Paul
Friday, November 2, 2012
Hurricane Sandy Satellite Loop
This is the GOES satellite loop for Hurricane Sandy from the Caribbean to Canada from October 23 to November 3.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
November by the Numbers
Hurricane Sandy is long gone, but its effects will be felt for quite some time. Many people are still without power today, including those in homes and businesses throughout southwestern Connecticut. Now, it's time to look ahead to November and how the month shapes up climatologically. Don't forget to "fall back" this weekend. Standard Time begins this coming Sunday morning, November 4, at 2 o'clock.
Snow is certainly not out of the question during this month. Perhaps the most memorable Thanksgiving Day in recent memory occured in 1989 when over a half-foot of snow fell that day. The snow began falling shortly after midnight, and by the time it ended late Thanksgiving afternoon, it was the biggest single-day snow event in November.
Snow also fell twice in 1995, including 2.4 inches on November 29 of that year. That was the snowiest Winter on record across southwestern Connecticut. Another "snowstorm" of note happened on November 6 and 7 of 1953 when a combined 5.4 inches fell. However, the average snow for the month is only 0.6 inches.
November can also be a wet month, too. The most precipitation in November occured in 1972 when 10.22 inches were recorded. There have also been some impressive single-day totals, including 3.12" (Nov. 2, 1954), 3.04" (1972), and 2.91" (Nov. 10, 1948). The average precipitation for the month is 3.81 inches, ranking it fourth behind March, May, and April as the wettest months of the year. The driest November happened 36 years ago when only 0.36" fell in 1976.
We begin to experience a dramatic decline in average temperatures, too. At the start of the month, the normal high and low are 59 and 43 degrees, respectively. However, by month's end, the normals are 47 and 33. That's an 11-degree drop in the mean temperature. The average high temperature is 53 degrees, while the average low for the month is 38.2 degrees.
The warmest November on record occured in 1975 when the average temperature was a relatively balmy 50.5 degrees. The coldest November happened 15 years ago, in 1996, when the mercury averaged 40.7 degrees. Although the temperature has never officially reached 80 degrees at the airport during the month, we've come close a few times. The warmest single day reading was 78 degrees which happened twice, on Nov. 4, 1975, and Nov. 15, 1993. Other notable warm days include 77 degrees (Nov. 2, 1950), and 72 degrees (Nov. 5, 1961).
The length of daylight continues to decrease with each passing day. We're a little more than seven weeks from the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. By the middle of the month, Sunrise and Sunset are at 6:41 a.m. and 4:33 p.m., respectively. By the last day of the month, the Sun rises at 6:58 in the morning and sets at 4:24 in the afternoon. That's only one minute later than the earliest Sunset, at 4:23, in early-to-mid December.
The Full Beaver Moon happens November 28 at 9:46 a.m. EST. Why the Beaver Moon? This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.
Welcome to November.
Paul
Snow is certainly not out of the question during this month. Perhaps the most memorable Thanksgiving Day in recent memory occured in 1989 when over a half-foot of snow fell that day. The snow began falling shortly after midnight, and by the time it ended late Thanksgiving afternoon, it was the biggest single-day snow event in November.
Snow also fell twice in 1995, including 2.4 inches on November 29 of that year. That was the snowiest Winter on record across southwestern Connecticut. Another "snowstorm" of note happened on November 6 and 7 of 1953 when a combined 5.4 inches fell. However, the average snow for the month is only 0.6 inches.
November can also be a wet month, too. The most precipitation in November occured in 1972 when 10.22 inches were recorded. There have also been some impressive single-day totals, including 3.12" (Nov. 2, 1954), 3.04" (1972), and 2.91" (Nov. 10, 1948). The average precipitation for the month is 3.81 inches, ranking it fourth behind March, May, and April as the wettest months of the year. The driest November happened 36 years ago when only 0.36" fell in 1976.We begin to experience a dramatic decline in average temperatures, too. At the start of the month, the normal high and low are 59 and 43 degrees, respectively. However, by month's end, the normals are 47 and 33. That's an 11-degree drop in the mean temperature. The average high temperature is 53 degrees, while the average low for the month is 38.2 degrees.
The warmest November on record occured in 1975 when the average temperature was a relatively balmy 50.5 degrees. The coldest November happened 15 years ago, in 1996, when the mercury averaged 40.7 degrees. Although the temperature has never officially reached 80 degrees at the airport during the month, we've come close a few times. The warmest single day reading was 78 degrees which happened twice, on Nov. 4, 1975, and Nov. 15, 1993. Other notable warm days include 77 degrees (Nov. 2, 1950), and 72 degrees (Nov. 5, 1961).
