Today Marks 35th Anniversary of Blizzard of 1978

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of 1978. The unforgettable storm was "born" on February 5, 1978, with the merger of a Canadian high-pressure system to the North and a dense mass of low pressure off the Carolina coast. It will be remembered as one of the most destructive storms in recent memory.

What do I most remember about the blizzard? Connecticut's late Governor Ella Grasso closed all state highways due to the heavy snow; local schools were closed for several days; my next-door neighbor lost his car keys in a snow drift and didn't find them until the Spring; and I worked two straight days at WNAB where I had just landed my first radio job as the overnight announcer a half-year earlier.

The station program director, the late Tiny Markle, called me early in the day and asked me to prepare to work a 24-hour shift. Naturally, I was thrilled, but it took awhile packing my belongings for the trip to East Washington Avenue in Bridgeport. I watched as over two feet of snow fell, and the experience punctuated my fascination for weather.



As for the powerful storm, during its peak, strong winds reached speeds of 86 miles per hour with gusts of 111 miles per hour during its peak. The lowest central air pressure was 980 millibars, which made the storm comparable to a strong Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.



Arriving at the time of a new Moon, the storm produced heavy coastal flooding along the New England shoreline. Beachfront homes were washed away due to strong winds and coastal flooding. More than 1,700 homes suffered major damage or were destroyed, and 39,000 people took refuge in emergency shelters. Federal disaster assistance totaled $202 million.

Snow fell at a rate of four inches an hour at times during the storm, which lasted for 36 hours. The unusual duration of the 1978 Nor’easter was caused by the Canadian high, which forced the storm to loop East and then back toward the North. Thunder, lightning, and hail were seen in the blizzard as it blanketed the Northeast with over three feet of snow. Drifts in parts of New England were reported to be 15 feet deep.

Traffic came to a standstill as major corridors like I-95 shut down. During the storm several people died on Route 128 around Boston from asphyxiation, since snow had blocked the tailpipes of their idling automobiles. In New York City, skiers could be seen sliding up Fifth Avenue.



So today, as we look ahead to what could be a significant storm by the end of the week, I'll think back 35 years ago to the most destructive storm in recent memory. I will never forget the Blizzard of 1978.

Paul

Happy National Weatherperson's Day

Although I've never been an umpire or referee, I think I know what it must feel like. It's been said that nobody ever notices the umpire when he does a fine job. However, when the ump makes a bad call, everybody's on his back. You see, I have been forecasting the weather for southwestern Connecticut on television and radio over the last 20-plus years. I never hear a word from anybody when the forecast is "right on the money." But, if my forecast is off the mark, the phone doesn't stop ringing and the emails keep coming.

Today is National Weatherperson's Day. It's the one day during the year to acknowledge the work of weather forecasters across our country. The day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries was one of America's first weather observers. He actually began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774, and he took the first balloon observation in 1784.
 

Jeffries was an American physician and scientist who pioneered the use of balloons in scientific observation. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge in 1763 and studied medicine in Boston and abroad. After receiving his medical degree from Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1769, Jeffries returned to Boston and practiced medicine there until 1771.

Much to the chagrin of this modern-day weather forecaster, Jeffries supported England during the American Revolution. He served on British naval vessels and in British military hospitals, and he fought alongside British troops in the final campaign of the war. After the war, he moved to England and resumed practicing medicine.

Jeffries became interested in the possibility of using balloons to observe the upper winds and the atmosphere at various altitudes. On November 30, 1784, Jeffries and French aeronaut Jean Pierre Blanchard made an ascent from London, reaching a height of 9309 feet and taking a series of air samples.

A few weeks later, on January 7, 1785, they made the first aerial crossing of the English Channel, traveling in a balloon from Dover to the Forest of Guines, near Calais. Jeffries paid all expenses for the two ascents and provided a number of the best available observational instruments, including a thermometer, a barometer, an electrometer, a hygrometer, and containers of distilled water. The air samples taken on the first ascent were the first scientific data ever obtained from these altitudes.

