47°. <a href="https://t.co/OnOY2q5udD">pic.twitter.com/OnOY2q5udD</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1768781804289302983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-40470773530511494672024-03-13T03:52:00.000-07:002024-03-14T17:49:15.903-07:00March 13 Is an Unforgettable Day in Local Weather History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHU70gV__4gcl-AM3Elu1A-_F651J4ffUlgToYQDtMRCKXlnybNX_r79DZCMkR2LhkdWAOBZHzJ6i_ayTgUqUvQLhk_zqpSw8bIcUe9EfThcYPplSm0KucO_QAoJTfdfzazMHOFCxAd9c_tuQDaXP2wu1v8syWndaGufpSuAfj8YtIB5sljmsy3Br/s800/d-rendering-red-desk-paper-spring-month-march-date-calendar-page-isolated-white-170201177.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="800" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHU70gV__4gcl-AM3Elu1A-_F651J4ffUlgToYQDtMRCKXlnybNX_r79DZCMkR2LhkdWAOBZHzJ6i_ayTgUqUvQLhk_zqpSw8bIcUe9EfThcYPplSm0KucO_QAoJTfdfzazMHOFCxAd9c_tuQDaXP2wu1v8syWndaGufpSuAfj8YtIB5sljmsy3Br/w200-h184/d-rendering-red-desk-paper-spring-month-march-date-calendar-page-isolated-white-170201177.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Three of the most unforgettable weather events in recent history happened on this date. Two powerful storms and an all-time record high temperature for the season occurred on March 13, highlighting the unpredictability of the weather this time of the year. If you're of a certain age, I'm sure you remember all three weather "events."<br />
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As hard as it may seem to believe, the temperature climbed to an incredible 84 degrees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport on March 13, 1990. That established a record high for the date, month, and the Winter season. The normal high temperature for this date is only 45 degrees, and the normal low is a chilly 31.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54iosD5PqtlOHDuSFwE2E9T7b8BAxR4MWG53_li-1-LHb4L6E8tNhqYAkNriaNQeG0btTy-dnUnOzE9lqHKrjzvKytW-DIewt0y49_v6S0Ui3gW58mXDXe6_SAO3WfQGRUZxbBQ1B6XydjYRMKTdx4NN-vL-HQ4baY31im_9XHDhvbHCOgYrrhyJ-/s773/march_1990.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="773" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54iosD5PqtlOHDuSFwE2E9T7b8BAxR4MWG53_li-1-LHb4L6E8tNhqYAkNriaNQeG0btTy-dnUnOzE9lqHKrjzvKytW-DIewt0y49_v6S0Ui3gW58mXDXe6_SAO3WfQGRUZxbBQ1B6XydjYRMKTdx4NN-vL-HQ4baY31im_9XHDhvbHCOgYrrhyJ-/w400-h289/march_1990.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
During March, a battle rages between the Spring and Winter seasons, and that makes predicting the temperatures during this month as difficult as any time during the year. The amount of daylight continues to grow each day, and the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring, is a week away. But, <em>Old Man Winter</em> has no intentions of packing his bags just yet.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/thermometer_1.gif"></a>I distinctly remember watching and feeling the temperature climb that day due to a strong Westerly wind. The wind direction was extremely important, since the flow didn't come from the cooler waters on Long Island Sound. I was the evening weather anchor at <em>News 12 Connecticut</em> 33 years ago, and our "weather video" showed people flocking to a local beach to soak up the sun and warm temperatures. I'll never forget that day.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGjAkRFS3moAWOEscGmmdB5bERsfrDsNzDtPXceAVe9Bmp9W2Hqi6yf53RzJrGc-fbte89S6H8ktVw_9B540sGcrukp4hUp44h1FHtckHN_tqyY9jjUvk4zezfliEo2MJGzOsmtEYjyYyCRjGtQhD8gdxoAOB794r4nvX0yRHL3FJNgPd_yRjixzB/s1024/FrH8YQJWcA88QRw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGjAkRFS3moAWOEscGmmdB5bERsfrDsNzDtPXceAVe9Bmp9W2Hqi6yf53RzJrGc-fbte89S6H8ktVw_9B540sGcrukp4hUp44h1FHtckHN_tqyY9jjUvk4zezfliEo2MJGzOsmtEYjyYyCRjGtQhD8gdxoAOB794r4nvX0yRHL3FJNgPd_yRjixzB/w400-h284/FrH8YQJWcA88QRw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Then, just three years later, Saturday, March 13, 1993, the famed <em>Storm of the Century</em> pounded the Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. Locally, over a foot of snow fell across southwestern Connecticut, winds gusted over 40 miles an hour, and wind chills hovered at or close to zero throughout the day. It was the second snowiest day on record for March, and it will always be remembered because it affected such a large area.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/11mar_ir.gif"></a>Very heavy snow accumulated in the south. Birmingham, Alabama, picked up a foot of snow. Snow covered the ground from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. The heavy snow spread northward along the East Coast to Maine. On Saturday, March 13, every airport in the Eastern states was closed. Snowfall ranged up to four feet on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. Atlanta, Georgia, picked up three inches. Chattanooga, Tennessee, received up 21 inches. During the peak of the storm, about 30 percent of the entire country was hit by the rough weather.