This is the time of the year when almost any kind of weather is possible. In fact, the record high temperature for today is 80 degrees, which was established in 1990. Just three years later, a record low of 32 was recorded at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. That's nearly a 50-degree range.
You may recall that a Northeast wind brought unseasonably cold temperatures to southwestern Connecticut two years ago tomorrow, turning a cold rain into snow from Redding to Wilton and eventually to Stratford and Westport. The high temperature of 44 degrees was recorded just after midnight that morning, and the mercury kept falling through the 30s during the afternoon. A coating of snow blanketed West Redding.
Consider the normal high temperature for this time of the year is 63 degrees, and you'll quickly get an idea of how unusually cold it was. In fact, by late afternoon on October 15, 2009, it looked and felt more like mid December rather than mid October. The normal high temperature for December 15 is 41 degrees, which is where the mercury was two years ago. That's five degrees colder than the normal low of 46! However, October snow is not all that unusual, believe it or not.
The earliest measured snow across southwestern Connecticut fell on Sunday morning, October 4, 1987, when a half-inch of snow was recorded at Sikorsky Memorial Airport. There have been 13 dates this month on which a trace of snow fell, including October 29, 2008. The average snowfall for the month, based on 40 years of averages, is a trace, so the wet snow on October 15, 2009, was certainly not all that unusual.
Our weather will turn the page to blustery and more seasonable conditions this weekend. Tomorrow will be partly sunny and quite windy with a high in the low-to-mid 60s. Sunday will feature a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the 60s. A quick shower is possible Monday before more rain moves in by the middle of next week.
Have a good weekend.
Paul
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