Today Marks the 27th Anniversary of Unforgettable Hurricane Gloria

The tropics are fairly quiet this morning, and we haven't had much to worry about so far this year. However, that wasn't the case 27 years ago today. That's when southwestern Connecticut residents were bracing for Hurricane Gloria, which caused significant damage and destruction to the Northeast the next day.

I was a rookie educator at the time, having just secured my first position as a seventh grade teacher in a self-contained classroom at a private school in New Haven. Weather was my passion, naturally, and I was able to share my excitement at the upcoming storm. Just three weeks into the profession, I received a week's vacation unexpectedly.

I was also a weekend newscaster and disc jockey at WMMM radio in Westport. I received a phone call from program director Gary Zenobia just after I returned home from school on Thursday afternoon requesting that I host an overnight newscast to inform our listeners about the impending storm and emergency measures which may have to be taken. WMMM was a daytime-only station, meaning it was on the air during daylight hours and signed off at sunset, but this time it was granted an exception by the Federal Communications Commission.

As my family was applying tape to picture windows, securing lawn furniture, stocking up on non-perishable food, and checking batteries for flashlights and portable radios, I was packing a bag for my overnight stay at the radio station. We had a few reporters "on location" at various shelters throughout town, and then-First Selectman William Seiden joined me on the air most of the night to reassure listeners that their safety was our primary concern.

The overnight hours were anxious moments for all of us as we awaited the arrival of the storm. Local shelters began to fill up quickly, and I remember answering the telephone every couple of minutes from town residents who were sharing their concerns and fears. Gloria struck fast and furiously. The hurricane hit New York and Connecticut as a moderate hurricane early the next day. At the time of landfall on Long Island, Gloria had sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, while rapidly moving forward at 35 miles per hour.

This combination of sustained winds and rapid forward motion produced major hurricane conditions and gusts to 115 mph across a narrow area of Eastern Long Island, New York. Although Gloria was not a major hurricane when it struck Connecticut, it was still the most damaging hurricane to strike the state since Carol in 1954. The rain began overnight, and before long the winds became a serious matter.

As the morning wore on, Gloria continued to accelerate northward off the Eastern seaboard, brushing the coastlines of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey with hurricane-force gusts. Later that morning, Gloria finally crossed the coast of the United States mainland near western Long Island about 10-miles East of Kennedy International Airport. Passing over central Long Island, Gloria crossed the Connecticut coast near Bridgeport about 40 minutes later with sustained winds of 80 mph. By that time, I was already home, but there was no way I was going to go to sleep.

I vividly remember the eye of the hurricane passing almost directly overhead by midday. That's when the skies cleared, the winds calmed dramatically, and the damage was plainly visible. Downed trees, power lines, and debris scattered just about everywhere greeted us as we stepped outside. Naturally, the power was out, too, and we remained "in the dark" for almost six days. Needless to say, I didn't have to worry about any lesson plans for quite awhile.

There were very few wind reports near the area of landfall in New York and Connecticut due to the complete evacuation of Coast Guard personnel from stations across the region. The strongest official wind gust recorded on Long Island was 84 mph at Islip. In Connecticut, the National Weather Service at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford recorded sustained winds of 74 mph with a gust to 92 mph.

A barometric pressure of 28.37 inches was measured by aircraft when Gloria crossed Long Island. The National Weather Service at Kennedy International Airport recorded a minimum pressure of 28.57 inches, while Sikorsky Airport in Bridgeport, Connecticut, recorded a low pressure of 28.47 inches. This was the lowest barometric pressure recorded in Connecticut and New York since Donna in 1960, 25 years earlier.

Gloria produced weak Category Two hurricane conditions across southwestern Connecticut. The storm continued to lose intensity as it passed over Long Island. Peak wind gusts in south-central and southeastern Connecticut were close to 95 mph as the tropical cyclone swept over the region. The metropolitan New Haven area was hit with wind gusts of 90 mph and heavy rain. There were only a few reports of minimal structural damage in southwestern Connecticut. Tree damage in Connecticut was heavy within 10 to 20 miles of the coast, and along the coast from around Bridgeport to New London.

