Second Straight Day of Record Rain Soaked Region One Year Ago

The recent rainy pattern helped close the gap in our rainfall deficit this year, but it pales in comparison to the nearly-week-long stretch of record rain one year ago. There were six straight days of measured rain from May 14 through May 19, 2011, soaking southwestern Connecticut with more than four inches (4.19") of rain in less than a week. An additional half-inch of rain fell over the next five days, bringing the monthly total to more than five-and-a-half inches (5.61").

Officially, nearly two-and-a-half inches (2.35") of rain fell exactly one year ago today --- May 18, 2011 --- at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, marking the second straight day of record rain. Well over an inch (1.26") of rain was measured the previous day, bringing the two-day total to more than three-and-a-half inches. The total amount of rain over the six-day stretch was greater than the normal rainfall (4.03") for the entire month, based on 40+ years of averages.

Take a look at the rain amounts during the week of May 14 through May 19, 2011:

• May 14: 0.45"
• May 15: 0.09"
• May 16: 0.03"
• May 17: 1.26"
• May 18: 2.35"
• May 19: 0.01"

Our weather won't be anything like that the next couple of days. High pressure will dominate through tomorrow bringing mostly sunny skies. Today's highs will reach the lower 70s, while tomorrow's highs will climb into the upper 70s to close to 80 degrees. An ocean storm will eventually bring showers to the region Sunday night through the middle of next week, continuing our recent theme of wet weekdays and dry weekends.

Paul