Freeze Warning Issued for Fairfield & New Haven Counties Tuesday Morning

A Freeze Warning will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties Tuesday from 12 a.m. until 9 a.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 4:01 PM

Paul

Record High Temperature Set Today at Bridgeport Climate Station

A record high temperature of 82° F was established at the Bridgeport climate station today, breaking the previous record high for this date of 81° set in 1960.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) April 15, 2026 at 5:10 PM

Paul

Powerful Nor'easter Hammered Region 19 Years Ago Today

A powerful Nor'easter hammered the region 19 years ago today, Sunday, April 15, 2007, causing widespread flooding, damage, and destruction to many homes and businesses across southwestern Connecticut. 

My basement was a disaster area, and the sight of water pouring into the cellar through the walls was alarming. Many local communities received more than a half-foot of rain in one day, including an incredible 7.50 inches in Weston.

Perhaps no picture better illustrates the destruction of the Nor'easter better than this one. Viewer Donna Dutko sent this photo of "the little pink antique store at the corner of Route 7 and Branchville Station." As you can see, the store collapsed from the force of the water and was partially submerged. The water was almost up to the railroad tracks, too.

Stamford recorded nearly seven inches of rain (6.84"), causing massive flooding of roads and headaches for motorists. Martin Silverman told of "the extreme road conditions at the intersection of High Ridge Road and Wire Mill." I heard many stories from motorists who had to find alternate routes or who were stranded on flooded roads during the height of the flooding.

Darien received nearly a half-foot of rain (5.93"). Richard Miller took this photo of Hoyt Street Sunday afternoon, April 15, at 4 o'clock. He jokingly wrote, "I thought I would share this with you before we go for a lap swim." As you can see, driving was dangerous just about everywhere.

I'm sure you'll never forget the Nor'easter of Sunday, April 15, 2007. I know I won't.

Paul

Seasonal Snowfall Record Smashed 30 Years Ago Today

Seasonal snowfall records were smashed across much of New England when heavy, wet snow buried Northern New England and delivered nearly one foot of snow (11.3″) to Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford from the evening of April 9 through the morning of April 10, 1996. 

It was a fitting end to the Winter that just didn’t seem to want to end. In fact, the first snowfall of the season happened the previous November.

When the last flake had fallen, 75.7″ of snow had fallen in southwestern Connecticut that Winter, breaking the previous mark of 71.3″ established more than 60 years earlier in 1933-34. Hartford finished the 1995-96 Winter with a record 114.6 inches, which eclipsed the previous mark of 84.9 inches only two years earlier. 

What I most remember about that snowstorm was a telephone call I received from my brother and sister-in-law, who were living in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, at the time. That little town at the base of Mount Monadnock made national headlines when the second major snowstorm in three days produced nearly two feet (21 inches) of snow. My brother and sister-in-law were convinced that they were snowbound for awhile.

We also laughed about how much we were looking forward to seeing the first-ever baseball game at the brand new New Britain Stadium just two days later. The Eastern League’s Rock Cats were unveiling their state-of-the-art ballpark against the rival New Haven Ravens, and we were convinced the game wasn’t going to happen. We had purchased tickets well in advance. However, the game did go on as scheduled, and we enjoyed the festivities, despite temperatures in the lower 30s and snow in the parking lot!

Consider that the normal average snowfall for southwestern Connecticut for the month of April is only 0.9″ based on 40 years of record-keeping, and the normal average Winter snowfall is about 26.3 inches.

Paul

Today Marks 44th Anniversary of Snowiest April Day on Record at Bridgeport Climate Station

Today, April 6, marks the 44th anniversary of the snowiest April day on record in southwestern Connecticut. What made the storm even more memorable were the gusty winds and cold temperatures. 

Record lows of 19, 18, and 23 degrees were established from April 6 through April 8, 1982, respectively, well below the 38-degree normal low temperature for this time of the year.

The snowstorm of Tuesday, April 6,1982, was one of the most remarkable late-season snowfalls to strike the Northeast. Snowfall accumulations from 10 inches to more than one foot occurred across much of Long Island, but the accompanying very cold temperatures and high winds caused extensive blowing and drifting of snow which was unprecedented for early April. 

More than one foot of snow (13") fell at Newark, New Jersey, 10 inches (9.8") blanketed New York City, and more than two feet of snow fell across upstate New York. The primary storm resurfaced off the New Jersey coast, producing gale force winds more than 60 miles an hour. It was the heaviest April snow in New York City since April 3 and 4 of 1915 when 10 inches fell.

The heavy snow forced the cancellation of the Yankees’ 1982 home opener against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Even worse, the weather stayed cold, and the Yanks cancelled another game against Texas, two games against the White Sox, and they eventually opened on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1982, by dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Chicago.

Paul

March Wetter and Slightly Warmer Than Normal Across Southwestern Connecticut

If you thought the month of March was rather dreary across southwestern Connecticut, you were right. In fact, 19 of the 31 days last month featured at least a trace of precipitation at the Bridgeport climate station.

The station, located at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, recorded 4.65" of precipitation last month, which is 0.56" above the climatological normal. Measured precipitation was recorded 13 days, including more than one inch (1.19") March 16 and a string of five successive days (March 3 through 7).

Ten days had at least one-tenth of an inch, and three days featured at least one-half inch.

March was also slightly warmer-than-normal. The average monthly temperature at the Bridgeport climate station was 41.1° F, which is 1.2° warmer-than-normal. The range was 72° (March 31) and 19° (March 2).

Only one day (March 2) had a maximum temperature below freezing (28°), while 17 days featured a minimum temperature of 32° or colder. 

Paul