Lawn & Garden Tips for May

Although Mother Nature can deliver some surprises in Spring, such as unseasonably cold temperatures in March and frosty nights in April, May is generally quieter. For gardeners, this means there's almost no limit to the gardening activities that can be done this month. 

According to Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor at the University of Vermont, the first order of business in May is to finish up any chores that didn't get done in April, such as removing wraps from trees and shrubs. Also, rake out flowerbeds and remove last year's stalks from perennial plants. If you can't break them off easily, cut them with a pair of sharp shears. Be careful not to remove new growth from plant crowns.

Pruning shrubs, small trees, and bushes is also a top priority this time of the year. Prune broken branches from trees and shrubs before they fall and injure someone. You also can prune Summer flowering shrubs, hedges, and evergreen trees now. But by May it's too late to prune fruit-bearing trees like crabapple, plum, and cherry and too early to cut back spring-flowering varieties such as forsythia and lilacs. Wait until flowering is through for the year.

May is a good month to work on your lawn. I've already thoroughly raked my lawn to remove dead grass and give it room to breathe. Top dress bare areas with a mix of topsoil and peat, then reseed. Use a quality grass seed mix containing Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue, and perennial ryegrass. Water seeded areas, keeping them moist as the grass starts to grow.

This is also a good time to fertilize your lawn to encourage healthy growth. Use a balanced fertilizer, one containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. However, a soil test is recommended as it will tell you if your soil already contains enough potash and phosphate, in which case you may only need a light application of nitrogen. Many lawns also need lime to grow well. A soil test will tell you how much to apply.

This is the primary planting month for vegetable gardens. Early this month you can plant cool-season crops such as peas, spinach, herbs, onions, and lettuce. Plant root crops, cole crops, and beans next. Wait until Memorial Day or later, depending on the last frost, to put in tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and melons.

If you are thinking of putting in a new flowerbed, prepare the bed by working the soil to a depth of one foot. Mix in lime if needed and organic matter in the form of peat moss or compost. Pay attention to flower color and placement. If a bed is to be viewed from one side only, then place taller plants in the back. Otherwise, put them in the center of the bed.

Avoid planting all the early flowering plants in one area or all varieties with the same flower type. If you are creating beds to be enjoyed from inside the house, plant hot-colored annuals and perennials (yellows, oranges, reds) in the front part of the bed. Plant blues and purples farther away. Adding plants with silvery foliage will help tie the color groups together.

Good luck with your lawn and garden this Spring. 

Paul

May Cooler and Drier-Than-Normal at Bridgeport Climate Station Midway Through Month

The average daily temperature at the Bridgeport climate station this month through Friday is 56.2° F, which is 1.5° cooler-than-normal. The range is 71° (May 5) and 41° (May 1).

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) May 16, 2026 at 11:48 AM

The Bridgeport climate station has recorded 0.70" of precipitation this month through Friday, which is 1.01" below the normal climatological average. Only three days featured more than one-tenth of an inch of rain.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) May 16, 2026 at 11:51 AM

Paul

Most of Southwestern Connecticut "Abnormally Dry," According to Latest Drought Monitor Index

Most of southwestern Connecticut is "abnormally dry," according to the latest United States Drought Monitor Index released Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) May 15, 2026 at 5:54 PM

Paul

Chirping Birds at Night an Annual May Ritual

Do you hear the birds chirping in the middle of the night? I do. The birds began chirping shortly after 3 o'clock this morning. Yes, it happens every May. The birds are chirping their melodious songs in the middle of the night. Although sunrise is a few hours away, the birds are already in midday form.

Hearing the birds chirping loudly at that hour is nothing short of shocking. Obviously, the days are getting longer, but is that the only reason the birds are up so early in the morning this time of the year? My curiosity got the better of me. I just had to find out.

No doubt you’ve heard the old adage about the early bird catching the worm, but there had to be more to it than that. According to Yahoo Answers, “The birds chirp and sing to communicate,” it states. “What you may not know is that, with few exceptions, it is the males that are doing all the chirping and singing. They chirp and sing to attract a mate and to announce their territory.”

But why are they chirping in the middle of the night? “Each day, as soon as possible, the males want to make sure that everyone knows that they are alive and well and ready to defend their territory. What is interesting, although it may all sound the same to us, is that there is some evidence suggesting that each bird has its own unique song and other birds know it.”

