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...

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— 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.

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— 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...

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— 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...

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— 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...

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

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.

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— 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...

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— 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...

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— 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.

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— 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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— 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.

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

Paul