The length of daylight continues to decrease with each passing day. We're a little more than seven weeks from the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. By the middle of the month, Sunrise and Sunset are at 6:41 a.m. and 4:33 p.m., respectively. By the last day of the month, the Sun rises at 6:58 in the morning and sets at 4:24 in the afternoon. That's only one minute later than the earliest Sunset, at 4:23, in early-to-mid December.
The Full Beaver Moon happens November 28 at 9:46 a.m. EST. Why the Beaver Moon? This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.
Welcome to November.
Paul
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Time-Lapse Video of Storm Surge
This time-lapse video, courtesy of Ralph Fato in Norwalk, shows people putting sand in bags to protect their property from flooding the day before Sandy's arrival. The surge happened at close to midnight, and with the loss of power, he was unable to record the entire effect of the surge.
However, take a look at the swelling of the Sound and the rare waves. The camera was chained to a flag pole. Sand and ocean debris came onshore about a quarter-mile inland. There were "feet of sand" in spots.
Paul
However, take a look at the swelling of the Sound and the rare waves. The camera was chained to a flag pole. Sand and ocean debris came onshore about a quarter-mile inland. There were "feet of sand" in spots.
Paul
Hurricane Sandy Causes Death & Destruction to Region
Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the Eastern seaboard with powerful winds, record-low pressure, and historic tidal surges. The hurricane, which brought heavy rain and flooding across the mid-Atlantic region, made its heralded landfall near
Atlantic City, N.J., around 8 p.m. Monday evening. It arrived slightly earlier
than originally projected because it had picked up speed, moving
at about 28 mph.
Flooding prevented some homeowners from even getting to their homes near the beach in Fairfield. People were getting around by kayaks and canoes in the shoreline neighborhood, which was buzzing with the sound of pumps taking water out of houses. At one point Tuesday, United Illuminating reported that 100% of its Fairfield customers were without power. Schools were closed at least through Friday, and Fairfield Ludlowe High School opened a shelter for displaced residents and pets.
An Easton volunteer firefighter died while clearing debris in front of a fire truck Monday night on Judd Road. Lt. Russell Neary was struck by a falling limb. The body of a missing 34-year-old man, who was last seen swimming in the heavy surf after jumping from a pier Monday evening, was recovered in Milford. Also, a 90-year-old Mansfield woman was killed and two family members were seriously injuted when a tree fell on them during the storm Monday..
More than 750,000 people were reported to have lost power across the region.
Cities including Washington and Boston closed their mass-transit systems.
Schools were closed, and shelters began to fill with hundreds of thousands of
people ordered to leave their homes and seek safety. Wall Street trading was disrupted, as were political campaigns throughout the
region just eight days before election day. Here is a view of the waves at Laurel Beach in Milford.
When hurricane hunter aircraft measured its central pressure at 940 millibars -- 27.76 inches -- Monday afternoon, it was the lowest barometric reading ever recorded for an Atlantic storm to make landfall north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The previous record holder was the 1938 "Long Island Express" Hurricane, which dropped as low as 946 millibars. Here is a time-lapsed loop of the surface pressure around Hurricane Sandy beginning October 26th.
Paul
Although our region was spared the heavy rainfall, winds increased throughout the day Monday, reaching a peak wind gust of 76 miles-an-hour at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford Monday evening. The hurricane-force gusts resulted in massive power outages, downed trees and power lines, and three deaths in Connecticut.
Unfortunately, the storm came during a Full Moon, causing a storm surge of 10 feet at Bridgeport harbor late Monday night. Sandy's strength and angle of approach combined to produce a record storm surge of water into New York City. The surge level at Battery Park topped 13.88 feet at 9:24 p.m. Monday, surpassing the 10.02 feet record water level set by Hurricane Donna in 1960.
The local shoreline communities, especially Fairfield and Milford, were hit hardest. Many homes, which had been hammered by Tropical Storm Irene just over a year earlier, were severely damaged or destroyed by Sandy. Here is a video of the storm surge at nearby St. Mary's by the Sea in Bridgeport.
Unfortunately, the storm came during a Full Moon, causing a storm surge of 10 feet at Bridgeport harbor late Monday night. Sandy's strength and angle of approach combined to produce a record storm surge of water into New York City. The surge level at Battery Park topped 13.88 feet at 9:24 p.m. Monday, surpassing the 10.02 feet record water level set by Hurricane Donna in 1960.
The local shoreline communities, especially Fairfield and Milford, were hit hardest. Many homes, which had been hammered by Tropical Storm Irene just over a year earlier, were severely damaged or destroyed by Sandy. Here is a video of the storm surge at nearby St. Mary's by the Sea in Bridgeport.