As for the modern scientific viewpoint, it is devoid of any romantic, religious or aesthetic aspects. It states that the pre-dawn chorus this time of the year signifies the warning signals given by each bird as it announces the re-establishment of its territory for the purpose of courtship, nesting, and food getting. All of these are the fundamental and basic steps to breeding, and the early chorus is just a way to warn other counterparts to keep away from their respective territories.

Paul

Local Weather Journal Earns Third Prestigious Communicator Award of Distinction

The Local Weather Journal for Southwestern Connecticut is now a three-time winner of the prestigious Communicator Award of Distinction. This professional online publication features climate data, forecast information, and a review of daily historical weather events. 

The Communicator Award is judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invitation-only group of top-tier individuals from renowned media, communications, and marketing firms. This website previously won the award in 2012 and 2013 while affiliated with News 12 Connecticut. 

"I am thrilled to win my third Communicator Award of Distinction as a valued member of Connoisseur Media," said Paul Piorek, the editor and publisher, who is the full-time on-air meteorologist at WICC 600 AM, 95.9 FM, 107.3 FM, and voiceofct.com. "It's been awhile since I added to my hardware. This award affirms my commitment and passion to southwestern Connecticut climate and weather." 

"We are in an era of information and content overload. Breaking through requires the right message, medium, and moment," said AIVA General Manager Josh Campbell. "This season's winners got it exactly right, across campaigns, video series, annual reports, podcasts, websites and apps, immersive experiences, brand style guides, and beyond. We are deeply grateful to the AIVA jury for the expertise, curiosity, and dedication they brought to recognizing this work. We're honored to spotlight the winners." 

The Communicator Awards recognizes excellence, effectiveness, and innovation across all areas of communication. For 32 years, the platform has provided an opportunity for companies, agencies, organizations, and independent creators to be honored, regardless of team size or project budget. 

Website editor and publisher Paul Piorek's impressive media portfolio also includes a New York Emmy award (2007), five Emmy nominations (1993, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010), and four Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association Awards for Best Television Weathercast (2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012).

Rare May Snowstorm Affected Northeast 49 Years Ago Today

A "Winter" storm system brought snow and record-cold temperatures to much of New England on this date 49 years ago, May 9, 1977. 

In fact, at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, a trace of snow fell, and the temperature dropped to 37 degrees that morning, establishing a record low for this date. Other than a trace of snow which was reported May 27, 2010, it's the latest Spring day on which any snow has ever fallen in southwestern Connecticut.

The storm was quite shocking for this time of the year. Consider the normal high temperature for May 9 is 65 degrees, and the normal low temperature is 48. Snow in southwestern Connecticut is almost unheard of seven weeks after the Vernal Equinox. The coldest temperature ever recorded this month was 31 degrees on March 10, 1966.

According to the Naugatuck Daily News, "A Spring storm dumped several inches of snow on some parts of Berkshire County in Massachusetts. The area hardest hit by the storm was Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where police reported 10 inches of snow on the ground. Similar amounts were reported in parts of Vermont. Great Barrington police said there 'were about 100 trees down, wires are down, and we've got reports of accidents we can't get to.'"

Residents in the northwestern Connecticut rural communities of Goshen and Cornwall reported unofficial snow depths of up to five inches. The snow began to fall heavily in the Hartford area at the height of the commuter rush, slowing traffic considerably on most roads. The National Weather Service said a deepening area of low pressure over Connecticut produced a variety of weather conditions across Western Connecticut.

I consider myself a local weather history buff, but I honestly don't remember this storm. Special thanks to viewer Ralph Fato for recalling it and bringing it to my attention. It certainly had to be memorable for those who had to dig out of nearly a half-foot of snow in the northwestern corner of the state. I'm sure they were wearing their Winter coats, too, with the mercury plunging into the 30s.

Paul

Frost Advisory Posted for Northern Fairfield & Northern New Haven Counties Sunday Morning

A Frost Advisory will be in effect for northern Fairfield and northern New Haven counties Sunday from 12 a.m. until 9 a.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) May 2, 2026 at 4:35 PM

Paul

Most of Connecticut "Abnormally Dry," According to Drought Monitor Index

Most of Connecticut is "abnormally dry," according to the latest United States Drought Monitor Index released Thursday, April 30, 2026.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) April 30, 2026 at 2:54 PM

Paul

Full Flower Moon Happens Friday, May 1, 2026

The Full Flower Moon takes place this Friday, May 1, 2026, at 1:23 p.m. EDT. The second Full Moon next month --- known as a Blue Moon --- occurs Saturday, May 31, at 4:45 a.m.