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiW_ppkZxu3EFOb7MqPSQTmX2RGoWtvxgyEmDEpHLKvxnxHRRS7V_71XVbtGFCtorRWBRHLNtMKGsfWAP1h3R1rDhCM3IChFI7AmGk9tsnyJlF2ftln8lEHXSiSxMPwDpYx8SbGSTyDhJ0jKcld5tvwTnUcWdU62qTvQ0kHO_ORYgg7wpLg5Iz2yo/s1144/Sfc_Mar13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1144" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiW_ppkZxu3EFOb7MqPSQTmX2RGoWtvxgyEmDEpHLKvxnxHRRS7V_71XVbtGFCtorRWBRHLNtMKGsfWAP1h3R1rDhCM3IChFI7AmGk9tsnyJlF2ftln8lEHXSiSxMPwDpYx8SbGSTyDhJ0jKcld5tvwTnUcWdU62qTvQ0kHO_ORYgg7wpLg5Iz2yo/w400-h301/Sfc_Mar13.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/kocinsnowtotals13mar93.gif"></a>Very warm, humid air moved across central Florida and, combined with the energy of the storm, helped spawn the 27 tornadoes. Winds were clocked at 99 mph on an oil platform off the Louisiana coast. Overall the storm took 285 lives, mostly because of tornadoes. The storm became the costliest nontropical storm in Florida's history. States of emergency were declared throughout the eastern portion of the country. The adjacent map shows the total snowfall for the storm.<br />
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I was called in for storm coverage that Saturday morning, and we remained on the air for more than 12 hours. Aside from the heavy snow, what I remember most from that day was the rapidly falling barometer. The pressure dropped to 28.35 inches in parts of New England, which is usually only observed in hurricanes. They peak at almost the exact opposite time of the year. By comparison, the normal average barometer reading for southwestern Connecticut is 30.02 inches.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/barometer.jpg"></a>The storm was deepening and intensifying as it moved toward New England, and the howling winds didn't let up. In the wake of the storm, back-to-back record low temperatures of 16 and 12 degrees were established on March 14 and 15, respectively, at Sikorsky Airport.<br />
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Then, 14 years ago, a powerful Nor'easter hammered Connecticut and, specifically, Fairfield County. The damaging wind gusts of 60 to 65 miles an hour, flooding rains, massive power outages, impassable roads, and week-long school closings won't soon be forgotten. We received incredible videos and photos of the widespread destruction across southwestern Connecticut. The following photos were sent by <em>News 12 Connecticut</em> viewers.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f123c970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Storm1" border="0" height="296" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f123c970b-800wi" title="Storm1" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f014a970b-pi" style="display: inline;"></a>
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Former Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that the storm caused more than $7 million in damage statewide, and she requested a visit from Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to assess the damage. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security estimated $2.8 million worth of damage in Fairfield County alone. Fairfield County qualified for federal disaster assistance.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f033f970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Storm2" border="0" height="297" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f033f970b-800wi" title="Storm2" width="400" /></a></div>
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Preliminary damage estimates in Norwalk totaled more than $335,000, and damage to private homes was even greater. Damage to public buildings and parks, and the cost of funding police, fire, and city employee overtime reached about $335,065, according to the city's director of finance. The scoreboard at Brien McMahon High School was the single most expensive piece of property destroyed in the storm. It was estimated at $18,000.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f0ab0970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Storm3" border="0" height="297" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0120a96f0ab0970b-800wi" title="Storm3" width="400" /></a></div>
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Stamford officials estimate private property damage at $3.58 million. Damage to public property was estimated at $262,000, and total overtime for city crews at $143,086. Tens of thousands of people lost power, and three school systems were closed for a week. Heavy rain delivered up to one-half inch per hour during the afternoon of March 13. Here is a sampling of area rainfall totals for that day:<br />
