Record Flooding Happened 39 Years Ago This Week

Many longtime residents of southwestern Connecticut remember the incredible flooding downpours 39 years ago this week. A three-day deluge brought nearly 10 inches of rain to the region, flooded residents out of their homes, forced postponement of school graduation ceremonies, and caused widespread damage.

Personally, I’ll never forget those three days since our basement was flooded beyond belief. I actually thought our house was going to float away. Firefighters, neighbors, and relatives helped my family furiously pump water out of the basement in what can only be called a losing battle. I distinctly remember riding with my father to pick up another sump pump at a friend’s house in the middle of the night while our next-door neighbors helped out downstairs.

How much rain fell during the three day period? Too much. The monsoon began June 17, 1972, with nearly two-and-a-half inches (2.37″) of rain. The next day, June 18, brought nearly an inch (0.98″). But the deadliest blow happened the next day — June 19 — when over a half-foot (6.18″) of rain buried the region. That one day total is nearly the average rainfall for two full months! Cumulatively, 9.53″ of rain fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. According to the National Weather Service, it marked “the heaviest flooding damage since the Fall of 1955.”



According to the front-page article in June 19, 1972 edition of The Bridgeport Post, “A civil defense warning was issued today at 9:10 a.m. concerning flooding in the Southern Connecticut area. The report, which came over the air from the city’s Emergency Reporting Service, stated that the rain would continue through most of the day, and that flash floods were expected to occur.”

The following day, the newspaper reported that “Many residents who had never experienced water accumulations before, were still busy pumping out and drying up cellars. Fire departments throughout the area were besieged by requests from residents seeking pumping assistance.” One storm-related death was reported when a gentleman was electrocuted as he waded through two-feet of water in his basement of his home. The victim came into contact with live wiring as he was repairing the furnace.



Fire authorities had warned that flooded basements posed hazards as water threatened to “short out” furnace motors. Civil defense officials in the state estimated that a damage toll reaching as high as $1 million was expected. The American Red Cross established emergency shelters at its headquarters in Fairfield and Darien. Adding insult to injury was the threat of even more rain from Tropical Storm Agnes through Wednesday, June 21.

What do I most remember about that memorable three-day deluge? Our junior high school graduation was postponed. The Fairfield Woods Junior High School ceremony, which was originally scheduled for June 21 at Andrew Warde High School, was pushed back one day. We were extremely disappointed, since we couldn't wait to walk into our new high school as soon-to-be-freshmen at Warde.

I also remember my cousin, Pat, a Vietnam veteran, blew out his knee while attempting to start a generator in our backyard. I can vividly remember him being wheeled into the back of the ambulance in a driving rainstorm while neighbors watched from our backyard. He eventually married my next-door-neighbor, Ruth Ann, who stopped by with a home-cooked meal and met Pat.

The total rainfall for the entire month of June in 1972 was nearly a foot-and-a-half (17.7″). To put it in perspective, that's nearly a half-year's worth of rain. We won't have to worry about any rain the next two days as high pressure will deliver fair and dry weather to southwestern Connecticut. However, heat and humidity will build by mid week, and scattered thunderstorms are likely Wednesday through Friday.

Paul

Strong Storms Brought Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds, Vivid Lightning, and Large Hail to Region

The powerful cold front which plowed into southwestern Connecticut late yesterday brought heavy rain, gusty winds, vivid lightning, and large hail. The atmosphere was charged after two straight days of extreme heat and humidity, and the storms arrived during the hottest time of the day. Viewer Ralph Fato of Norwalk sent this photo of a lightning bolt while he sat in his car at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.



The lightning was too close for comfort, and I was convinced that we would lose power. Although our lights never went out, tens of thousands of people lost electricity statewide. In fact, a lightning strike caused a tree to split and fall on a home in Stamford. Fortunately, nobody was injured. Here's another photo from Ralph of a lightning bolt which struck part of Long Island.



The National Weather Service reported that three-quarter inch hail hammered Trumbull at 5:44 p.m., and I saw and heard hail at my home, too. Gusty winds caused a lot of damage as well. A wind gust of 44 miles an hour was clocked at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford at 5:45 p.m., while sustained wind speeds of 32 miles an hour were measured during the worst part of the storm.

