Flood Watch Issued for Southwestern Connecticut

A Flood Watch will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties from Thursday at 2 p.m. until Friday at 2 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM

Paul

Frontal System to Bring Much-Needed Rain to Southwestern Connecticut

More than two inches of rain are expected across parts of southwestern Connecticut through Saturday at 2 a.m. EDT.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 30, 2025 at 6:35 AM

Paul

Heat Advisory in Effect Through Wednesday

A Heat Advisory remains in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties through Wednesday at 8 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM

Paul

A Summer Reality Check

Believe it or not, the days are indeed getting "shorter." In fact, we have lost nearly 40 minutes of daylight since the first day of Summer. Sunrise on June 21 happened at 5:19 a.m. EDT. This morning's sunrise was at 5:44 a.m., 25 minutes later. Sunset is now at 8:16 p.m., 14 minutes before the latest sunset, at 8:30 p.m., on the Solstice.

By the end of the month, sunrise occurs at 5:47 a.m., while the Sun sets at 8:10 p.m.. Two weeks later, by mid-August, the shorter days become even more pronounced, with sunrise and sunset times at 6:02 and 7:51, respectively. 

The "shorter" days have to do with the Earth's revolution around the Sun, and the 23.5 degree tilt on its axis. By the end of September, the Autumnal Equinox begins a six-month period of "longer nights" and "shorter days" in the Northern Hemisphere.

Paul

Heat Advisory Issued for Friday

A Heat Advisory will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties Friday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Paul

The Weather Affects Our Mood

How do you feel when the weather turns hot and humid? Tired? Lethargic? Sleepy? The blazing heat and humidity may affect you more than you think. If you feel "out of it," you're probably not alone. 

According to the Web site Science Daily, “The positive impact warm, sunny weather can have on mental health and mood are real,” are the findings of a University of Michigan study. “It should not be surprising that weather and seasons affect human behavior, given that humans have evolved with seasonal and weather changes since the dawn of the species.” 

Researchers found that pleasant weather improves mood, memory, broadens our creative ability and our openness to new information. “Being outside in pleasant weather really offers a way to re-set your mindset,” said Matthew Keller, the University of Michigan post-doctoral researcher who led the weather-related psychological study. “We found two important variables: how much time you spend outside and what the season is.” 

Ten mood variables were related to eight weather variables in a multidimensional study on weather according to pubmed.org. Data was collected for 23 male subjects over 11 consecutive days. Mood variables included concentration, depression, sleepiness, optimism, and skepticism. The weather variables included hours of sunshine, precipitation, and temperature. “Humidity, temperature, and hours of sunshine had the greatest effect on mood,” the study found. 

“High levels of humidity lowerered scores on concentration while increasing reports of sleepiness. Humidity was the most significant predictor in regression.” Our humidity was especially high yesterday. Were you feeling tired or having trouble concentrating? 

The study adds that the implications for school and work performance are critical, and it highlights the importance of humidity as a weather variable. 

Paul

Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Fairfield and New Haven Counties Through This Evening

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties until 9 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM

Paul

Today Marks 56th Anniversary of First Moon Landing and First Human Steps on the Moon

Some dates naturally carry more significance than others. Birthdays and anniversaries come to mind instantly. One such "anniversary" happened 56 years ago today. Those of you old enough to remember Sunday, July 20, 1969, no doubt can recall watching Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong descending the steps of the lunar module’s ladder and setting foot on the Moon for the first time. I was mesmerized by what I saw that night on the black-and-white Zenith television set in our living room.

Apollo 11, the fifth human spaceflight of the Apollo program, launched from the Kennedy Space Center four days earlier. As a young child of 10, watching the late Armstrong walk on the lunar surface was probably the most significant news event of my youth. I can still remember the late Walter Cronkite on CBS television describing the landing, and the bundle of nerves I felt for the Apollo astronauts, Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins.

I was fascinated by the space program in the 1960s. Naturally, I couldn’t wait for the landing of Apollo on the Moon. As I recall, while on the far side of the Moon, the lunar module, called the Eagle, separated from the Command Module, named Columbia. Collins remained alone in Columbia, while Armstrong and Aldrin used Eagle’s descent engine to right themselves and descend to the lunar surface. The wait seemed interminable for this youngster, who couldn’t believe that we would actually see LIVE images from the Moon later that night.