<ul>
<li>New Canaan: 4.34"</li>
<li>Easton: 4.33"</li>
<li>Wilton: 4.01"</li>
<li>Stratford: 3.33"</li>
<li>Woodbridge: 3.12"</li>
<li>Westport: 2.97"</li>
<li>Milford: 2.91"</li>
</ul>
<div style="display: inline; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef01310fd60967970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Storm4" border="0" height="299" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef01310fd60967970c-800wi" title="Storm4" width="400" /></a></div></div>
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This is certainly a date which will be remembered for dramatic weather three times over the last 34 years.<br />
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Paul</div></div>Paul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-69656100909242253632024-03-09T14:14:00.000-08:002024-03-09T14:14:28.432-08:00Flood Watch in Effect for Southwestern Connecticut<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Flood Watch will be in effect for southwestern Connecticut from Saturday at 10 p.m. EST through Sunday at 9 a.m. EDT: <a href="https://t.co/xVhUMdHh2g">https://t.co/xVhUMdHh2g</a> <a href="https://t.co/ygEhrpXfpt">pic.twitter.com/ygEhrpXfpt</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1766563425566490629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Paul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-35635178142965429482024-03-08T14:15:00.000-08:002024-03-09T14:17:44.805-08:00Nearly Four Inches of Precipitation Measured This Month at Bridgeport Climate Station<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bridgeport climate station has recorded just about four inches (3.99") of precipitation this month, which is more than three inches above normal (0.92") through Thursday. <a href="https://t.co/yPGuPYQtTw">pic.twitter.com/yPGuPYQtTw</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1766074623890718849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-51834094540888049922024-03-03T16:55:00.000-08:002024-03-03T16:56:31.618-08:00Record High Temperature Established at Bridgeport This Afternoon<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today's high temperature at the Bridgeport climate station was 65° F (3:47 p.m. EST), which established a record high for this date, breaking the previous mark of 58° (2004). The normal high temperature for March 3 is 44°. <a href="https://t.co/p5AYGJtH8K">pic.twitter.com/p5AYGJtH8K</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1764414779463266655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-15472747910496150762024-03-02T13:56:00.000-08:002024-03-02T14:13:54.934-08:00February Warmer- and Drier-Than-Normal Across Southwestern Connecticut<div>The month of February was mild and dry across southwestern Connecticut. In fact, the first 13 days of the month featured above-average temperatures. Also, following two consecutive months which delivered a combined 14.41" of precipitation, last month offered a break for the overworked rain gauge.</div><div><br /></div>The average monthly temperature for February at the Bridgeport climate station was 36.7° F, which is 3.6° warmer-than-normal. The range was 56° (Feb. 10) and 19° (Feb. 25). There were just eight days with below normal average temperatures. February 10 and 28 had average temperatures of 13 degrees above normal each day.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd80q35WZJBfUmPhU46IsDV7Pes1OPkvNEbcVPhck3ZXogS0iIQxCiSKcl_kxyI-KgHRgg7snEDjDttEyryOsX9d41C_bxzLOgkL7PKVaAtJtMCz3ezeRuFvRDuv1YsBglAo8-5cg2FQ7ROLMyVwxgdgv9sWJpEpSm0I_d7Loe4JecIbuPCa9fMDp4mTg/s1200/GHoLc_bWAAADzzm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd80q35WZJBfUmPhU46IsDV7Pes1OPkvNEbcVPhck3ZXogS0iIQxCiSKcl_kxyI-KgHRgg7snEDjDttEyryOsX9d41C_bxzLOgkL7PKVaAtJtMCz3ezeRuFvRDuv1YsBglAo8-5cg2FQ7ROLMyVwxgdgv9sWJpEpSm0I_d7Loe4JecIbuPCa9fMDp4mTg/w400-h225/GHoLc_bWAAADzzm.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjYBHUwJy5mE1aEyilt-wDrbEWKENwrG1Ip5Ia2V1CRPoFy0xM7MP_koCQDuVxZ-HrZgSKBBSVRdclJEFco9VHzLdFNuhJDi3b7mYQ8rncjjJMzFU1I8wm7xsj2rhDZuggwMYsMIkFI3VPtke5BE2PWGE49ETha7qT7kK-1GiAwFSW468263MnU_NlIs/s2016/GHgp3FzXEAAU4wc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjYBHUwJy5mE1aEyilt-wDrbEWKENwrG1Ip5Ia2V1CRPoFy0xM7MP_koCQDuVxZ-HrZgSKBBSVRdclJEFco9VHzLdFNuhJDi3b7mYQ8rncjjJMzFU1I8wm7xsj2rhDZuggwMYsMIkFI3VPtke5BE2PWGE49ETha7qT7kK-1GiAwFSW468263MnU_NlIs/w400-h300/GHgp3FzXEAAU4wc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The total precipitation for February at the Bridgeport climate station was 1.86" which is 1.26" below normal. There were only two days with at least a half-inch of precipitation (Feb. 13 & Feb. 27). There were four days with at least one-tenth of an inch of precipitation and nine days with at least one-hundredth of an inch of precipitation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtrF0eKzbh6rjtTSCBsCenmaoYqUjdNIjbJLfYXNhYVlWSLJDoUN8FR2cjE0kn2QS35OCeY_t_kP_cW2y6IcS4-2HIUCw9RMBHgeMAyi3f7q7RO82DoBuJ96QEvHQVFb8k6Eo-bEKpUheibJksZQ-ulf7k-cZ_pZUW5fjFtO0ADdENcYk98Xy34NCqzU/s1200/GHoMW1mWUAIK0xk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtrF0eKzbh6rjtTSCBsCenmaoYqUjdNIjbJLfYXNhYVlWSLJDoUN8FR2cjE0kn2QS35OCeY_t_kP_cW2y6IcS4-2HIUCw9RMBHgeMAyi3f7q7RO82DoBuJ96QEvHQVFb8k6Eo-bEKpUheibJksZQ-ulf7k-cZ_pZUW5fjFtO0ADdENcYk98Xy34NCqzU/w400-h225/GHoMW1mWUAIK0xk.