Over a half-inch (0.66") of rain was measured at the airport, most of which fell in a short period of time, causing ponding on area roads. It was the first measured rain this month, and it marked only the second time since May 24 that rain fell in southwestern Connecticut. The only other time it rained was on May 30 when a third of an inch fell. Here's a photo of the ominous cloud cover at Stamford's Cove Park Marina late yesterday afternoon.



Fortunately, better weather is expected today under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 80s. There is a slight chance of an isolated shower. Tomorrow, though, will be mostly cloudy and much cooler with a shower or two possible and a high near 70. Sunday will feature early thunderstorms and scattered showers with a high of 80 degrees. Pleasant weather will be with us from Monday through Wednesday next week.

Have a good weekend.

Paul

Record-Breaking Early-June Heat Wave Began Three Years Ago Today

The hottest weather of the season has arrived and will stay with us through tomorrow. An Air Quality Alert has been issued by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection as ground-level ozone may approach or exceed unhealthy standards. Today's high temperature should reach the low-to-mid 90s inland and upper 80s along the immediate shoreline. Tomorrow will be even hotter with highs well into the 90s.

Ironically, a surprising and record-breaking heat wave began to affect southwestern Connecticut three years ago today, resulting in the only Spring heat wave on record. The mercury climbed to 90 degrees on Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2008, beginning a three-day stretch of oppressive heat which resulted in the early dismissal and closing of area schools the following two days.

The normal high and low temperatures for June 8 through 10 are 75 and 58 degrees, respectively. However, high pressure anchored off the Atlantic coast helped push temperatures close to 100 degrees June 9 and 10. Although the June 8 high temperature of 90 degrees was three degrees shy of the 93-degree record set in 1999, the highs of 97 and 96 degrees the following two days were both records for the date. The overnight lows hovered close to 70 degrees each morning.

The 97-degree temperature on June 9, 2008, is the warmest ever on record for June and matched the warmest-ever Spring day (May 20, 1996) at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. The 96-degree reading the following day marked only the third time the mercury soared that high in June. Other than the previous day, the only other time the temperature reached 96 degrees during the month was on June 19, 1994.

Technically, a heat wave occurs when the temperature reaches 90 degrees or better on three successive days. The last time we felt that kind of heat in southwestern Connecticut was back on August 1, 2, and 3 of 2006. That’s when the temperatures climbed to 95, 96, and 97 degrees, respectively, to christen the month. The last time the mercury climbed to 90 degrees in these parts prior to the early June heat wave was August 8 of 2007, when the afternoon temperature hit 95 degrees.

I received notification from my hometown’s public school system informing me of the early school dismissal on Monday morning, June 9, 2008. “Due to the Heat Advisory, all public and parochial schools will close early. The buses will pick up the high school students at 12:10 p.m.; middle school students at 12:40 p.m.; elementary school children at 1:40 p.m. The P.M. PreKindergarten session is cancelled for today. Please refrain from calling the schools.” That was certainly a shocker.

Whenever the weather became oppressively hot and humid when I went to school, it was time to slow down the pace. Teachers would open the windows, close the shades, show a movie or two, and we’d visit the water fountain every 15 minutes or so. Lunch period and recess were even extended. Somehow, we survived. Sure, it was hot, but we were more excited about not having to do schoolwork rather than being bothered by the heat.

I suppose each generation has its own stories to spin. After all, we had to listen to the the exaggerated stories of our parents telling us they walked barefoot several miles to and from school uphill in four feet of snow “back in the day.” Life, it seemed, was always more difficult for previous generations. As for me, I walked to and from school in 100-degree weather without cell phones, iPods, or ‘Smoothies.’ We didn’t even break a sweat. And it never bothered us one bit!

Paul

Summer Arrives Two Weeks Ahead of Schedule

The hottest weather of the Spring will be with us the next two days as high temperatures climb to 90 degrees or better Wednesday and into the 90s Thursday. Humidity levels will also climb, making it quite oppressive. Consider the normal high temperature for this time of the year is 74 degrees, while the highest recorded temperature thus far this Spring is 87 degrees on May 30.