By late Friday afternoon, the storm was long gone, but the cleanup was just staring. Since the power was out, my family and I headed to nearby Bridgeport to have dinner at a restaurant which was operating on emergency generators. I still think of Gloria whenever I drive past that restaurant. In fact, I still have my framed certificate from Mr. Seiden thanking me for my service to Westport. It was a storm I'll never forget.

Paul

Fall Foliage Part III: Scenic Day Trips

This is the last installment of a three-part series on Fall foliage in southwestern Connecticut and the Northeast. Today we explore scenic day trips which will capture the splendor of Autumn’s colors.

Now that we’ve found out what causes the leaves to change their colors and what is the best time to see the Fall foliage in southwestern Connecticut and New England, it’s time to plan a few travel routes to take full advantage of Mother Nature’s annual show. Quite frankly, there are so many scenic areas in Connecticut, I’ll have to narrow the list down to some of my favorites. Here are my four picks, including my favorite drive in southwestern Connecticut and three from other parts of the state.



Locally, the drive up Route 58 from Easton through Redding affords some of the most spectacular scenery found in this part of the state. From just North of the Merritt Parkway to the intersection with Center Road, you’ll be accompanied by a breathtaking view of a wide variety of trees and the Hemlock Reservoir, which runs parallel to your drive. Five miles North of the parkway, have lunch at the Blue Bird Inn (see photo). The Blue Bird Inn is a bed-and-breakfast which has a wonderful restaurant.



Less than a mile up the road, just past the scenic dam, enjoy the man-made waterspout. It’s sure to be a hit with the younger members of the family. The waterspout continually jets water into the air in front of a colorful backdrop. You’ll certainly want to have the camera ready for a perfect photo opportunity.

Not more than a quarter-mile North is the Aspetuck Valley Orchards (see photo). You’ll take home fresh apple cider, pumpkins, pies, gifts, novelties, and everything a New England gift shop has to offer. Just the aroma alone is enough to make anyone want to stay for awhile. It’s always a must-visit for me and my family.



Finally, just North in Redding, visit Putnam Park. It’s the home of the Putman Memorial Camp Ground, the “Valley Forge” of Connecticut, where General Israel Putnam and a force of Connecticut and New Hampshire troops were encamped during the hard Winter of 1778-79.

The property, seen below, is now a state reservation of 203 acres. Passing through the gateway, in the form of two blockhouses extended in a palisade, you’ll face the monument, erected by the state in 1889. The rows of stone nearby, running toward the North, mark the chimneys of the former barracks.



Further, on the left, is the stone colonial museum, with its Revolutionary relics. On the grounds, which have been left as far as possible in their native state, are many drives and paths, with a lake on the East side of the highway. To the West is Phillips Cave, associated with an old soldier who returned here after the war and was killed for thieving. I’m sure you and your family can spend the entire day at the park and not want to leave.

Elsewhere in Connecticut, one of my well-traveled paths is along Route 82. It offers some spectacular views of the Connecticut River Valley countryside. Begin at Exit 7 off Route 9 in Chester and wind your way through a portion of the Cockaponset State Forest. The road then crosses the Connecticut River into East Haddam, offering a stunning view of both the Goodspeed Opera House and Gillette Castle (see photo below).



You’ll meander through the village of East Haddam, past the opera house, and then back into the countryside. The road also goes right through Devil’s Hopyard State Park, before continuing east into Salem and Norwich in the eastern part of the state. Just stay away from the casinos!

I have relatives in New London and Norwich, so I travel to Eastern Connecticut quite frequently. For a scenic trip through the shoreline towns of Old Saybrook (see photo), Westbrook, Clinton, Madison, Guilford and Branford, begin in Essex and take Route 154 south into Old Saybrook. It goes right through the center of Old Saybrook and then heads out to Saybrook Point where it turns and follows the coastline.