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZfaXvDWTyhI-MFxvU1vVvD0aVgw-Iu1bhu_xdttvDZTs1VGTdRIju9PlHDjivX5liKu-5NEHYb6cGHsH_IxhzRU8IXSGGDBTesLRHs_Pp2h2KdhvWhiYrbgML7GSoUUvDIYGaar2IKV1Uo4gOjvDU35QVGNyjO3FJqJFem8949DrnAI-R7le9rJIMIs/s1639/GHOUkf6XEAEU4Eq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1639" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZfaXvDWTyhI-MFxvU1vVvD0aVgw-Iu1bhu_xdttvDZTs1VGTdRIju9PlHDjivX5liKu-5NEHYb6cGHsH_IxhzRU8IXSGGDBTesLRHs_Pp2h2KdhvWhiYrbgML7GSoUUvDIYGaar2IKV1Uo4gOjvDU35QVGNyjO3FJqJFem8949DrnAI-R7le9rJIMIs/w400-h311/GHOUkf6XEAEU4Eq.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paul</div>Paul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-74894144902910233392024-03-01T17:39:00.000-08:002024-03-01T17:39:09.879-08:00"Meteorological Spring" and March Opened on a Snowy Note Nine Years AgoA snowstorm socked southwestern Connecticut with an average of a half-foot of snow Sunday, March 1, 2015. Officially, five inches of snow fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, tying the record for the date. However, Weston (7.5"), Darien (7"), Stamford (6"), and Fairfield (6") received at least a half-foot of snow. Here is the official report from the National Weather Service.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYMoJTWTBDA6tTcGxqaIVCSJv15ZLklkQJSfJ9RsKUXxm9aAbojoHK_v-m0kKUGI_4_WzZ4mYSWo4144Xk0ELXLACU4HBKFexK8JPMDKqUN4Iq-re2Cpe71R6gxyMV-Iw999xTatIOp0/s1600/mar1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYMoJTWTBDA6tTcGxqaIVCSJv15ZLklkQJSfJ9RsKUXxm9aAbojoHK_v-m0kKUGI_4_WzZ4mYSWo4144Xk0ELXLACU4HBKFexK8JPMDKqUN4Iq-re2Cpe71R6gxyMV-Iw999xTatIOp0/s1600/mar1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The five inches at Bridgeport brought the season total to 46.1" which is more than double the normal amount (22.4") through March 1. However, it still paled in comparison to the previous year's amount of 56.5" through the same date. It was also the 17th day out of 29 since February 1st with at least a trace of snow at Bridgeport.<br />
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PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-77263048038567992452024-02-25T09:37:00.000-08:002024-02-25T09:37:58.757-08:00Today's Low Temperature of 19 Degrees is Coldest Morning This Month<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This morning's low temperature at the Bridgeport climate station was 19° F, which is the coldest temperature this month. <a href="https://t.co/xOAvdsm2eJ">pic.twitter.com/xOAvdsm2eJ</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1761768951137054778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-31805605486731640682024-02-24T17:47:00.000-08:002024-02-24T17:48:02.660-08:00February Warmer-Than-Normal in Southwestern Connecticut<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The average monthly temperature at the Bridgeport climate station is 36.2° F, which is 3.6° warmer-than-nromal. The average daily temperature has not dropped below 28° for the entire month of February. <a href="https://t.co/gSjazr6Lb9">pic.twitter.com/gSjazr6Lb9</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1761554262415249581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-60437367880962654622024-02-21T15:46:00.000-08:002024-02-21T15:46:52.643-08:00Above Average Temperatues Expected Over the Next Two Weeks<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Above-average temperatures are expected across the northeast over the next two weeks. A taste of early Spring will be in the air. <a href="https://t.co/gKhmDYqbV1">pic.twitter.com/gKhmDYqbV1</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1760445647600136239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-36480093901215622212024-02-20T15:47:00.000-08:002024-02-21T15:48:31.963-08:00Full Snow Moon Happens This Saturday, February 24<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Full Snow Moon happens this Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. EST. Native Americans called it the Snow Moon due to the heavy snowfall that usually falls during February in the Northern Hemisphere. <a href="https://t.co/Pcwfbg04Tc">pic.twitter.com/Pcwfbg04Tc</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1760279609482912141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-81116437745597740562024-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:002024-02-17T19:01:29.540-08:00Snowy