Summer officially arrives two weeks from today, Tuesday, June 21, at 1:16 p.m. EDT. That's when the Sun's rays will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer, marking their northernmost point on the Earth. The Sun rises at 5:19 a.m. and sets at 8:30 p.m., which is the latest Sunset during the year. We'll enjoy 15 hours and 11 minutes of Sunlight.

Two days later, the Sun rises at 5:20, and the days begin to get "shorter" once again. Remember, since the first day of Summer is "the longest day" of the year, the days actually become shorter by the end of the month and the remainder of the Summer. By the middle of July, the Sun rises at 5:32 in the morning and sets at 8:24 in the evening, so the difference will be hardly noticeable.

So, why does the Summer Solstice actually happen? Well, the seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth's axis. Because the Earth rotates like a gyroscope, the North Pole points in a fixed position constantly, while the Earth is revolving around the Sun.

During one half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere has more exposure to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere, while the reverse is true during the other half of the year. At noontime, the Sun appears high in the sky during Summertime, but it is much lower in the sky in the Winter. When the Sun reaches its maximum elevation, or angle, in the sky, that's when the Summer Solstice happens.

Summer was a joyous time of the year in prehistoric times for the aboriginal people who lived in the Northern latitudes. The snow had melted, the ground thawed out, and warm temperatures returned. Flowers were in full bloom, and leaves had returned to the trees. More important, food was easier to find, and crops had been planted and would be harvested for months to come. The Full Moon is June is called the Full Honey Moon. Tradition dictates that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives.

This time of the year, between the planting and harvesting of crops, is the traditional time for weddings because many ancient peoples believed that the grand union of the goddess and god occurred in early May. Since it was unlucky to compete with the gods, many people delayed their weddings until June. Today, June remains a favorite month for marriage.

Native Americans have constructed many stone structures linked to the Equinoces and Solstices. Many are still standing today. One of them is called Calendar One. It is a natural amphiteatre of about 20 acres in size in Vermont. From a stone enclosure in the center of the bowl, one can see a number of vertical rocks and other markers around the edge of the bowl. "At the Summer Solstice, the Sun rose at the southern peak of the East ridge and set at a notch at the southern end of the West ridge." The Winter Solstice and both equinoxes were similarly marked.

Even though Summer doesn't technically begin until two weeks from today, it will look and feel every bit of it the next few days. A cold front is expected to arrive Thursday night into Friday, bringing the potential for some strong thunderstorms. The front will likely hang around this weekend, meaning cloudy skies with showers and daytime highs in the 70s.

Paul

Preparation is Key Before Violent Thunderstorms Strike

The deadly and destructive tornadoes which struck Massachusetts Wednesday were associated with a strong cold front which plowed into an extremely warm and humid air mass during the height of afternoon heating. Strong thunderstorms spawned at least three confirmed tornadoes. A Tornado Watch was issued for southwestern Connecticut early Wednesday afternoon, and even though severe weather remained to the North, any watch or warning issued by the National Weather Service must be taken seriously.

The hurricane season also began Wednesday, and the official start of Summer is less than three weeks away. Needless to say, it’s that time of the year again when thunderstorms become a staple in the seven-day forecast. Whether it’s the heat and humidity which bring late-afternoon “popcorn” thunderstorms, or a well-defined cold front advancing from the West that triggers cloud-to-ground lightning, thunderstorms are a seemingly regular feature in our late-Spring and Summertime weather forecast.

Thunderstorms certainly put on a fascinating show, complete with the flashing lightning and booming thunder, but they are dangerous, nonetheless. There are precautions you can take before, during, and after a thunderstorm to assure that you and your family remain safe.

Thunderstorms can appear just about anywhere, anytime during the Spring and Summer, especially when people are enjoying the outdoors. If you have plans to be outside for an extended period of time and thunderstorms are possible, make sure you check the forecast before leaving, watch for signs of approaching storms, keep an AM radio with you to hear the electrical static, and be prepared to move inside.

