Marking the 14-Year Anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene

Tropical Storm Irene hit the region 14 years ago today, and it will long be remembered by residents of southwestern Connecticut for the number of lives it affected. According to Mitch Gross, a spokesman for Connecticut Light and Power, more than 700,000 customers were without power Sunday, August 28, 2011, easily breaking the previous record of 480,000 following Hurricane Gloria in September of 1985. In fact, 98% of Redding and 89% of Weston households were without power on Monday, August 29, 2011.

The shoreline was hit the hardest, especially during the storm surge at the time of high tide late Sunday morning, August 28. Several homes collapsed along the beach in Fairfield, and many residents had to be evacuated due to the flooding. There were 35 streets which were under mandatory evacuation. This is an outstanding time lapse taken during Tropical Storm Irene. Ralph Fato installed a camera by the water in New Rochelle, NY. The camera was 15 feet higher than the bottom of the pond. You will be amazed at this video.

Ralph sent the following photos of Cove Island Park in Stamford, where the water level was 15 feet above normal. The beach is actually a quarter-mile away. The center of the storm passed through southwestern Connecticut late Sunday morning, August 28, just about the time of high tide, which was 11:10 a.m. in Bridgeport. To make matters worse, tides were astronomically high due to the new Moon. The beach is actually a quarter-mile away.

Although the storm's effects would be felt for quite some time, it could have been much worse. The highest wind gust reported in the region was 63 miles an hour at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford just before daybreak. The highest wind speed was 46 miles an hour, and the average wind speed was 24.9 miles an hour. Fortunately, winds never reached hurricane force, but that certainly was little consequence to the thousands of people who were without power or who suffered damage from Irene.

Rainfall totals ranged from just over three inches to more than a half-foot in Northern Fairfield County. Officially, the Sikorsky Airport set a record of 2.50 inches, bringing the two-day storm total to 3.35 inches. That's not far from the monthly average of 3.75 inches. Here are four more photos from Ralph taken at Cove Island Park.

Thus far this year, the Atlantic tropical season has been fairly quiet. However, that was not the case 14 years ago today.

Paul

Coastal Flood Advisory for Southern Fairfield and New Haven Counties

A Coastal Flood Advisory will be in effect for southern Fairfield and New Haven counties Thursday and Friday evenings: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Paul

Connie & Diane Battered Connecticut 70 Years Ago This Month

Long-time area residents will never forget August of 1955 when two of the most memorable hurricanes --- Connie and Diane --- battered the Northeast. Hurricane Connie soaked New England with torrential rains on August 13, 1955. Then, just five days later, Tropical Storm Diane followed suit creating massive flooding not seen since the 1930s. Take a look at the front page of The Bridgeport Telegram from August 20, 1955.

 

The combination of Connie and Diane yielded rainfall totals close to 25 inches in some areas, resulting in unprecedented flooding. Nearly all of the major rivers in the lower Connecticut Valley exceeded flood stage. Some rivers rose more than 20 feet over their banks. Read the Valley News archive of daily weather events from August of 1955 to gain a better understanding of the power of those two August hurricanes.

While the two hurricanes affected the entire Atlantic coast, Connecticut suffered the most damage. For example, of the 180 lives that were lost, 77 were in Connecticut. Of the 680 million dollars in property damage, over 350 million dollars occurred in Connecticut. Over 200 dams in New England suffered partial to total failure. Many of these were in the area immediately south of Worcester, in the Thames and Blackstone headwaters. Here is a photo of Winsted, Connecticut, virtually devastated following the flood.

   

If August was not bad enough, two months later, a four day storm dumped an additional 12-14 inches of rain in southwestern New England. This event was not as widespread as the August storms, but record flood levels were achieved in some locations of the Housatonic and Hudson River basins.

Paul

One Year Anniversary of Historic One-Day Flooding Across Parts of Southwestern Connecticut

A historic deluge delivered more than one foot of rain to parts of southwestern Connecticut Sunday, August 18, 2024, during a heavy rain storm which destroyed many homes, businesses, and roads.

Oxford reported 14.83" of rain, breaking the previous 24-hour rainfall record in Connecticut of 12.77" at Burlington during Hurricane Diane on August 19, 1955. Here are the official rain totals from across the region, including Fairfield and New Haven counties, from the National Weather Service:

Oxford was the hardest hit municipality. Two women lost their lives when they were swept away by the raging floodwaters. The photo below shows the flooding along Oxford Road.

