March Snowstorm Pushes Season Total Over 60 Inches

A three-day storm which featured strong winds, minor-to-moderate coastal flooding, and over a half-foot of snow across much of southwestern Connecticut pushed the season snowfall total to more than five feet. The snow began late Thursday evening and began accumulating as temperatures dropped into the lower 30s Thursday night. By the time the snow tapered off this afternoon, some local communities received over a foot of snow.

Here is a sampling of local snowfall totals through early this afternoon:

• New Canaan: 12.3"
• Greenwich: 10.0"
• Redding: 10.0"
• Norwalk: 8.5"
• Stamford: 8.0"
• Weston: 7.0"
• Bridgeport: 6.0"

The seasonal snowfall eclipsed 60 inches (61.3"), which is just shy of the 62.6" of snow two years ago. Officially, nine inches of snow fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport today, breaking the record of 3.5" on this date in 2005 and pushing the monthly snow total to ten inches. This Winter may finish in the top five for snowfall on record in southwestern Connecticut. Michael Blake of Milford took this photo from his home early this morning. The heavy, wet snow created a picturesque setting.

Here are the snowiest Winters on record in southwestern Connecticut:

• 1995-96: 76.8"
• 1933-34: 71.3"
• 1947-48: 65.7"
• 2010-11: 62.6"

The storm began Wednesday afternoon with sustained Northeast winds of 30-plus miles an hour and a peak wind gust of 45 miles an hour.  Strong winds continued Thursday along with Coastal Flood Advisories during the times of high tide. Tide levels reached two-to-three feet above normal, causing minor-to-moderate flooding along the immediate shoreline. There was a peak wind gust of 41 miles an hour.

Paul