Before a thunderstorm strikes, make sure you have a flashlight and extra batteries, battery-operated portable radio, first aid kit and manual, non-electric can opener, essential medicines, and cash. If a thunderstorm should suddenly develop and you are outdoors, here are some guidelines to follow:

• Attempt to get into a building or hardtop car and keep the windows closed;
• If there isn’t a structure in the area, go to an open space and squat low to the ground. If you’re in the woods, find an area protected by a low clump of trees. Never stand beneath a large tree in the open;
• Kneel or crouch with your hands on your knees;
• Avoid tall structures, such as tall trees, fences, telephone lines, or power lines;
• Stay away from natural lightning rods, such as golf clubs, fishing rods, bicycles, or camping equipment;
• Stay away from rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water;
• If you’re boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately;
• If you are isolated in an open field and feel your hair stand on end, that indicates lightning is about to strike. Drop to your knees and bend forward, put your hands on your knees, and do not lie flat on the ground.

If you are indoors:

• Do not take a bath or shower. Metal pipes can transmit electricity;;
• Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors;
• Avoid using the telephone since the lines conduct electricity;
• Do not handle any electrical equipment;
• Listen to a battery-operated radio for the latest storm information.

If you are in a vehicle:

• Keep windows completely closed;
• Pull safely onto the shoulder of a road away from any trees that may fall;
• Avoid flooded roadways;
• Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers during heavy rain.

Our weather will remain pleasant and calm through tomorrow before some unsettled conditions arrive by the end of the weekend. There is a chance of a shower or thunderstorm later Sunday and Monday. High temperatures will remain in the 70s through the middle of next week.

Paul

June Weather Preview

I certainly hope you enjoyed Memorial Day weekend. The weather was quite warm and humid, especially yesterday. The high temperature at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford Monday afternoon was 87 degrees, tying the record high for the date which was set in 1987. We'll finish May on a sunny and warm not, but it won't be as humid as highs reach the mid 80s inland and 70s along the immediate shoreline due to an afternoon sea breeze.

 
June is here already, and that means the length of daylight continues to grow, and the first day of Summer is just around the corner. The direct rays of the Sun strike the Tropic of Cancer at 1:16 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 21, reaching their northernmost point on the face of the Earth. That marks the start of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

As far as our June weather is concerned, the average high temperature for southwestern Connecticut jumps to 80 degrees by the end of the month, a leap of seven degrees from June 1. The all-time record high for the month is 97 degrees, which was established during the record-breaking heat wave on June 9, 2008.

That unusual late-Spring heat wave three years ago forced early dismissals and closings at area schools. The unseasonably warm air arrived Sunday, June 8, when the mercury reached 90 degrees. The next two days featured daytime high temperatures of 97 and 96 degrees, respectively, capping a most unusually hot stretch of weather for early June.

The mercury also reached 96 degrees two other times (June 19, 1994, and June 26, 1949). Record high temperatures of 95 degrees have been set three times, including back-to-back days of June 16 and 17 of 1957. The warmest June on record happened in 1994 when the average temperature for the month was 71.7 degrees, well above the 68.0 degree normal.

On the flip side, early June can still be gray, damp, and cool. Although the temperature has never fallen below 40 degrees for the month, the record lows for the first half of June are consistently in the lower 40s. The chilliest morning was 41 degrees on June 1, 1967. The “coldest” June on record happened in 1982 when the average temperature was 63.8 degrees, over four degrees colder than normal!

The wettest June on record happened 38 years ago in 1972 when nearly a foot-and-a-half of rain fell (17.7″). That’s well above the 3.57″ norm based on 40 years of climatology. Unbelievably, there was nearly a completely dry June in 1949 when only 0.07″ of rain was recorded. The most rain recorded in one day happened on June 19, 1972 when 6.18″ fell. Nearly five inches (4.79″) fell on June 5, 1982.

The length of daylight continues to grow during the month. In fact, by the start of June the sky begins to brighten in the East a little before 4 o’clock in the morning. I can actually hear a few birds chirping when I arrive at the News 12 Connecticut studios shortly after three o’clock in the morning. June features the “longest days” of the year, and by the end of the month the Sun sets at 8:30, the latest ever in southwestern Connecticut. The earliest Sunrise happens at 5:18 from June 13 through June 16.

June features the Full Strawberry Moon. It will be full on June 15th at 4:14 p..m. This name was was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. The relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June, so the Full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!

Happy June.

Paul