Great waterviews can be found all along the route, but the scene of the Sound from Saybrook Point with the homes out in Old Lyme in the distance is unforgettable. In Westbrook, 154 will intersect with historic Route 1. Following U.S. 1 West into Branford will take you through traditional New England village centers, past numerous shoreline and marina settings, and even near to the popular Hammonasset State Beach.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Northwestern Connecticut, which is another popular destination for leaf peepers. Begin at the New Milford Green, and take CT Route 202 West to Route 7 North. Take Route 7 through the towns of New Milford, Gaylordsville, and Kent (see photo below of Kent Falls Bridge).



Outside of Kent, pick up Route 45 South to Warren. Drive around Lake Waramaug into New Preston. In New Preston, take Route 202 East to Route 47 South. Take a right onto Route 199, and then right on Route 67. Follow Route 67 to the junction of Route 202 in New Milford where the drive began.

The route, about 64 miles and a good half-day excursion, will take travelers past the Housatonic River, Bull’s Bridge (see photo below), one of only two covered bridges in Connecticut, the town of Kent and its many art galleries, historic homes and churches in Kent and Warren, Lake Waramaug, Mount Tom State Park, the historic Mine Hill Preserve, and the Institute for American Indian Studies.



Wherever your travels take you and your family this Autumn, I’m sure you’ll have a great time. The beauty of living in southwestern Connecticut is that we are able to experience each of the four seasons. I can’t wait to “experience” Fall!

Paul

Fall Foliage Part II: Peak Viewing Times

This is the second of a three-part series on Fall foliage in New England. Today, I take a look at the peak viewing times for Autumn’s colorful splendor. The next installment looks at the best locations and driving routes to see the foliage in Connecticut and southern New England.

A sure sign that Autumn is on the way greets me every morning on my way to work. The constellation Orion the Hunter, which is perhaps the most prominent feature of the Winter night sky in the Northern Hemisphere, can be seen in the Southeast very early in the morning. That means, of course, that the beauty of Autumn in New England is just a few weeks away.

The Fall foliage season in New England runs from the end of September in Northern New England through the end of October in Southern New England. It is impossible to predict the exact time of the peak colors, but in general, the peak across central and southern Vermont, New Hampshire, and northern and western Maine is during the latter part of the first week of October.

By the middle of October peak viewing has moved to western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut. Actually, in the Northwest corner of Connecticut, near Canaan, Kent Falls, and Sharon, the colors can be seen by the start of the second week of October. Even though some areas may not be at peak as you pass through, there will still be plenty of color to see by then.

However, the best time for see Autumn’s colors in extreme Northernwestern Connecticut in the Litchfield hills runs from about October 12 through the 16th. Central Connecticut and extreme Northern Fairfield and New Haven counties — including the towns of Redding, New Canaan, Wilton, and Woodbridge — can see the radiant colors between October 17th and the 20th.

As for southwestern Connecticut, the best time for viewing the Fall foliage in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Milford is generally from October 21through October 25. By the weekend of October 28, though, all but extreme southeastern New England will be past peak. The colors — and many of the leaves themselves — are all but gone by then.

One of the best sources for information on New England’s Fall foliage is the Yankee Foliage Web site. It features an animated map with a calendar showing the optimum viewing dates throughout the Northeast. The site has a calendar of events, suggestions for scenic drives, a foliage forecast, a foliage blog, and foliage forums. Just click on the link, and you’ll have all the information you need.

 

Once the colors become radiant in our corner of Connecticut, I’d appreciate your Fall foliage digital photos. I’m hoping to put together a slide show featuring some of the best pictures of Autumn’s colors courtesy of our viewers. I’d like to get some great photos from every community across southwestern Connecticut. Obviously, I’ll have my camera ready, too!

Paul

Today Marks Anniversary of Great Hurricane of 1938

Today marks the 74th anniversary of a powerful hurricane that killed more than 600 people across the Northeast. The Great New England Hurricane on September 21, 1938, caused 17-foot storm surges along the Connecticut and Rhode Island coastlines. Strong winds and heavy rain destroyed trees through the White Mountains, and flooding in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire left $387 million in damage. Take a look at the front page of The Lowell (MA) Sun from Wednesday, September 22, 1938.



