Full Wolf Moon Howls Above January Night Sky

Clear to partly cloudy skies afforded me an opportunity to see the Full Wolf Moon on my drive to work early this morning. A light wind and temperatures in the 20s to close to 30 degrees caused widespread frost which glistened under the light of the Moon. The full Wolf Moon officially happened at 1:30 this morning.

Since the length of daylight is still relatively short, the full Moon will appear for nearly its longest duration of the year. In fact, today's moonrise happens at 5:28 p.m., and tomorrow's moonset is at 7:54 a.m. That means the Moon will be "out" for nearly 14-and-a-half hours. Sunrise this morning was at 7:18. During the Summer, when the Sun rises earlier and sets later, a full Moon isn't "out" nearly as long since the daylight is much longer.

The Moon rises about 30 to 70 minutes later each day, so the Moon is out during the daytime as often as it is out at night. As the Moon wanes, it becomes a half Moon and a crescent Moon on the way to a new Moon. The complete phase cycle is about 29.5 days average duration. The time in days counted from the time of New Moon is called the Moon's "age." Each complete cycle of phases is called a "lunation."



So how did the name of the January full Moon originate? Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for this month's full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon. The next three full Moons this year include the February 7th Snow Moon, March 8th Worm Moon, and April 6th Pink Moon.

As far as our weather is concerned, fair weather is expected through Wednesday before the next storm system delivers rain late Wednesday night into Thursday. Today will feature a mix of sun and clouds with highs of 38 to 43 degrees. Tonight will become mostly cloudy with a flurry or two and a low of 26 to 32. Tomorrow will offer early clouds followed by developing sunshine with a high in the 40s.

Paul

This Weekend Marks Anniversary of Blizzard of 1996

The recent cold snap didn't last very long, due in no small part to the absence of any deep snow cover across much of the United States. In fact, we'll enjoy moderating temperatures this afternoon under developing sunshine and a high in the mid 40s. Tomorrow will be even warmer under a mix of sun and clouds with a high near 50. There are no major storms expected through the middle of next week.

It was quite different 16 years ago, though. Did you know that tomorrow marks the anniversary of The Blizzard of 1996? That snowstorm still ranks as one of the most memorable in my nearly-17 years of providing the morning weather forecasts at News 12 Connecticut. In fact, it was one of only two times I stayed the night and slept in the weathercenter due to the heavy snow and strong, gusty winds.

The storm actually started late-morning, Sunday, January 7, as light snow overspread the entire Northeast. The snow gradually became heavier through the afternoon, and by evening, roads were just about impassable due to the rapid accumulation. By the time the storm began moving away the following day, nearly two feet of snow blanketed much of southwestern Connecticut.

The two-day snow total at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Statford was 15 inches, including seven inches on January 7 and eight on January 8. That eclipsed the snow total of the so-called March 13, 1993 "Storm of the Century," which was 10.8 inches. Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks received 18.2 inches, just shy of the 21-inch record snowfall at the time, but more than the 14.8 inches just three years earlier.

Central Park in New York City recorded 20.2 inches of snow, making it the third highest snowfall at the time. Staten Island measured more than 27 inches of snow, and  LaGuardia International Airport recorded 24 inches, which exceeded the normal for the entire season of 22.6 inches.

An Arctic air mass covered New England as a massive storm developed over Virginia. The storm was actually energized by a 60-degree surface temperature contrast across western Montana which propelled a 175-mile-an-hour wind in the jet stream southward into the Plains causing the storm to form. This storm eventually brought the heavy snow from western North Carolina to southern New England.

Incredibly, the eastern slopes of the Appalachian Mountains from northern Virginia to Pennsylvania measured more than three feet of snow. The following map shows just how impressive the storm was. Southwestern Connecticut fell within the 15 to 20 inch range as far as total snow accumulations, with the heaviest amounts of 30 inches across southeastern Pennsylvania. The lightest amounts, oddly, fell well to the North.



It's hard to believe that 16 years have passed since the January blizzard of 1996. There aren't any worries about significant snow or Arctic cold over the next few days. This weekend will be quite nice for this time of the year, with a slight cool down by Sunday. The next storm threat will happen Wednesday night into Thursday with the potential for heavy rain and gusty winds. Let's worry about that next week. Have a good weekend.

Paul

Earth Closest to Sun on Coldest Morning of the Season

Even though this morning's low temperatures were the coldest readings since last February 4, the early Winter is the time of the year when the Earth is nearest to the Sun. In fact, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock EST, when the temperature was only in the 20s and there was a gusty wind out of the Northwest, the Earth was closer to the Sun than at any other time in 2012. This is when the Earth is at perihelion.

