Today Marks 57th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Launch

Fifty-seven years ago today, the launch of the Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle took place with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.

The launch occurred at 9:32 a.m. EDT. Four days later, Armstrong would become the first human being to set foot on the Moon, and Aldrin soon followed as Collins orbited the Moon.

Let's go back 57 years and watch what happened that day.

  

Paul

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Triggers Air Quality Alert for Fairfield & New Haven Counties

An Air Quality Index of 151 indicates that the air is currently classified as Unhealthy in Bridgeport. At this level, fine particulate matter is elevated, meaning members of sensitive groups may experience adverse health effects, and the general public is at risk of respiratory irritation.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 4:13 PM

An Air Quality Alert will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties until Thursday at 12 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 4:06 PM

Paul

Heat Advisory Issued for Fairfield & New Haven Counties

A Heat Advisory will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties from Tuesday at 12 p.m. until Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 13, 2026 at 6:30 AM

Paul

Deadly and Destructive Tornadoes Struck Connecticut 37 Years Ago Today

One of the most unforgettable weather days happened 37 years ago today when a series of deadly and destructive tornadoes hit Connecticut on the afternoon of July 10, 1989. I was the early morning forecaster at the Western Connecticut State University weathercenter in Danbury that day. Although I predicted strong to severe thunderstorms for the region, I never imagined the magnitude of the tornadoes which would strike Connecticut later that day.

The storms began early that morning in upstate New York. A tornado hit Ogdensburg just before daybreak, injuring one person. One inch hail and wind gusts greater than 50 miles an hour were a telltale sign that the approaching frontal boundary meant business. Many reports of wind damage in New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts occurred before noon.

Unfortunately, the timing of the storm had it moving into western Connecticut by the afternoon hours, when the atmosphere is most volatile due to the heating of the Sun. By mid-afternoon, as the atmosphere continued to heat up and the front moved eastward, the tornadoes developed. The first tornado, which may actually have been three distinctly separate tornadoes, started in the Northwest community of Cornwall, and leveled the Cathedral Pines forest.

The tornado continued south-southeast through Milton, leveling hundreds of trees and virtually destroying the village of Bantam before dissipating. A 12-year-old girl, who was on a camp out with family and friends, was killed by falling trees in Black Rock State Park. Not much later, another tornado touched down in Watertown, passing through Oakville and northern Waterbury. That either damaged or destroyed more than 150 homes and injured 70 people.

However, the most destructive tornado occurred in Hamden by late-afternoon. The path was only about five miles long, and it stopped just short of New Haven. The tornado destroyed almost 400 structures, and even cars were tossed into the air. 

Rows of houses and an industrial park were flattened as a result of the tornado. The storm was so strong that much of the area was without power for at least a week, and there were some trees still being cleared months later. The adjacent photo shows some of the damage in Hamden. This video was made for the Hamden Fire Department's Training Division the day after the tornado struck.

              

The powerful F-4 tornado which struck Hamden caused $100 million in damage and another $20 million in the Greater New Haven area. Forty people were injured in the tornado. After the tornado dissipated, a wind gust of 80 miles an hour was reported in New Haven. At about that time, another tornado struck Mount Carmel, tearing the roof off a condominium and injuring five people.

Of course, 37 years ago we didn't have the technology we do today, but I was still able to monitor the radar by the time I arrived home early in the afternoon. Remember, the Internet and access to instant local weather coverage didn't exist in those days. By the evening, the violent weather had ended, skies were clearing, and the damage had been done. It was certainly a day I'll never forget.

Paul

Heavy Rain Plagues Southwestern Connecticut and Offsets Drought Conditions

Heavy rain fell across southwestern Connecticut from Sunday evening, July 5, through Monday, July 6, delivering almost one-half foot of precipitation to Danbury. In fact, the prolonged rain came just days after the United States Drought Monitor Index indicated that extreme southwestern Connecticut was experiencing a severe drought.

According to National Weather Service reports, Danbury received the most rain (5.91") across Fairfield County, followed by Newtown (5.45"), Bethel (5.36"), Ridgefield (5.11"), and Redding (5.07").

Milford topped the list among New Haven County municipalities (4.78"), followed by Branford (4.60"), Orange (4.36"), and Guilford (4.20").

The Bridgeport climate station reported 2.85" of rain Monday, July 6, which established a record rainfall for the date, breaking the previous mark of 0.75" set in 2024. It brought the monthly total to nearly a half-foot (5.29") in less than one week.

Annually, Bridgeport recorded 22.08" of precipitation since January 1, which is just shy of the 22.47" normal through July 6.

Paul

Earth Reaches Farthest Point from the Sun in Annual Elliptical Orbit Today

Despite the heat wave last week, our planet is actually at its farthest point from the Sun today, Monday, July 6. According to the United States Naval Observatory, the Earth reaches a point in its orbit called "aphelion" at 1:30 p.m. EDT. The Earth's aphelion is the point where it is the farthest from the Sun than at any time during the year at a distance of 94,510,539 miles.

The Earth is typically about 93 million miles from the Sun. However, because our planet's orbit is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, it has a farthest point and a closest point to the Sun. In case you're wondering, the Earth's closest approach to the Sun is called perihelion, and that occurs in early January. The Earth is exactly 3,104,641 miles (or 3.28 percent) farther from the Sun than at its closest approach. The Earth actually receives about seven percent less heat at its aphelion than at its perihelion, according to researchers.

Although the date for both will vary from year to year, the Earth will always be closest to the Sun in early January and the farthest away in early July. Not surprisingly, that comes as a shock to most people. At perihelion, our planet is about 91 million miles from the Sun. It moves outward to about 95 million miles from the Sun at aphelion. Naturally, some people have the mistaken impression that our seasons are caused by the changes in Earth's distance from the Sun, but this is not the case.

The temperatures and the seasons are not affected by the proximity of the Earth to the Sun or even the rotation of the planet on its axis. Rather, it is the tilt of the Earth that determines the climate. When it is at perihelion in January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, However, when it is at aphelion in July, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.

Happy Aphelion Day.

Paul