The Eastern part of Connecticut was the hardest hit, since it bore the brunt of the eastern, or stronger, side of the hurricane. Small shoreline towns to the east of New Haven had nearly complete destruction from the water and winds. Believe it or not, to this day, the 1938 hurricane remains the worst natural disaster in Connecticut's history. In the beach towns of Clinton, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook, buildings were found as wreckage across coastal roads.



According to reports, stately homes along Ocean Beach in New London were leveled by the storm surge. The permanently anchored 240-ton lightship at the head of New London Harbor was found on a sand bar two miles away. Inland sections of Connecticut experienced widespread flooding as torrential rains fell on soil already saturated from previous storms. The Connecticut River was forced out of its banks, flooding cities and towns from Hartford to Middletown.

As for the storm's history, it was centered several hundred miles to the southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, during the early morning hours of September 21. By mid-morning, the hurricane was centered approximately 100 miles due east of Cape Hatteras, and its forward speed had increased to well over 50 m.p.h. This rapid movement did not give the hurricane a sufficient amount of time to weaken over the cooler waters before it reached Long Island.

The hurricane sped through the Virginia tidewater by late-morning, and by early afternoon the New Jersey coastline and New York City caught the western edge of the hurricane. Weather conditions suddenly began to deteriorate along the southern New England coast as well as on Long Island. The full force of the hurricane started to reach Long Island after 2 o'clock, and the eye made landfall at Bayport in Suffolk County shortly after 3 o'clock.

An hour later, the eye had crossed the Long Island Sound and was making a second landfall just east of New Haven. According to modern analysis, the hurricane attained Category 3 intensity at both landfalls. The maximum sustained winds were between 120 and 125 miles an hour. After crossing LongIsland Sound, the hurricane sped inland.

The eye moved into western Massachusetts by 5 o'clock and, one hour later, the hurricane reached Vermont. Both Westfield, Massachusetts, and Dorset, Vermont, reported calm conditions and partial clearing during the passage of the eye. When the hurricane continued into northern Vermont, it began to lose its tropical characteristics.



Twenty-eight years later, another slow-moving storm brought gale-force winds and three inches of rain to southwestern Connecticut on Wednesday, September 21, 1966. Today's weather, however, will be picture-perfect. It will be mostly sunny and pleasant with a high temperature of 70 degrees or better on the last full day of Summer. Fall officially arrives tomorrow morning at 10:49 EDT with the Autumnal Equinox.

Paul

Fall Foliage Part I: What Causes the Leaves to Change Color?

Saturday is the first day of Autumn. This is the first of a three-part series on Fall Foliage in New England. Today, I take a look at why the leaves change colors and what ingredients are necessary for optimum viewing of Autumn’s splendor. The next installment looks at the when the colors reach their peak in southwestern Connecticut and New England. Finally, I’ll explore the best places to view the wide array of colors locally and across Connecticut.

Autumn officially arrives Saturday morning at 10:49 EDT, and it will begin to feel like it later this weekend after a cold front pushes through the region Saturday night. Temperatures have already fallen into the 40s across interior southwestern Connecticut earlier this week, and Monday's forecast high temperature won't escape the 60s. Naturally, it’s time to look ahead to what this year’s Fall foliage may bring. Have you noticed any leaves beginning to change color yet? I have. And have you wondered if our weather has cooperated to give us optimum colors this Fall? You’re certainly not alone.

I’ve only noticed just a few trees beginning to show their Autumn colors so far. I’m sure you’ve wondered why the leaves change color. All leaves contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, which is instrumental in photosysnthesis. That’s the process in which energy from sunlight is used to make the sugars that feed the tree or plant. During the growing season, it is continually replaced, but eventually it breaks down.



As the days continue to get shorter and cooler, the environment is less conducive to growth. Sunset is before 7:00 p.m. now. Photosynthesis, naturally, is suppressed. Chlorophyll continues to deteriorate, and not much is replaced. The rate of breadown increases dramatically after the first frost. The yellow and orange pigments, known as cartenoids, which have been in the leaves all along, become radiant as the chlorophyll levels continue to decline.