Many of us take weather information for granted. Turn on a light switch, you get light. Turn on your television or radio, or check a web site, and you get the weather forecast. It’s easy to forget that around the clock, dedicated meteorologists and weathercasters are creating forecasts to help you plan your day and issuing warnings to help keep you safe.

I wake up at 2:15 every morning, and I'm generally in the office by 3:15. People always ask me why I arrive so early if we don't go on the air until 5:00. Believe me, it takes at least two hours to pour over the meteorological data, create customized graphics, write a weather discussion for the News 12 Connecticut Web site, begin working on a blog entry, and type the forecast for the info bar on the bottom of the screen. Despite what many people think, I just can't "look out the window."

For me, though, it's a labor of love. I often tell people, when you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Happy National Weatherperson's Day!

Paul

Phil Predicts Early Spring, but February Weather Can Be Brutal

Another huge crowd gathered at Gobbler's Nob this morning awaiting word from Punxsutawney Phil as to whether or not there will be six more weeks of Winter. Phil didn't disappoint. He did not see his shadow, meaning that we'll have an early Spring. This has been an active Winter season thus far, punctuated by the violent weather which arrived early Thursday morning. The midpoint of Winter, by the way, is this Monday, February 4, marking 45 days since the Winter Solstice and 45 days until the Vernal Equinox.



As for February, it brings an average of 7.2 inches of snow locally, trailing only January as the snowiest month of the year based on 40 years of climatology. There have been a couple of memorable snowstorms in February, including the 16-inch President's Day blizzard, Monday, February 17, 2003. That still stands as the snowiest February day on record. Other impressive snowstorms next month include the 15.9 inch storm on February 9, 1969, and 13 inches of snow on February 16, 1958. There were three other snowstorms with at least a foot of snow, most recently the 12.5 inches which fell on February 12, 2006.

The average daily temperatures begin to slowly climb during February, from a mean of 30 on February 1 to a mean of 35 by the end of the month. The average daily high temperature jumps from 37 to 41 degrees, and the average overnight low temperature increases from 23 to 28. The coldest February day on record across southwestern Connecticut was five degrees below zero on February 8, 1963. The mercury fell to three degrees below zero on February 2, 1961.

There have been several mild days in February, too. The warmest temperature ever recorded during the month was 67 degrees, established three times, most recently on February 27, 1997. There have been 12 dates in February on which the mercury reached at least 60 degrees, including 62 degrees, February 1, 2012. The warmest February on record locally happened in 1997 when the average temperature was 37.3 degrees.

On the flip side, the coldest February on record happened in 1978 when the average temperature was only 24.1 degrees. That was also the year of the famous blizzard when nearly a foot of snow fell on February 6, and the late-Governor Ella Grasso effectively "closed the state" due to the heavy snow and icy roadways.

The amount of daily sunshine continues to increase throughout the month. Today, for example, we enjoy a little more than 10 hours of daylight. However, by the last day of the month, the Sun is out for 11 hours and 16 minutes. That's an increase of one hour and 12 minutes! In fact, the Sun sets at 5:09 tomorrow afternoon, but it doesn't drop below the horizon until 5:42 on February 28. Sunrise also happens earlier throughout the month. The Sun appeared at 7:04 this morning, but it rises over a half-hour earlier (6:27) by the last day of the month!

Can Spring be far behind?

Paul

Warmer & Drier-Than-Normal January

Despite some brutally cold weather during the latter half of the month, January was warmer and drier-than-normal in southwestern Connecticut. The average temperature last month was 32.8 degrees, which is 2.7 degrees above normal. We received exactly two inches of precipitation, well below the 3.10" normal. Nearly five inches of snow (4.7") fell last month.

All but one of the last 24 months have been warmer-than-normal at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. The only month which was colder-than-normal was last November, when the average temperature of 42.7 degrees was 2.8 degrees below the normal average. Last month, only two of the first 17 days featured temperatures below normal. In fact, during one five-day stretch from January 10 through January 14, the average daily temperature each day was 11, 7, 14, 13, and 17 degrees above normal, respectively.