In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. That’s how the Full Moon in May became known as the Flower Moon. Other names include the Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon. 

Full Moon names date back to 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.

A Full Moon rises at about the same time the Sun is setting. Since the length of daylight continues to grow each day through the Summer Solstice, a Full Moon will rise later and set earlier in May and June. In addition, the Full Moon will appear lower in the sky since it won’t be visible nearly as long as during the long Winter nights. That’s because the Full Moon is a lunar phase which occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.

Paul

57th Annual Earth Day Observance

Today is Earth Day, which was first observed 56 years ago on this same date in 1970. The theme of this year's Earth Day is "Our Power, Our Planet."

There's no question we've become better stewards of our planet over the last five-plus decades. Earth Day founder Senator Gaylord Nelson passed away in July of 2005 at the age of 89. He believed strongly that education is the key to changing people’s attitudes about the environment, and he devoted much of his time and energy to that challenge.

“The idea of Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962,” he wrote. “For several years it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. Finally, in November of 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political ‘limelight’ once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue. It was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.”

According to Senator Nelson, the first Earth Day “worked” because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. Though he felt he and his committee had neither the time nor resources to organize the 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated, “it organized itself.”

So, how have things changed in the last 56 years? Certainly, we’ve become more aware of the need to take better care of our planet. Many important laws were passed in the wake of the first Earth Day, including the Clean Air Act, and laws to protect water, wild lands, and the ocean. The Environmental Protection Agency was created within three years of the first Earth Day.

Personally, I’ve seen a dramatic change over the last half-century. What I clearly remember as a child is taking a weekly pilgrimage with my Dad every Saturday afternoon to the town dump. Dad loaded the family car with all kinds of debris and junk from the basement, and we followed the dirt path, greeted the seagulls, and dumped everything at the landfill. The garbage was simply buried. Today, our garbage is turned into electricity or, in some cases, steam.

Garbage isn’t something most of us want to think about, but managing nearly 230 tons we generate each year has consequences. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of garbage Americans generate has increased from 88 million tons to over 229 million tons since 1960. Fifty-two years ago, Americans produced about 2.7 pounds of garbage each day. By 2001, though, that amount jumped to 4.4 pounds a person each day.

I’m impressed at what has been done locally to address the issue of waste reduction. The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority’s Bridgeport Project consists of a 2,250 ton-per-day mass-burn trash-to-energy facility, eight transfer stations, two landfills, a regional recycling center, and the Children’s Garbage Museum. The Bridgeport Project provides solid waste disposal and recycling services to 20 Connecticut communities in Fairfield and New Haven counties.

The Bridgeport Project trash-to-energy plant, which is located at 6 Howard Avenue in Bridgeport is truly an impressive facility. Take your family there, and I’m sure all of you will be amazed at what you see. It’s the perfect example of how “one man’s trash becomes another man’s treasure.” I’ve visited the plant several times, and each time I come away with a better understanding of how we manage our trash.

The solid waste is burned in a controlled environment to create electricity. Through this process, the volume of solid waste is reduced by about 90%. Waste-to-energy plants nationwide generate enough electricity to power nearly 2.3 million homes. Energy created in the Bridgeport facility has about the same environmental impact as energy produced from natural gas, and less impact than from oil or coal plants.

Recycling? We never bothered to recycle anything over a generation ago. Everything was considered “trash” back then. Now, we carefully sort our recyclables each week and place them in the blue bins. Recycled items include paper, aluminum, steel, plastics, glass, scrap tips, cell phones, and electronics. Americans recycled and composted nearly 30% of municipal solid waste in 2001, diverting 68 million tons to recovery.

Did you know, for example, that 71% of all newspapers are recovered for recycling? Over a third goes back into making more newsprint. The remainder is used to make paperboard, tissue, and insulation. Seventy-four percent of boxes are recycled, and nearly 46% of office papers are recovered for recycling. These become raw material for printing and writing paper.

So, yes, we’ve come a long way since the first Earth Day was “celebrated” on April 22, 1970. Much has been done since then, but there’s still a long way to go. The late Senator Gaylord Nelson said education was the key to changing people’s attitudes about the environment, and the more aware we become about our planet, the better we'll be able to take care of it.