Red and purple pigments, called anthocyanins, develop in late Summer and Fall, largely in response to the first frost. These can be seen in some tree species such as red and sugar maples. Leaves with a variety of chlorophyll levels create the colorful landscape that we’ve come to appreciate in the Northeast in the Fall. The shades of color are also influenced by how the pigments interact with other factors in the leaf, including the pH level and what minerals may be present.



What are the weather factors which ultimately hasten the beauty of the fall colors? The most important factors are sunny, warm days and cool nights. Thus far this month, the average temperature 1.5 degrees above normal. The first nine days this month were warmer-than-normal, but the weather pattern has begun to change. Eight of the last 11 days have been cooler-than-normal. The normal high and low temperatures for southwestern Connecticut today are 72 and 56 degrees, respectively.

Another ingredient necessary for the brilliant colors is rain, and we haven’t had much of that this month. In fact, there have been only five days with measured rain this month, and there has been just one day with measured rain since September 8. Thus far, we’ve received just under two inches (1.91″) of rain for September, which is below the 2.29″ normal through today. August featured below-normal precipitation, too, with 3.33" of rain, well below the 3.96" normal for the month. Cumulatively, for the year, we’ve measured 27.12″ of rain, well below the 31.19″ norm.



Too little rain can cause trees to “shut down” early and cause stress for trees. A quick peek at the week ahead shows that some much-needed rain will arrive Sunday. Next Monday, I’ll take a look at the best locations for viewing the Fall foliage in southwestern Connecticut and Southern New England.

Paul

Autumn Officially Arrives This Saturday Morning

Now that the gusty winds and heavy rain of yesterday have moved away, we'll enjoy a pleasant stretch of weather over the next few days. Officially, nearly an inch (0.88") of rain fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford yesterday, and a wind gust of 47 miles an hour was recorded. Any clouds will give way to developing sunshine today, but it will be breezy and less humid with a high temperature near 70 degrees.

The Autumnal Equinox officially arrives this Saturday, September 22, at 10:49 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. That's when the direct rays of the Sun are above the Equator, technically marking "equal day and equal night" across the face of the globe. As the direct rays of the Sun continue to move South of the Equator, the Southern Hemisphere will be enjoying the start of Spring next week.

However, here in the Northern Hemisphere, the amount of daylight continues to dwindle, and the Sun now sets well before 7 o'clock in the evening. Recall that in late June, during the time of the Summer Solstice, the Sun set at 8:30. We've lost more than an hour-and-a-half of daylight just in the evening alone over the last three months.



So why does the Equinox happen? The seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5º tilt of the Earth's axis. Because the Earth is rotating like a top, it points in a fixed direction continuously toward a point in space near the North Star. That's why the North Star appears to be the only star which doesn't move in our night sky. However, the Earth is also revolving around the Sun. During half of the year, the Southern Hemisphere is more exposed to the Sun than the Northern Hemisphere. During the rest of the year, the reverse is true.



At noontime in the Northern Hemisphere the Sun appears high in the sky during the Summer and low in the sky during Winter. It is highest at the Summer Solstice in late June and lowest at the Winter Solstice by the end of December. The half-way points in the year are called the Equinoxes. It is the time of the year when the Sun rises exactly in the East, travels through the sky for 12 hours, and sets exactly in the West. The photo below shows visitors at Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain in England.



However, on the Autumnal Equinox in southwestern Connecticut, the Sun rises at 6:40 a.m. and sets at 6:50 p.m., giving us 12 hours and ten minutes of daylight. That has to do with the angle at which the Sun rises and sets. Actually, "equal day and equal night" occurs for us on September 25th and 26th when we receive just about 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.

Take advantage of the pleasant weather over the last few days of Summer. After a clear and cold night tonight, tomorrow and Friday will be mostly sunny and seasonable with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Fall arrives on a milder note under a mix of clouds and sunshine with a high of 75 to 80 degrees. There will be a few showers later Saturday night into Sunday, but the weekend will be fairly quiet as we usher in a new season.

Paul