Flooding prevented some homeowners from even getting to their homes near the beach in Fairfield. People were getting around by kayaks and canoes in the shoreline neighborhood, which was buzzing with the sound of pumps taking water out of houses. At one point Tuesday, United Illuminating reported that 100% of its Fairfield customers were without power. Schools were closed at least through Friday, and Fairfield Ludlowe High School opened a shelter for displaced residents and pets.
An Easton volunteer firefighter died while clearing debris in front of a fire truck Monday night on Judd Road. Lt. Russell Neary was struck by a falling limb. The body of a missing 34-year-old man, who was last seen swimming in the heavy surf after jumping from a pier Monday evening, was recovered in Milford. Also, a 90-year-old Mansfield woman was killed and two family members were seriously injuted when a tree fell on them during the storm Monday..
When hurricane hunter aircraft measured its central pressure at 940 millibars -- 27.76 inches -- Monday afternoon, it was the lowest barometric reading ever recorded for an Atlantic storm to make landfall north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The previous record holder was the 1938 "Long Island Express" Hurricane, which dropped as low as 946 millibars. Here is a time-lapsed loop of the surface pressure around Hurricane Sandy beginning October 26th.
Paul
Friday, October 26, 2012
Prepare Now for Sandy's Arrival
Now is the time to prepare for the impending coastal storm, which should arrive Sunday night through Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center is expecting Sandy to make landfall late Monday night and early Tuesday morning across southern New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic. However, the GFS model, which indicated that Sandy would move out to sea earlier this week, is moving the storm over Old Saybook Monday night. If that scenario unfolds, it would be devastating for southwestern Connecticut.
The biggest issue with the impending storm will be the wind. Tropical storm force winds may gust between 60 and 70 miles an hour Monday into Tuesday. Naturally, power outages will be more than likely, considering what happened last year during Tropical Storm Irene and the October Nor'easter. Coastal communities need to take extra precautions due to the strong Southeast wind and astronomically high tides due to the Full Moon.
The Full Hunter's Moon happens this Monday at 3:50 p.m. EDT. The tide will be high at Bridgeport harbor Sunday at 11:21 p.m., Monday at 11:33 a.m., Monday night at 11:59 p.m., and Tuesday at 11:33 a.m. The tides are forecast to crest at 6.88 feet Sunday night, 7.59' Monday midday, and 6.81' Monday night. However, expect much higher tides due to the Full Moon and the tropical storm force winds. Coastal flooding and beach erosion are more than likely.
As of 8 o'clock this morning, Sandy was a category one hurricane with 80 mile-an-hour winds, located about 480 miles South-Southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. It's moving Northeast at 10 miles an hour, and the central pressure is 28.64 inches. Here is the projected forecast map for Hurricane Sandy.
There are several things you can do to prepare for such a storm. First, make sure your roof gutters and storm drains are cleared of any leaves, dirt, or debris. They're bound to be clogged this time of the year due to the falling leaves. If you have a sump pump or pumps in your basement, test them before the storm hits. Have flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and canned food in case the power is out for an extended period of time. Also, make sure your car and generator --- if you have one --- are full of gas. You don't want to have an empty tank during a severe storm. Let's hope for the best.
Paul
The biggest issue with the impending storm will be the wind. Tropical storm force winds may gust between 60 and 70 miles an hour Monday into Tuesday. Naturally, power outages will be more than likely, considering what happened last year during Tropical Storm Irene and the October Nor'easter. Coastal communities need to take extra precautions due to the strong Southeast wind and astronomically high tides due to the Full Moon.
The Full Hunter's Moon happens this Monday at 3:50 p.m. EDT. The tide will be high at Bridgeport harbor Sunday at 11:21 p.m., Monday at 11:33 a.m., Monday night at 11:59 p.m., and Tuesday at 11:33 a.m. The tides are forecast to crest at 6.88 feet Sunday night, 7.59' Monday midday, and 6.81' Monday night. However, expect much higher tides due to the Full Moon and the tropical storm force winds. Coastal flooding and beach erosion are more than likely.
As of 8 o'clock this morning, Sandy was a category one hurricane with 80 mile-an-hour winds, located about 480 miles South-Southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. It's moving Northeast at 10 miles an hour, and the central pressure is 28.64 inches. Here is the projected forecast map for Hurricane Sandy.
There are several things you can do to prepare for such a storm. First, make sure your roof gutters and storm drains are cleared of any leaves, dirt, or debris. They're bound to be clogged this time of the year due to the falling leaves. If you have a sump pump or pumps in your basement, test them before the storm hits. Have flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and canned food in case the power is out for an extended period of time. Also, make sure your car and generator --- if you have one --- are full of gas. You don't want to have an empty tank during a severe storm. Let's hope for the best.
Paul
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tracking Hurricane Sandy
Here is my latest forecast for Hurricane Sandy and its potential impact on southwestern Connecticut Monday and Tuesday of next week:
Paul
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