God bless Planet Earth.

Paul

Freeze Warning Issued for Fairfield & New Haven Counties Tuesday Morning

A Freeze Warning will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties Tuesday from 12 a.m. until 9 a.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 4:01 PM

Paul

Record High Temperature Set Today at Bridgeport Climate Station

A record high temperature of 82° F was established at the Bridgeport climate station today, breaking the previous record high for this date of 81° set in 1960.

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) April 15, 2026 at 5:10 PM

Paul

Powerful Nor'easter Hammered Region 19 Years Ago Today

A powerful Nor'easter hammered the region 19 years ago today, Sunday, April 15, 2007, causing widespread flooding, damage, and destruction to many homes and businesses across southwestern Connecticut. 

My basement was a disaster area, and the sight of water pouring into the cellar through the walls was alarming. Many local communities received more than a half-foot of rain in one day, including an incredible 7.50 inches in Weston.

Perhaps no picture better illustrates the destruction of the Nor'easter better than this one. Viewer Donna Dutko sent this photo of "the little pink antique store at the corner of Route 7 and Branchville Station." As you can see, the store collapsed from the force of the water and was partially submerged. The water was almost up to the railroad tracks, too.

Stamford recorded nearly seven inches of rain (6.84"), causing massive flooding of roads and headaches for motorists. Martin Silverman told of "the extreme road conditions at the intersection of High Ridge Road and Wire Mill." I heard many stories from motorists who had to find alternate routes or who were stranded on flooded roads during the height of the flooding.

Darien received nearly a half-foot of rain (5.93"). Richard Miller took this photo of Hoyt Street Sunday afternoon, April 15, at 4 o'clock. He jokingly wrote, "I thought I would share this with you before we go for a lap swim." As you can see, driving was dangerous just about everywhere.

I'm sure you'll never forget the Nor'easter of Sunday, April 15, 2007. I know I won't.

Paul

Seasonal Snowfall Record Smashed 30 Years Ago Today

Seasonal snowfall records were smashed across much of New England when heavy, wet snow buried Northern New England and delivered nearly one foot of snow (11.3″) to Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford from the evening of April 9 through the morning of April 10, 1996. 

It was a fitting end to the Winter that just didn’t seem to want to end. In fact, the first snowfall of the season happened the previous November.

When the last flake had fallen, 75.7″ of snow had fallen in southwestern Connecticut that Winter, breaking the previous mark of 71.3″ established more than 60 years earlier in 1933-34. Hartford finished the 1995-96 Winter with a record 114.6 inches, which eclipsed the previous mark of 84.9 inches only two years earlier. 

What I most remember about that snowstorm was a telephone call I received from my brother and sister-in-law, who were living in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, at the time. That little town at the base of Mount Monadnock made national headlines when the second major snowstorm in three days produced nearly two feet (21 inches) of snow. My brother and sister-in-law were convinced that they were snowbound for awhile.

We also laughed about how much we were looking forward to seeing the first-ever baseball game at the brand new New Britain Stadium just two days later. The Eastern League’s Rock Cats were unveiling their state-of-the-art ballpark against the rival New Haven Ravens, and we were convinced the game wasn’t going to happen. We had purchased tickets well in advance. However, the game did go on as scheduled, and we enjoyed the festivities, despite temperatures in the lower 30s and snow in the parking lot!

Consider that the normal average snowfall for southwestern Connecticut for the month of April is only 0.9″ based on 40 years of record-keeping, and the normal average Winter snowfall is about 26.3 inches.

Paul

Today Marks 44th Anniversary of Snowiest April Day on Record at Bridgeport Climate Station

Today, April 6, marks the 44th anniversary of the snowiest April day on record in southwestern Connecticut. What made the storm even more memorable were the gusty winds and cold temperatures. 

Record lows of 19, 18, and 23 degrees were established from April 6 through April 8, 1982, respectively, well below the 38-degree normal low temperature for this time of the year.

The snowstorm of Tuesday, April 6,1982, was one of the most remarkable late-season snowfalls to strike the Northeast. Snowfall accumulations from 10 inches to more than one foot occurred across much of Long Island, but the accompanying very cold temperatures and high winds caused extensive blowing and drifting of snow which was unprecedented for early April. 

