*** Paul Piorek is editor and publisher of Paul's Local Weather Journal for southwestern Connecticut ... Paul is the broadcast meteorologist at WICC 600 AM, 95.9 FM, 107.3 FM, & voiceofct.com ... Paul is a New York Emmy award winner (2007), five-time Emmy nominee (1993, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010), and four-time winner of the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association award for Best TV Weathercast (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012) ... The local weather journal is a three-time winner of the Communicator Award of Distinction (2012, 2013, 2026) ... Paul was voted Best Local Television Personality by the readers of Fairfield County Weekly Magazine (2012) ... Paul was inducted into the Housatonic Community College Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Alumni Award (2012) ... Paul is a full-time fifth-grade teacher at Stella Maris Prep School for Boys ... Follow Paul at https://bsky.app/profile/paulpiorekwicc.bsky.social/

Saturday, June 20, 2026

"Severe Drought" Plagues Extreme Southwestern Connecticut

The United States Drought Monitor Index, which is released each week, places extreme southwestern Connecticut in a "severe drought," as of Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The Bridgeport climate station has recorded 1.01" of precipitation this month through June 19, which is well below the 2.59" normal through the same period based on 30 years of climatology. As a result, the region is more than one-and-a-half inches (-1.58") below normal for June. 

The yearly precipitation total of 15.28" since January 1 is close to one-half foot (-5.44") below normal (20.72") through the period. Four of the first five months this year featured below-normal precipitation, including January (-0.77"), February (-0.25"), April (-2.42"), and May (-0.98").

The Bridgeport climate station recorded measured precipitation only four days this month, including the 0.65" in less than one hour during the thunderstorm of June 11th. The other dates include June 6 (0.10"), June 14 (0.08"), and June 15 (0.18").

Fortunately, there is rain in the forecast. In fact, more than one-and-a-half inches of precipitation are expected across southwestern Connecticut through Tuesday at 8 a.m. EDT.


A rain dance wouldn't hurt, however.

Paul

No comments:

Post a Comment