The powerful cold front which plowed into southwestern Connecticut late yesterday brought heavy rain, gusty winds, vivid lightning, and large hail. The atmosphere was charged after two straight days of extreme heat and humidity, and the storms arrived during the hottest time of the day. Viewer Ralph Fato of Norwalk sent this photo of a lightning bolt while he sat in his car at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.
The lightning was too close for comfort, and I was convinced that we would lose power. Although our lights never went out, tens of thousands of people lost electricity statewide. In fact, a lightning strike caused a tree to split and fall on a home in Stamford. Fortunately, nobody was injured. Here's another photo from Ralph of a lightning bolt which struck part of Long Island.
The National Weather Service reported that three-quarter inch hail hammered Trumbull at 5:44 p.m., and I saw and heard hail at my home, too. Gusty winds caused a lot of damage as well. A wind gust of 44 miles an hour was clocked at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford at 5:45 p.m., while sustained wind speeds of 32 miles an hour were measured during the worst part of the storm.
Over a half-inch (0.66") of rain was measured at the airport, most of which fell in a short period of time, causing ponding on area roads. It was the first measured rain this month, and it marked only the second time since May 24 that rain fell in southwestern Connecticut. The only other time it rained was on May 30 when a third of an inch fell. Here's a photo of the ominous cloud cover at Stamford's Cove Park Marina late yesterday afternoon.
Fortunately, better weather is expected today under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 80s. There is a slight chance of an isolated shower. Tomorrow, though, will be mostly cloudy and much cooler with a shower or two possible and a high near 70. Sunday will feature early thunderstorms and scattered showers with a high of 80 degrees. Pleasant weather will be with us from Monday through Wednesday next week.
Have a good weekend.
Paul
The lightning was too close for comfort, and I was convinced that we would lose power. Although our lights never went out, tens of thousands of people lost electricity statewide. In fact, a lightning strike caused a tree to split and fall on a home in Stamford. Fortunately, nobody was injured. Here's another photo from Ralph of a lightning bolt which struck part of Long Island.
The National Weather Service reported that three-quarter inch hail hammered Trumbull at 5:44 p.m., and I saw and heard hail at my home, too. Gusty winds caused a lot of damage as well. A wind gust of 44 miles an hour was clocked at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford at 5:45 p.m., while sustained wind speeds of 32 miles an hour were measured during the worst part of the storm.
Over a half-inch (0.66") of rain was measured at the airport, most of which fell in a short period of time, causing ponding on area roads. It was the first measured rain this month, and it marked only the second time since May 24 that rain fell in southwestern Connecticut. The only other time it rained was on May 30 when a third of an inch fell. Here's a photo of the ominous cloud cover at Stamford's Cove Park Marina late yesterday afternoon.
Fortunately, better weather is expected today under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 80s. There is a slight chance of an isolated shower. Tomorrow, though, will be mostly cloudy and much cooler with a shower or two possible and a high near 70. Sunday will feature early thunderstorms and scattered showers with a high of 80 degrees. Pleasant weather will be with us from Monday through Wednesday next week.
Have a good weekend.
Paul