More than one foot of snow (13") fell at Newark, New Jersey, 10 inches (9.8") blanketed New York City, and more than two feet of snow fell across upstate New York. The primary storm resurfaced off the New Jersey coast, producing gale force winds more than 60 miles an hour. It was the heaviest April snow in New York City since April 3 and 4 of 1915 when 10 inches fell.

The heavy snow forced the cancellation of the Yankees’ 1982 home opener against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Even worse, the weather stayed cold, and the Yanks cancelled another game against Texas, two games against the White Sox, and they eventually opened on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1982, by dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Chicago.

Paul

March Wetter and Slightly Warmer Than Normal Across Southwestern Connecticut

If you thought the month of March was rather dreary across southwestern Connecticut, you were right. In fact, 19 of the 31 days last month featured at least a trace of precipitation at the Bridgeport climate station.

The station, located at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, recorded 4.65" of precipitation last month, which is 0.56" above the climatological normal. Measured precipitation was recorded 13 days, including more than one inch (1.19") March 16 and a string of five successive days (March 3 through 7).

Ten days had at least one-tenth of an inch, and three days featured at least one-half inch.

March was also slightly warmer-than-normal. The average monthly temperature at the Bridgeport climate station was 41.1° F, which is 1.2° warmer-than-normal. The range was 72° (March 31) and 19° (March 2).

Only one day (March 2) had a maximum temperature below freezing (28°), while 17 days featured a minimum temperature of 32° or colder. 

Paul

Full Pink Moon Will Brighten April's Night Sky

The Full Pink Moon occurs today, April 1, at 10:12 p.m. EDT.  Full Moon names date back to the days of the Native Americans in what is now the Northern and Eastern United States. It is also the first Full Moon following the Vernal Equinox.

The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving them names to each recurring Full Moon. The names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There have been some variations of the Moon names but, in general, the same ones were applied throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

So, how did the Full Pink Moon get its name? Well, the name comes from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the Spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

Farmers are encouraged to transplant during a Full Moon, when the lunar flower force is supposedly strong. The moisture content becomes low during the waning phase and less sap is rising in the trees and shrubs, so it’s a good time to do your pruning and attack weeds. According to lunar planting folklore, root plants should go into the ground during a waning Moon. It is also the best time to turn over the soil.

Enjoy the Full Pink Moon.

Paul

Today Marks 56th Anniversary of Easter Sunday Snowstorm

The month of March is arguably the most unpredictable as far as weather is concerned in southwestern Connecticut. Today marks the 56th anniversary of the unforgettable Easter Sunday snowstorm of March 29, 1970. Remember, a snowstorm this late in the season in southwestern Connecticut is extremely rare. 

The normal high temperature is almost 20 degrees warmer than the freezing point, while the normal low temperature is 35 degrees. In addition, the higher angle of the Sun, its stronger rays, and more than 12 hours of daylight all contribute to a Springtime feel of the air.

That's why the Easter Sunday snowstorm is so memorable. Adding to its uniqueness was the fact that it happened on Easter, a day on which many people travel to church services and to see relatives. 

More than a half-foot of snow fell in the Greater Bridgeport area and, to make matters worse, the mercury plummeted to 16 degrees the following morning at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford and 14 degrees in Norwalk. 

According to The Hour newspaper of Norwalk, eight inches of snow fell in the city. The weatherman pulled a somewhat premature April Fool's Day gag on Norwalkers Sunday and in the bargain, turned the Easter Parade into a trek more fitting for Siberian slopes than West Avenue," the article stated. "The snowfall, which came shortly after the traditional Easter Sunrise Service at Calf Pasture Beach, caught many a midmorning churchgoer unawares."

Although Easter occurred quite early that year, an Easter Sunday snowfall hadn't been recorded in southern Connecticut since 1915, when eight inches of snow fell April 3 and 4. The 1970 snowstorm began at about 8:30 a.m. and persisted throughout the day until early evening, accompanied by wind gusts up to 30 miles an hour. Remember, the date on which Easter falls fluctuates each year. It is observed on the first Sunday following the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox.

"The state highway department began plowing roads Sunday, though reports indicated much of its snow-fighting equipment was stored away to begin Spring cleanup of sand and road trash instead of snow," according to The Hour. "State police, in a statewide survey of conditions, reported most roads were snow or ice-covered, with extremely slippery conditions."

