Still No Comparison to Last Winter After Saturday Snowstorm

The first snowstorm of the Winter season brought over a half-foot of snow (6.2" at Sikorsky Memorial Airport) to much of southwestern Connecticut, but rain is expected this afternoon as temperatures climb into the low-to-mid 40s. The rain will gradually taper off late tonight, but readings will hold close to 40 degrees by daybreak.

The above photo of the Merritt Parkway in Norwalk was taken by viewer Ralph Fato of Norwalk during Saturday's storm. He reported 5.5" in Norwalk. The following two photos of the weekend Winter wonderland were take in Norwalk.

Thus far this month, we've received 7.4" of snow, which is just shy of the 8.5" normal for the entire month. However, last year at this time, we were buried under three feet of snow. The Winter weather actually started the day after Christmas, when a blizzard brought a foot of snow to Sikorsky Airport and up to a foot-and-a-half in many local communities.

However, last January was one for the ages. There was measured snow on 10 of the days, including a 15" snowstorm on January 12 and 15.5" from January 25 through January 27. Officially, three-and-a-half feet of snow (42") fell last January, bringing the five-week total to 54 inches. We haven't seen anything like that since the record Winter of 1995-96.

Interestingly, only 4.36" of snow fell last February, and the last measured snow of the Winter happened on February 27 with just a little more than a dusting across southwestern Connecticut. The jury is still out on this Winter, however, but there isn't any snow in the seven-day forecast. In fact, we may reach 50 degrees tomorrow, and the mercury will reach the upper 40s by the end of the week with more rain by Friday.

Paul