I kept asking questions of my Mom and Dad all day and evening. “What will it look like on television?” “When will the astronauts climb out of the Eagle?” “How are we able to see it if they’re so far away?” They couldn’t answer most of my questions since this had never happened before. I still couldn’t believe what we were about to see. I’m sure it’s what ultimately piqued my interest in astronomy, subsequent space missions, and Science in general. 

Our family gathered in the living room in front of the small TV set with rabbit ears and watched as Cronkite prepared us for the first step on the Moon. Just over six-and-a half hours after Apollo 11 landed on the Moon at 4:17 p.m., we sat in silence and awe as Armstrong made his descent to the Moon’s surface at 10:56 p.m. and spoke his famous words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Incredibly, well more than half the people living in the United States today weren’t even born when Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. It was arguably the most historic event of the 20th century. I, for one, am glad I saw it LIVE, and I will never forget it for the rest of my life!

Paul

"Slight" Chance for Severe Thunderstorms Sunday Across Southwestern Connecticut

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a "slight" risk (level two) for severe thunderstorms Sunday across southwestern Connecticut.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM

Paul

Today Marks 56th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Launch

Fifty-six years ago today, the launch of the Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle took place with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.

The launch occurred at 9:32 a.m. EDT. Four days later, Armstrong would become the first human being to set foot on the Moon, and Aldrin soon followed as Collins orbited the Moon.

Let's go back 56 years and watch what happened that day.

  

Paul

Heat Advisory Issued for Southwestern Connecticut

A Heat Advisory will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties from Wednesday at 11 a.m. until Thursday at 10 p.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM

Paul

Flood Watch for Southwestern Connecticut

A Flood Watch will be in effect for southwestern Connecticut from Monday at 2 p.m. through Tuesday at 12 a.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM

The heaviest rain is expected to fall across southeastern New York through Tuesday at 2 a.m. EDT. A steep gradient exists between the heavy rain and light showers across southwestern Connecticut, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast map.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a "slight" risk of excessive rainfall today across extreme southwestern Connecticut.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:44 AM

Paul

Deadly and Destructive Tornadoes Struck Connecticut 36 Years Ago Today

One of the most unforgettable weather days happened 36 years ago today when a series of deadly and destructive tornadoes hit Connecticut on the afternoon of July 10, 1989. I was the early morning forecaster at the Western Connecticut State University weathercenter in Danbury that day. Although I predicted strong to severe thunderstorms for the region, I never imagined the magnitude of the tornadoes which would strike Connecticut later that day.

The storms began early that morning in upstate New York. A tornado hit Ogdensburg just before daybreak, injuring one person. One inch hail and wind gusts of over 50 miles an hour were a telltale sign that the approaching frontal boundary meant business. Many reports of wind damage in New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts occurred before noon.

Unfortunately, the timing of the storm had it moving into western Connecticut by the afternoon hours, when the atmosphere is most volatile due to the heating of the Sun. By mid-afternoon, as the atmosphere continued to heat up and the front moved eastward, the tornadoes developed. The first tornado, which may actually have been three distinctly separate tornadoes, started in the Northwest community of Cornwall, and leveled the Cathedral Pines forest.

The tornado continued south-southeast through Milton, leveling hundreds of trees and virtually destroying the village of Bantam before dissipating. A 12-year-old girl, who was on a camp out with family and friends, was killed by falling trees in Black Rock State Park. Not much later, another tornado touched down in Watertown, passing through Oakville and northern Waterbury. That either damaged or destroyed over 150 homes and injured 70 people.

However, the most destructive tornado occurred in Hamden by late-afternoon. The path was only about five miles long, and it stopped just short of New Haven. The tornado destroyed almost 400 structures, and even cars were tossed into the air. 

Rows of houses and an industrial park were flattened as a result of the tornado. The storm was so strong that much of the area was without power for at least a week, and there were some trees still being cleared months later. The adjacent photo shows some of the damage in Hamden. This video was made for the Hamden Fire Department's Training Division the day after the tornado struck.