The following day, Monday, March 30, was an unscheduled holiday for many area schoolchildren due to the snow, wind, and brutally cold temperatures. Only New Canaan and Darien opened their schools, "as most towns, faced with slippery roads and unplowed school yards, cancelled classes."

Although I was only 11 years old and in sixth-grade at the time, the memory of that snowstorm is quite vivid. As a young child, I was excited that we didn't have to go to church or drive to grandma's house for dinner. Instead, our family spent the day at home, enjoying the snow and the holiday together. Oddly, four years later, 7.6" of snow fell at Sikorsky Airport on the same date.

Paul

Old Man Winter Delivered Vernal Equinox Snowstorm 11 Years Ago Today

A late-March snowstorm on the Vernal Equinox brought a half-foot of snow to several local communities and caused most school systems throughout the region to dismiss early, Friday, March 20, 2015. The snow began falling just after noon, and it became steadier and heavier throughout the afternoon, resulting in numerous fender-benders on local roads.

According to the National Weather Service official report, Weston led the way with 6.5 inches, followed by Norwalk (6.3"), New Canaan (6.3"), Shelton (5.5"), and Easton (5.5"). More than five inches (5.3") fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, which was just shy for the record for the date of 5.5" set in 1958.

The snowfall pushed the monthly snow total to 16.7", which is well above the normal (5.1") for the month of March. It also pushed the snowfall for the 2014-2015 season to 57.8", which eclipsed the previous year's total of 56.6" through the same date. The normal amount of snowfall through March 20 is just 31.2" based on 40 years of climatology.

Paul

Vernal Equinox Doesn't Signal End of Winter Weather

Tomorrow, Friday, March 20, is the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The Vernal Equinox happens at 10:46 a.m. EDT, meaning the Sun's rays are directly above the Equator. 

Theoretically, there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness over any spot on the face of the Earth. However, the Equinox doesn't necessarily mean an end to Winter weather.

In fact, 68 years ago today a snowstorm dumped just about a half-foot of snow on Bridgeport. Take a look at the front-page of The Bridgeport Post from the following day. According to the article, "Winter rallied its retiring forces yesterday and today and struck at the Bridgeport area with a wind-driven snowstorm. Towns along the Merritt Parkway reported 10 to 12 inches and Danbury had 16." Click on the image to see a larger version.

Although the normal monthly snowfall for March (4.3") is less than a half-foot, nearly a foot of snow fell on two separate occasions. Just over 11 inches of snow fell on March 22, 1967 (see the front page of The Bridgeport Post below), and the unforgettable Storm of the Century, Saturday, March 13, 1993, produced 10.6" at Bridgeport. More than a half-foot of snow (7.6") fell as late as March 29, 1974.

In addition, temperatures can vary significantly through the end of the month. Record low temperatures fell into the single digits March 18 (nine degrees) and March 19 (four degrees), 1967, and a record low of 16 degrees happened as late as March 29, 1970. 

April has also seen its fair share of snow, too. You may recall that more than a half-foot of snow fell Wednesday, April 10, 1996, capping the snowiest Winter on record at Sikorsky Memorial Airport. Also, a half-foot of snow fell April 6, 1982, which postponed Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. A half-inch of snow fell as late as April 19, 1983, and a trace of snow fell as late as April 28, 1966. The normal snowfall for the entire month, however, is less than an inch (0.9").

April can be quite chilly, too. Record low temperatures of 19 and 18 degrees were recorded April 6 and 7, during the 1982 snowstorm. Even though the average high temperature climbs to 60 degrees by the end of the month, the mercury has fallen into the 20s and 30s quite frequently in mid-to-late April. A record low of 29 degrees happened on April 22, 1975.

Happy Spring!

Paul

Flood Watch and Wind Advisory Posted for Southwestern Connecticut

A Flood Watch will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties from Monday at 5 a.m. through Tuesday at 8 a.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) March 15, 2026 at 6:33 PM

A Wind Advisory will be in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties from Monday at 2 p.m. until Tuesday at 4 a.m. EDT: forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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— Paul Piorek WICC (@paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social) March 15, 2026 at 6:35 PM

Paul

March 13 Is an Unforgettable Day in Southwestern Connecticut Weather History

Three of the most unforgettable weather events in recent history in southwestern Connecticut happened on this date. Two powerful storms and an all-time record high temperature for the season occurred on March 13, highlighting the unpredictability of the weather this time of the year. If you're of a certain age, I'm sure you remember all three weather "events."