Saturday Across Southwestern Connecticut<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bridgeport climate station recorded 2.5" of snow today, bringing the monthly total to 10.1" and the season total to 15.6" since December 1. That's about five inches below normal (20.7"), but well ahead of last year's negligible total (0.8"). <a href="https://t.co/xTtQtUhOYA">pic.twitter.com/xTtQtUhOYA</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1759050005019607380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-65153047156939875702024-02-17T06:09:00.000-08:002024-02-17T06:09:15.527-08:00Marking the 21st Anniversary of the Presidents Day Blizzard of 2003Today, February 17, marks the 21st anniversary of the unforgettable <i>Presidents Day Blizzard of 2003</i>. It ranked as the snowiest day on record at the time at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, tying the previous mark of 16 inches established on December 19, 1948. In New York's Central Park, where records date back well over a century, the 19.8 inches ranked as the fifth snowiest single day total. The weather map below is from midday February 17, 2003.<br />
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The snowfall totals across southwestern Connecticut were impressive. Darien and New Canaan measured the most snow (20 inches), while Westport (19"), Bridgeport (17"), Norwalk (16"), and Milford (15") also posted impressive totals. New Fairfield, in Northern Fairfield County, led the way locally with exactly two feet of snow. Here is the satellite image of the massive storm.<br />
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<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/15/sat1500z17feb03.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sat1500z17feb03" border="0" height="304" src="http://news12.blogs.com/paul_piorek/images/2008/02/15/sat1500z17feb03.gif" title="Sat1500z17feb03" width="400" /></a></div>
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The magnitude of the storm was quite impressive. It spread heavy snow across the major cities in the Northeast from Washington to Boston. In fact, it was the biggest snowstorm on record in Baltimore (28.2") and Boston (27.5"). The storm actually developed in the southern Rockies on February 14 and moved through southern Missouri and the lower Tennessee Valley over the next two days. Eventually, the storm brought heavy rain and severe weather to the deep South.<br />
<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/15/currsur1600z17feb03.jpg"></a><br />
In the Northeast, Arctic air helped slow down the storm and kept all of the precipitation in the form of snow and some sleet. By late Sunday evening, February 16, the snow reached the New York City area, and by midnight, it was snowing across all of southwestern Connecticut. A secondary area of low pressure developed off the Virginia coast the morning of February 17, turning the Nor'easter into a full-blown blizzard.<br />
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PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-26467910430634215982024-02-16T11:45:00.000-08:002024-02-16T11:45:09.035-08:00A Bright & Blustery Friday for Southwestern Connecticut<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The air temperature is 39° F with a dew point of 15° and a northwest wind gusting to 31 mph under a sunny sky at Samp Mortar Lake in Fairfield. <a href="https://t.co/9F2oY7wkq2">pic.twitter.com/9F2oY7wkq2</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1758531819731923062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-72192193880943900082024-02-14T04:55:00.000-08:002024-02-16T04:58:16.694-08:00Bridgeport Climate Station Recorded More Than Seven Inches of Snow Yesterday<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bridgeport climate station recorded more than seven inches (7.6") of snow yesterday, pushing the season total to 13.1" through today. That's well below the 19.5" normal, but well above last year's total (0.8"). <a href="https://t.co/Tv43LBhIOt">pic.twitter.com/Tv43LBhIOt</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1757916218584109095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-8910618960299932892024-02-13T04:59:00.000-08:002024-02-16T05:00:33.698-08:00More Than One Foot of Snow Reported Across Portions of Northern Fairfield County<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here are the latest snowfall reports from across the region, courtesy of the National Weather Service: <a href="https://t.co/KP6gKh9lT1">https://t.co/KP6gKh9lT1</a> <a href="https://t.co/G1xMQttZYQ">pic.twitter.com/G1xMQttZYQ</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1757462045811675358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-12064122304741412602024-02-08T13:42:00.000-08:002024-02-09T13:00:32.093-08:00Historic Snowstorm Crippled Region 11 Years Ago TodayA historic snowstorm dumped nearly three feet of snow in Fairfield and snow drifts of four-to-five feet from Friday, February 8, through Saturday, February 9, 2013. The snow began falling just after 7 o'clock Friday morning, February 8, and became steadier and heavier throughout the day and night. A Blizzard Warning was issued for the entire state, and heavy snow combined with gusty winds to produce near-whiteout conditions Friday night.<br />