Since last July, the Earth has been falling ever closer to the Sun. Every moment since then, our planet has edged closer to the nearest star in the universe. The Earth’s orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle. It’s actually an ellipse, so sometimes we’re closer to the Sun, and sometimes farther away. Various factors change the exact date and time every year, but aphelion (when we’re farthest from the Sun) happens in July, and perihelion (when we’re closest) in January.


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. So, the Earth is about three percent farther from the Sun at aphelion than it is at perihelion. 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 Earth is tilted away from the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere, and the sunlight is not "getting a direct hit" on the Earth's atmosphere. However, when it is at aphelion in July, the Earth is tilted toward the Sun.

So, as you bundle up and head outside on the second day back to work and school for many people after a long holiday break, take comfort in the fact that the Earth is closer to the Sun today than it is in the middle of Summer. I'm sure that's of little consolation, though, with a daybreak temperature close to 10 degrees and temperatures only climbing into the mid-to-upper 20s this afternoon. Remember, though, it's the thought that counts.

Paul

An Unforgettable Year of Weather Comes to a Close

Few would argue that this was one of the most memorable years of weather locally in quite some time. Last Winter featured a seemingless endless stretch of snowstorms which brought 60 inches of snow to southwestern Connecticut. The hottest temperature ever recorded at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford happened in July. Tropical Storm Irene wreaked havoc on the region in late August. And, an unusual October Nor'easter brought record snow and howling winds which caused power outages in some parts of the state for up to two weeks.

What do you think was the biggest weather story of the year? It's difficult to weigh the impact and significance of the each of the events against one another, especially the effects on individuals and families. The 103-degree temperature of Friday, July 22, 2011, was historic since the mercury had never eclipsed 100 degrees at the local climatological station at the Stratford airport. Previously, 100-degree temperatures were reached July 2, 1966, July 5, 1999, August 9, 2001, and August 27, 1948.

Although the average temperature for July (77.6 degrees) was shy of the all-time record of 78.4 degrees in 1984, it was quite a month. One day after the 103-degree reading, the mercury climbed to 96 degrees, Saturday, July 23. All told, there were five days with temperatures above 90 degrees in July, including back-to-back days of 91 and 95 degrees on July 11 and 12, respectively.

Last Winter was one for the ages, to be sure. January, alone, featured three feet of snow, including snowstorms on January 11 and 12 (9.1"), January 21 (4.2"), and the blockbuster of January 26 and 27 (19"), making it the snowiest January on record, breaking the previous record of 26.2 inches set in 1965. The normal snowfall for the month is 8.5 inches. One year earlier, only 7.7 inches of snow fell in January. Take a look at this view from the window of one of our viewers, Margaret in Devon, at 2 o'clock the morning of January 27.

 

Tropical Storm Irene, which hit the region Saturday night, August 27, 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, easily breaking the previous record of 480,000 following Hurricane Gloria in September of 1985. In fact, Sunday morning, August 28, 98% of Redding and 89% of Weston households were without power.

The shoreline was hit the hardest, especially during the storm surge during the time of high tide late Sunday morning. 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. A shelter was established at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, and evacuees were advised to bring extra clothes, medicines, and any paperwork they deem necessary to protect.

Ralph Fato of Norwalk 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 were 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 is 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 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. However, August's total rainfall reached 9.57 inches. Here are four more photos from Ralph taken at Cove Island Park.









The Nor'easter of October 29 and 30, 2011, was one for the record books. The unusual early Autumn storm delivered record-breaking October snow and massive power outages across Connecticut. By the time the storm pulled away, over a foot of snow fell across much of Northern Fairfield County, and four inches blanketed Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, making Saturday, October 29, the snowiest October day on record.

Many trees and tree branches came crashing down due to the weight of the heavy, wet snow, the leaves still on the trees, and the gusty winds. As of Monday, October 31, there were more than 760,000 customers of Connecticut Light and Power still in the dark, and 9,000 United Illuminating customers were without power. As a result, many school systems were closed for days.

The snow totals were unbelievable for October. Danbury reported 17 inches of snow, while Ridgefield (15.5") and Shelton (12.8") received over a foot. Locally, Wilton (10.8"), New Canaan (6.0"), Norwalk (5.5"), and Bridgeport (4.0") also had record-breaking snow. Viewer Ralph Fato of Norwalk sent this photo of the Route 7 connector Saturday afternoon, October 29.

The normal average monthly snowfall for October in southwestern Connecticut is just a trace. Prior to the Nor'easter, the only measured snow in October fell on Sunday, October 4, 1987, when a half-inch coated the region. That's what makes this latest snowstorm historic. Take a look at this photo of an ice- and snow-covered lake along Route 7 Sunday afternoon.