As hard as it may seem to believe, the temperature climbed to an incredible 84 degrees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport on March 13, 1990. That established a record high for the date, month, and the Winter season. The normal high temperature for this date is only 45 degrees and the normal low is a chilly 31.

During March, a battle rages between the Spring and Winter seasons, and that makes predicting the temperatures during this month as difficult as any time during the year. The amount of daylight continues to grow each day, and the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring, is a week away. But, Old Man Winter has no intentions of packing his bags just yet.

I distinctly remember watching and feeling the temperature climb that day due to a strong westerly wind. The wind direction was extremely important, since the flow didn't come from the cooler waters on Long Island Sound. I was the evening weather anchor at News 12 Connecticut 36 years ago, and our "weather video" showed people flocking to a local beach to soak up the sun and warm temperatures. I'll never forget that day.

Then, just three years later, Saturday, March 13, 1993, the famed Storm of the Century pounded the Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. Locally, more than foot of snow fell across southwestern Connecticut, winds gusted higher than 40 miles an hour, and wind chills hovered at or close to zero throughout the day. It was the second snowiest day on record for March, and it will always be remembered because it affected such a large area.

Very heavy snow accumulated in the south. Birmingham, Alabama, picked up one foot of snow. Snow covered the ground from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. The heavy snow spread northward along the East Coast to Maine. On Saturday, March 13, every airport in the Eastern states was closed. Snowfall ranged up to four feet on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. Atlanta, Georgia, picked up three inches. Chattanooga, Tennessee, received 21 inches. During the peak of the storm, about 30 percent of the entire country was hit by the rough weather.

Very warm, humid air moved across central Florida and, combined with the energy of the storm, helped spawn the 27 tornadoes. Winds were clocked at 99 mph on an oil platform off the Louisiana coast. Overall the storm took 285 lives, mostly because of tornadoes. The storm became the costliest nontropical storm in Florida's history. States of emergency were declared throughout the eastern portion of the country. 

I was called in for storm coverage that Saturday morning, and we remained on the air for more than 12 hours. Aside from the heavy snow, what I remember most from that day was the rapidly falling barometer. The pressure dropped to 28.35 inches in parts of New England, which is usually only observed in hurricanes. They peak at almost the exact opposite time of the year. By comparison, the normal average barometer reading for southwestern Connecticut is 30.02 inches.

The storm was deepening and intensifying as it moved toward New England, and the howling winds didn't let up. In the wake of the storm, back-to-back record low temperatures of 16 and 12 degrees were established on March 14 and 15, respectively, at Sikorsky Airport.

Then, 16 years ago, a powerful Nor'easter hammered Connecticut and, specifically, Fairfield County. The damaging wind gusts of 60 to 65 miles an hour, flooding rains, massive power outages, impassable roads, and week-long school closings won't soon be forgotten. We received incredible videos and photos of the widespread destruction across southwestern Connecticut. The following photos were sent by News 12 Connecticut viewers.

Former Governor the late M. Jodi Rell announced that the storm caused more than $7 million in damage statewide, and she requested a visit from Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to assess the damage. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security estimated $2.8 million worth of damage in Fairfield County alone. Fairfield County qualified for federal disaster assistance.

Preliminary damage estimates in Norwalk totaled more than $335,000, and damage to private homes was even greater. Damage to public buildings and parks, and the cost of funding police, fire, and city employee overtime reached about $335,065, according to the city's director of finance. The scoreboard at Brien McMahon High School was the single most expensive piece of property destroyed in the storm. Its damage was estimated at $18,000.

Stamford officials estimate private property damage at $3.58 million. Damage to public property was estimated at $262,000, and total overtime for city crews at $143,086. Tens of thousands of people lost power, and three school systems were closed for a week. Heavy rain delivered up to one-half inch per hour during the afternoon of March 13. Here is a sampling of area rainfall totals for that day:

• New Canaan: 4.34"
• Easton: 4.33"
• Wilton: 4.01"
• Stratford: 3.33"
• Woodbridge: 3.12"
• Westport: 2.97"
• Milford: 2.91"

This is certainly a date which will be remembered for dramatic weather on three occasions over the last 36 years.

Paul