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By the time all was said and done, it was almost impossible to open my kitchen door and go outside late Saturday morning. The snow-level was so high that the door would not open easily. The daunting task of shoveling the snow off the steps, sidewalk, and driveway almost seemed impossible when I stepped outside. I knew that I had to take my time due to the 40-plus mile-an-hour wind gusts, wind chill values in the teens, and my advancing age. After about an hour, I began making progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMYOQy0avqUXYCKoPMQkvD7SNHUarSueSu7SlmkEvHCwCUQhRcd8eB36bvFFwf-LWx-MXKejSV2Ud31cjggexx4nfTDEP9LIgr85Gd4O-JQ9T05oi6kPtS81WA6-BdFcz3EXYAB6ADtQ/s1600/072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMYOQy0avqUXYCKoPMQkvD7SNHUarSueSu7SlmkEvHCwCUQhRcd8eB36bvFFwf-LWx-MXKejSV2Ud31cjggexx4nfTDEP9LIgr85Gd4O-JQ9T05oi6kPtS81WA6-BdFcz3EXYAB6ADtQ/s400/072.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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According to the National Weather Service, Fairfield hit the jackpot with the most snow in Fairfield County with 35 inches. However, regionally, Milford topped the list with 38 inches. That's more than the normal amount of snow for the entire Winter season. The snowiest Winter on record, however, happened 27 years ago when Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford reported 78" from 1995-96. Here's a view of my street from Saturday afternoon, February 9, 2013.<br />
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Here are the totals from the National Weather Service:<br />
<ul>
<li>Milford: 38"</li>
<li>Fairfield: 35"</li>
<li>Stratford: 33"</li>
<li>Monroe: 30"</li>
<li>Bridgeport: 30"</li>
<li>Weston: 26.5"</li>
<li>Shelton: 26.5"</li>
<li>Westport: 24.5"</li>
<li>Greenwich: 22.5"</li>
<li>Darien: 22.1"</li>
<li>Norwalk: 22"</li>
<li>New Canaan: 22"</li>
<li>Danbury: 21.5"</li>
<li>Stamford: 19"</li>
<li>Newtown: 17.1"</li>
<li>Bethel: 16"</li>
<li>Ridgefield: 12"</li>
</ul>
The storm was the result of a combination of a strong coastal low which moved up the Atlantic seaboard and an approaching front to the North and West. The two systems merged and the storm exploded Friday night. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy closed the state roads, much like the late-Gov. Ella Grasso 35 years earlier during the Blizzard of 1978. A snowplow driver got stuck in the snow in front of my house and abandoned his vehicle Saturday morning. It sat there for more than two days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hyFN9d341XvZFxYPDnT2WP7Pm4Tm1eDzlNB2i2W8GfRF5QNL2uHIcUPHXyDqoHrvZvQqTPBSOTiSGpSA_CLy8toGmuHRxvIp265QWAkdN3GFPkldYWkTP5gBV7pqmSipTIERE2IyJKk/s1600/077.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hyFN9d341XvZFxYPDnT2WP7Pm4Tm1eDzlNB2i2W8GfRF5QNL2uHIcUPHXyDqoHrvZvQqTPBSOTiSGpSA_CLy8toGmuHRxvIp265QWAkdN3GFPkldYWkTP5gBV7pqmSipTIERE2IyJKk/s400/077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The second part of the storm entered into a colder environment late Friday night and with plenty of moisture it resulted in intense banding and a powdery, wind-driven snow between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. That resulted in snow totals which were much greater than expected. Fortunately, damaging winds and severe coastal flooding issues were not as severe and certainly not as widespread as feared. However, many people lost power.<br />
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Meteorologist Geoff Fox took a time-lapse video of the snowstorm from inside looking out at his deck. He wrote, "This time lapse starts just after 6:00 AM and goes past 11:00 PM. It stops because there’s nothing left to see! There are a bunch of web postings saying the GoPro’s battery is only good for 2.5 hours of time lapse. That’s why I plugged it into an AC adapter and propped it up against a glass paneled door to the deck."<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-AgRheQAFsI" width="410"></iframe><br />
