Second of Three March Monsoons Happened 13 Years Ago Today

The second of three major March rainstorms hit southwestern Connecticut 13 year ago today. Just ten days after an unforgettable Nor'easter brought flooding rains, damaging winds, massive power outages, impassable roads, and two fatalities to southwestern Connecticut, Mother Nature struck once again. The second storm, which lingered into the following day, delivered over two inches (2.17") of heavy rain to the region.

A strong low pressure system moved into the Northeast late Monday, March 22, and the steady rain developed during the late-evening hours. Heavy rain pelted southwestern Connecticut through early Tuesday, March 23, causing headaches for early-morning commuters. There were a number of accidents on area roadways during the morning rush hour, due in no small part to the weather.

Here is a sampling of the rainfall totals across southwestern Connecticut from the two-day storm. The numbers are quite impressive:

• Westport: 2.84"
• Stratford: 2.28"
• New Canaan: 2.25"
• Stamford: 2.22"
• Fairfield: 2.07"
• Woodbridge: 2.00"

The storm brought the monthly total to nine days out of 23 with measured rain at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. You may recall that it was the wettest March on record. The three major rainstorms included the March 13 Nor'easter (3.85"), the rainstorm of March 22 and 23 (2.17"), and the flooding rains of March 29 through 31 (3.75). Cumulatively, over ten inches (10.19") of rain hammered the region for the month. There were 14 days with measured rain, including four days with well over an inch.

Paul