The powerful F-4 tornado which struck Hamden caused $100 million in damage and another $20 million in the Greater New Haven area. Forty people were injured in the tornado. After the tornado dissipated, a wind gust of 80 miles an hour was reported in New Haven. At about that time, another tornado struck Mount Carmel, tearing the roof off a condominium and injuring five people.

Of course, 36 years ago we didn't have the technology we do today, but I was still able to monitor the radar by the time I arrived home early in the afternoon. Remember, the Internet and access to instant local weather coverage didn't exist in those days. By the evening, the violent weather had ended, skies were clearing, and the damage had been done. It was certainly a day I'll never forget.

Paul

A Sparkling Independence Day Across Southwestern Connecticut

07/04/2025 @ 11:00 a.m. EDT: The air temperature is 77° F with a comfortable 56° dew point and a refreshing northwest breeze under a sunny sky at Samp Mortar Lake in Fairfield.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 4, 2025 at 11:05 AM

Paul

"Dog Days" of Summer Begin Today, July 3, Through August 11

The “Dog Days” of Summer officially start today, Thursday, July 3. Most people casually refer to the "Dog Days" as a period of hot and humid weather. But did you know that the dog days are a 40-day period which lasts from early July through mid-August?

The dog days of Summer run from July 3 through August 11 in the Northern Hemisphere and have to do with the star Sirius, known as “the dog star.” Sirius is the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere other than the Sun, and it is found in the constellation Canis Major; thus the name “dog star.”

In the Summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. During late July, Sirius is in “conjunction” with the Sun. The ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the Sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, the “Dog Days” after the dog star.

In ancient times, when the night sky was unobscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture.

The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.

They saw images of bears (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), twins (Gemini), a bull (Taurus), and others, including dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor). The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius. The star can be seen prominently in the Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, adjacent to Orion the Hunter.

The conjunction of Sirius with the Sun varies somewhat with latitude. Also, the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Although we are in the middle of the dog days of Summer right now, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. The heat of Summer is a direct result of the earth’s 23.5 degree tilt on its axis, meaning the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during the Summer.

Welcome to the "Dog Days."

Paul

Earth at Farthest Point from the Sun During Its Annual Elliptical Orbit

Despite the hot weather this week, our planet is actually at its farthest point from the Sun today. According to the U. S. Naval Observatory, the Earth reaches a point in its orbit called "aphelion" at 3:54 p.m. EDT. The Earth's aphelion is the point where it is the farthest from the Sun than at any time during the year at a distance of 94,510,539 miles.

The Earth is typically about 93 million miles from the Sun. However, because our planet's orbit is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, it has a farthest point and a closest point to the Sun. In case you're wondering, the Earth's closest approach to the Sun is called perihelion, and that occurs in early January. The Earth is exactly 3,104,641 miles (or 3.28 percent) farther from the Sun than at its closest approach. The Earth actually receives about seven percent less heat at its aphelion than at its perihelion, according to researchers.

Although the date for both will vary from year to year, the Earth will always be closest to the Sun in early January and the farthest away in early July. Not surprisingly, that comes as a shock to most people. At perihelion, our planet is about 91 million miles from the Sun. It moves outward to about 95 million miles from the Sun at aphelion. Naturally, some people have the mistaken impression that our seasons are caused by the changes in Earth's distance from the Sun, but this is not the case.

The temperatures and the seasons are not affected by the proximity of the Earth to the Sun or even the rotation of the planet on its axis. Rather, it is the tilt of the Earth that determines the climate. When it is at perihelion in January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, However, when it is at aphelion in July, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.

Happy Aphelion Day.

Paul

June Much Drier and Warmer Than Normal Across Southwestern Connecticut

The Bridgeport climate station recorded less than one inch (0.91") of rain in June, which is nearly three inches below normal (3.77"). There were only three days with at least one-tenth of an inch of rain.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 1, 2025 at 8:36 AM

The average temperature for June at the Bridgeport climate station was 70.9° F, which is 1.3° warmer-than-normal. The range was 97° (June 25) and 50° (June 3). There were six days with a high temperature of 90° or warmer.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) July 1, 2025 at 8:03 AM

Paul