In the wake of the storm, skies cleared, the wind abated, and the temperature dropped like a rock. The mercury fell into the 20s inland and lower 30s along the shoreline early Monday, October 31, causing icy roads and bitter cold homes for those without power. Take a look at this picture of a downed tree and snow-covered Route 7 in Danbury. Was this really in October?

This year was one for the record books. I'd like to know what you think was the biggest weather story of the year. I believe the October Nor'easter, due to the massive power outages which lasted nearly two weeks in parts of Connecticut, was the most unforgettable weather event of 2011. Here's hoping you and your family have a happy, healthy, and safe 2012.

Happy New Year!

Paul

Powerful Blizzard One Year Ago Christened Start of Unforgettable Winter of 2010-2011

A powerful blizzard, which delivered about a foot-and-a-half of snow, 60 mile-per-hour wind gusts, and power outages throughout southwestern Connecticut, struck the region one year ago today, triggering an unforgettable stretch of snowstorms which brought 60 inches of snow during the Winter of 2010-2011. The timing of the blizzard, which affected thousands of holiday travelers, and the magnitude of the storm made it one for the ages.

I've been working the early-morning shift at News 12 Connecticut since June of 1995, and in those 15-plus years, there have been only a handful of truly memorable storms. However, this was the first time I wasn't able to drive to work on my own. One of my neighbors agreed to drive me to the studio in his snowplow during the height of the blizzard early Monday morning. I'm glad he did. To be sure, my Chevy Cavalier wouldn't have made the journey from Fairfield to Norwalk.

Officially, 12 inches of snow fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford from Sunday morning through early Monday morning. The eight inches of snow which fell December 26 marked the third snowiest December day on record in southwestern Connecticut. Only December 19, 1948 (16 inches), and December 30, 2000 (10 inches), brought more snow in one day. Here are some impressive snow totals from last year's post-Christmas storm:

• Wilton: 18"
• New Canaan: 17.5"
• Greenwich: 17"
• Stratford: 16"
• Norwalk: 16"
• Westport: 14.8"
• Darien: 14.5"
• Milford: 14"
• Bridgeport: 12"

The biting wind was brutal if you were outside for any length of time. Sustained winds of 25 to 35 miles an hour were recorded late Sunday night and Monday, December 27, and wind gusts reached 60 miles at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford (9:21 p.m.) and Greenwich (10:00 p.m.) late Sunday evening. I was surprised that there weren't more widespread power outages.

Contrast that scenario with today and this December. In fact, we have yet to see a flake of snow this month. There have only been two other years (1877 and 2006) without any snow since weather records were first kept in New York City in 1869. This may very well be just the third December in the last 142 years without any snow at all. Quite frankly, I don't mind at all.

Paul

Recaling the Snowiest Christmas Eve in My Lifetime

Is this really the first day of Winter? It's hard to believe with temperatures in the lower 50s early this morning. The normal high temperature this time of the year is in the upper 30s, so it is unseasonably mild. In fact, the average temperature this month is 41.5 degrees, which is 4.7 degrees above normal and slightly milder than the warmest December on record (41.4 degrees in 2001). It's pretty safe to say that we won't be having a White Christmas this year.

Christmas Eve is just two days away, and I can't help but recall the snowiest and most memorable Night Before Christmas in my lifetime. Forty-five years ago, over a half-foot of snow blanketed southwestern Connecticut on Saturday, December 24, 1966, resulting in treacherous roads, numerous accidents, and cancelled church services. Officially, 6.9 inches of snow fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, which still stands as a record nearly a half-century later.

According to an article which appeared in the Bridgeport Sunday Post the following day, the "weather plight was part of an old-fashioned Nor'easter, which brought icy cold, high winds, and a blanket of snow to most of the East (coast)." Gale force winds hammered the region through most of the storm. Take a look at the front page newspaper article from December 25, 1966:




I recall my Dad attempting to drive my family, including my Mom, brother, sister, and me to my grandmother's home in Bridgeport for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. However, after sliding and skidding several times, our car got stuck on a hill in Fairfield. After several minutes, my Dad was able to gain some traction, and we decided to head home and avoid any more perils on the roads.

Although it's been 45 years since that unforgettable Christmas Eve, I remember it like it was yesterday. Do you have any memories of that storm from 1966? If so, I'd like to hear from you. Our weather won't be quite as memorable this year, but at least we won't have any worries if our travels take us to grandma's house for Christmas Eve.

Paul