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PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-3417100114318651922024-02-06T08:21:00.000-08:002024-02-06T08:21:17.206-08:00Today Marks 46th Anniversary of 'The Blizzard of 1978'Today marks the 46th anniversary of the <i>Blizzard of 1978</i>. The unforgettable storm was "born" on February 5, 1978, with the merger of a Canadian high-pressure system to the North and a dense mass of low pressure off the Carolina coast. It will be remembered as one of the most destructive storms in recent memory.<br />
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What do I most remember about the blizzard? Connecticut's late Governor Ella Grasso closed all state highways due to the heavy snow; local schools were closed for several days; my next-door neighbor lost his car keys in a snow drift and didn't find them until the Spring; and I worked two straight days at WNAB where I had just landed my first radio job as the overnight announcer a half-year earlier.<br />
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The station program director, the late Tiny Markle, called me early in the day and asked me to prepare to work a 24-hour shift. Naturally, I was thrilled, but it took awhile packing my belongings for the trip to East Washington Avenue in Bridgeport. I watched as over two feet of snow fell, and the experience punctuated my fascination for weather.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/05/78_blizzard_pic_12.jpg"><img alt="78_blizzard_pic_12" border="0" height="400" src="http://news12.blogs.com/paul_piorek/images/2008/02/05/78_blizzard_pic_12.jpg" title="78_blizzard_pic_12" width="345" /></a></div>
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As for the powerful storm, strong winds reached speeds of 86 miles per hour with gusts of 111 miles per hour during its peak. The lowest central air pressure was 980 millibars, which made the storm comparable to a strong Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Arriving at the time of a new Moon, the storm produced heavy coastal flooding along the New England shoreline. Beachfront homes were washed away due to strong winds and coastal flooding. More than 1,700 homes suffered major damage or were destroyed, and 39,000 people took refuge in emergency shelters. Federal disaster assistance totaled $202 million.<br />
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Snow fell at a rate of four inches an hour at times during the storm, which lasted for 36 hours. The unusual duration of the 1978 Nor’easter was caused by the Canadian high, which forced the storm to loop East and then back toward the North. Thunder, lightning, and hail were seen in the blizzard as it blanketed the Northeast with over three feet of snow. Drifts in parts of New England were reported to be 15 feet deep.<br />
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Traffic came to a standstill as major corridors like I-95 shut down. During the storm several people died on Route 128 around Boston from asphyxiation, since snow had blocked the tailpipes of their idling automobiles. In New York City, skiers could be seen sliding up Fifth Avenue.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/05/ski.jpg"><img alt="Ski" border="0" height="269" src="http://news12.blogs.com/paul_piorek/images/2008/02/05/ski.jpg" title="Ski" width="400" /></a></div>
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I will never forget the <i>Blizzard of 1978</i>.<br />
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PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-69186588263592343002024-02-05T14:27:00.000-08:002024-02-28T16:15:11.148-08:00Happy National Weatherperson's Day<a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef01116849b87f970c-pi" style="float: left;"><img alt="WeatherMan" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c04cc53ef01116849b87f970c" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef01116849b87f970c-120wi" style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /></a> Although I've never been an umpire or referee, I think I know what it must feel like. It's been said that nobody ever notices the umpire when he does a fine job. However, when the ump makes a bad call, everybody's on his back. You see, I was a television weather forecaster for southwestern Connecticut for 25 years. I never heard a word from anybody when the forecast was "right on the money." But, if my forecast was off the mark, the phone didn't stop ringing and the emails kept coming.<br />
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Today is <i>National Weatherperson's Day</i>. It's the one day during the year to acknowledge the work of weather forecasters across our country. The day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries was one of America's first weather observers. He actually began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774, and he took the first balloon observation in 1784.<br /><br />