Ironically, the storm happened on the 69th anniversary of The Great Flood of 1955 during Hurricane Diane. The video below shows the incredible rescue of people from the Brookside Inn on Oxford Road. Read the complete story by clicking here.

This home on East Hill Road in Oxford was completely washed into the Five Mile Brook.

Paul

Southwestern Connecticut "Abnormally Dry" According to Latest Drought Monitor Index

The latest Drought Monitor Index as of August 14, 2025, indicates that most of southwestern Connecticut is "abnormally dry."

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM

Paul

Hurricane Connie Struck Coastal Connecticut 70 Years Ago Today

Many long-time area residents will never forget the deluge which happened 70 years ago today. Hurricane Connie brought nearly four inches (3.92") of rain to the region on Friday, August 12, 1955. Take a look at the front page of The Bridgeport Telegram from Saturday, August 13, 1955.

August of 1955 will be remembered for two of the most memorable hurricanes --- Connie and Diane --- which battered the Northeast. Hurricane Connie soaked New England with torrential rains on August 12 and 13, 1955. Then, just five days later, Tropical Storm Diane followed suit creating massive flooding not seen since the 1930s. Take a look at the front page of The Bridgeport Telegram from Saturday, August 20, 1955.




The combination of Connie and Diane yielded rainfall totals close to 25 inches in some areas, resulting in unprecedented flooding. Nearly all of the major rivers in the lower Connecticut Valley exceeded flood stage. Some rivers rose more than 20 feet over their banks. Read the Valley News archive of daily weather events from August of 1955 to gain a better understanding of the power of those two August hurricanes!

While the two hurricanes affected the entire Atlantic coast, Connecticut suffered the most damage. For example, of the 180 lives that were lost, 77 were in Connecticut. Of the 680 million dollars in property damage, over 350 million dollars occurred in Connecticut. Over 200 dams in New England suffered partial to total failure. Many of these were in the area immediately south of Worcester, in the Thames and Blackstone headwaters. Here is a photo of Winsted, Connecticut, virtually devastated following the flood.



If August was not bad enough, two months later, a four day storm dumped an additional 12-14 inches of rain in southwestern New England. This event was not as widespread as the August storms, but record flood levels were achieved in some locations of the Housatonic and Hudson River basins. The tropical season has been fairly quiet thus far, but things usually stir in late August and September. Tropical Storm Irene (2011) and Hurricane Gloria (1985) are two recent examples.

Paul

"Dog Days of Summer" Officially Come to a Close Today

Today, Monday, August 11, is the last day of the 40-day period known as "The Dog Days of Summer" in the Northern Hemisphere. It lasts from July 3 through August 11 and includes the 20 days before and 20 days after the alignment of Sirius, the dog star, with the Sun.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 6:41 AM

Paul

Last Sunset at 8 p.m. or Later in Fairfield Until May 10, 2026

Friday evening's sunset in Fairfield is at 8:01 p.m. EDT, marking the last time the Sun will set at 8 p.m. or later until May 10, 2026. Saturday's sunset is at 7:59 p.m.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 8, 2025 at 6:29 AM

Paul

August's Full Sturgeon Moon Happens This Saturday, August 9, 2025

You may have noticed a huge orange disc in the sky last night. The Full Sturgeon Moon happens this Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 3:55 a.m. EDT.  

So, how did the August full Moon get its name? The fishing tribes are given credit for naming it, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

Thunder and lightning are quite frequent with Summer storms in August. So, this month’s full Moon also goes by the name of the Lightning Moon for the Summer thunderstorms. Other names given to the Moon in August are the Red Moon and the Dog Moon. 

Full Moon names date back to the days of the Native Americans, in what is now the Northern and Eastern United States.

The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

Paul

Today Marks Midpoint of Summer in Northern Hemisphere

Today marks the midpoint of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The Summer Solstice happened 47 days ago (June 20), and the Autumn Equinox is 47 days from now (September 22).

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 6, 2025 at 7:40 AM

Paul

July Warmer and Drier Than Normal Across Southwestern Connecticut

The average monthly temperature for July at the Bridgeport climate station was 78.2° F, which is 2.5° warmer-than-normal. The range was 96° (July 29) and 61° (July 5). There were eight days with a high temperature of 90° or warmer.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 1, 2025 at 7:43 AM

The Bridgeport climate station recorded 1.35" of precipitation in July, which is nearly two inches below normal (3.32"). There were only seven days with at least one-tenth of an inch of rain.

[image or embed]

— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) August 1, 2025 at 7:47 AM

Paul