<span class="pkey">Jeffries was an American physician and scientist who pioneered the use of balloons in scientific observation. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge in 1763 and studied medicine in Boston and abroad. After receiving his medical degree from Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1769, Jeffries returned to Boston and practiced medicine there until 1771. </span><br />
<span class="pkey"><br /></span>
<span class="pkey">Much to the chagrin of this modern-day weather forecaster, Jeffries supported England during the American Revolution. He served on British naval vessels and in British military hospitals, and he fought alongside British troops in the final campaign of the war. After the war, he moved to England and resumed practicing medicine. </span><br />
<span class="pkey"><br /></span>
<span class="pkey">Jeffries became interested in the possibility of using balloons to observe the upper winds and the atmosphere at various altitudes. On November 30, 1784, Jeffries and French aeronaut Jean Pierre Blanchard made an ascent from London, reaching a height of 9309 feet and taking a series of air samples. </span><br />
<span class="pkey" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span class="pkey"><a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0105370f79cd970b-pi" style="float: left; font-size: small;"><img alt="Blanchard_Balloon" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c04cc53ef0105370f79cd970b" src="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0105370f79cd970b-120wi" style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /></a> <a href="http://news12.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c04cc53ef0105370f7974970b-pi" style="float: left; font-size: small;"></a>A few weeks later, on January 7, 1785, they made the first aerial crossing of the English Channel, traveling in a balloon from Dover to the Forest of Guines, near Calais. Jeffries paid all expenses for the two ascents and provided a number of the best available observational instruments, including a thermometer, a barometer, an electrometer, a hygrometer, and containers of distilled water. The air samples taken on the first ascent were the first scientific data ever obtained from these altitudes. </span><br />
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Many of us take weather information for granted. Turn on a light switch, you get light. Turn on your television or radio, or check a web site, and you get the weather forecast. It’s easy to forget that around the clock, dedicated meteorologists and weathercasters are creating forecasts to help you plan your day and issuing warnings to help keep you safe.<br />
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Happy <i>National Weatherperson's Day</i>!<br />
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PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-82713276557176478282024-02-05T05:01:00.000-08:002024-02-16T05:02:06.707-08:00Today is National Weatherperson's Day<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today is National Weatherperson's Day. The day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, one of America's first weather observers. He began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774, and he took the first balloon observation in 1784. <a href="https://t.co/y5uaBWfC4L">pic.twitter.com/y5uaBWfC4L</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1754476814158672330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-59989230073171262282024-02-04T05:03:00.000-08:002024-02-16T05:09:47.668-08:00Winter Season in Northern Hemisphere More Than Half Over<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Winter season in the Northern Hemisphere is more than half over. The Winter Solstice was 45 days ago, and the Vernal Equinox is 44 days from today. It's a beautiful afternoon at Samp Mortar Lake in Fairfield. <a href="https://t.co/5Ug7X9Ng1X">pic.twitter.com/5Ug7X9Ng1X</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1754249098012606955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947756104310361844.post-31785534731171976762024-02-02T05:05:00.000-08:002024-02-16T05:05:49.730-08:00Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Early Spring<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Glad tidings on this Groundhog Day, an early Spring is on the way." Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning. <a href="https://t.co/XAY51jctEb">pic.twitter.com/XAY51jctEb</a></p>— Paul Piorek (@PaulPiorekWICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulPiorekWICC/status/1753395015131292072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>PaulPaul Piorekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08837472917594700861noreply@blogger.com0