It was a different story the second half of the month, however. Much colder air arrived by January 22, and the average daily temperature was 10 to 14 degrees below normal from January 22 through January 25. In fact, the average daily temperature was below normal for eight straight days from January 21 through January 28. The last three days, however, were featured average daily temperatures of 5, 16, and 14 degrees above normal, respectively.

The warmest temperature last month was 58 degrees on January 31, which happened at 4:36 a.m.prior to the arrival of a powerful cold front. That brought near-hurricane force winds winds, a 61-mph gust, power outages, and damage to buildings, including the roof at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. The coldest temperature last month was eight degrees exactly one week earlier, January 24. There were eight days with a maximum temperature of of 32 degrees or below and 26 days with a minimum temperature of 32 degrees or below.

There were just nine days with measured precipitation last month. The first 10 days only had a trace of precipitation (January 6). Five of the next six days, though, delivered measured precipitation, including 0.56" of liquid precipitation and 3.5" of snow January 16. The next eight days didn't have any measured precipitation, save for a trace of snow on January 21. Then, four of the last eight days of January had precipitation, including a half-inch of snow January 25 and 0.7" of snow January 28.

February is beginning on a chilly note. Daytime temperatures should stay in the 30s through the middle of next week. Nighttime lows will drop close to 20 degrees. Snow is expected to develop Saturday night and continue into Sunday, possibly mixing with rain along the immediate shoreline. Two-to-three inches are possible by Sunday night. More snow is possible later Tuesday into Wednesday.

Have a good weekend.

Paul

Severe Storm Brings Damaging Winds & Destruction to Region

A powerful cold front plowed into southwestern Connecticut early this morning, bringing 60-plus mile-an-hour winds, moderate-to-heavy rain, power outages, and severe damage to the region. Part of the roof of Fairfield Ludlowe High School was destroyed, causing an early dismissal and a three-day weekend for students, teachers, and staff.

  

The storms was caused by a clash of two air masses. Ahead of the front, temperatures surged to a record 58 degrees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford at 4:36 a.m., which broke the previous mark of 54 degrees set one year ago. It was also 35 degrees warmer than normal for this time of the year. The peak wind gusts happened after 4 o'clock as the front approached. The wind gusted to 61 mph at the airport at 4:28 and 64 mph in Norwalk at 4:15.

The near-hurricane force winds caused the damage to the Ludlowe roof. According to a letter sent to parents from FLHS principal Greg Hatzis, "In the early morning hours of January 31, storm winds blew off a section of the rubber membrane on the FLHS roof. The affected area is above a main hallway in the second floor (Warner House). This left a portion of the building without a moisture barrier and the rain from the storm entered the building. This hallway contains fifteen classrooms, about ten of which sustained some water damage."

Wind gusts were even stronger in other parts of the state. In fact, a 78-mile-an-hour wind gust was clocked in Westbook at 5:20 a.m., and a 73-mile-an-hour wind gust was recorded at Madison at 5:25 a.m. East Haven (68 mph), Old Saybrook (65 mph), Middletown (64 mph), and New Haven (61 mph) also had wind gusts over 60 miles an hour.

The damaging winds also caused many power outages. Many residents of Westport were without power following the height of the storm. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said the storm left more than 40 percent of the town without electricity at one point. A dozen utility crews were on hand to help restore power.



Moderate rainfall accompanied the cold front. More than one inch of rain fell in Danbury, and over a half-inch (0.60") was measured at Sikorsky Airport. The winds shifted out of the West once the front passed before daybreak, and temperatures dropped steadily throughout the day. After reaching the record high of 58 degrees after 4 o'clock, the mercury dropped to 46 degrees just before one o'clock as winds gusted over 30 miles an hour. By 7 o'clock, the temperature fell to 36 degrees.

Now, cold weather is here to stay. Daytime temperatures will remain in the 30s through the middle of next week with nighttime lows in the lower 20s. Another system will bring snow to the region by Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. Two-to-three inches of snow are possible by the time the storm exits Sunday night. Another round of snow is expected later Tuesday into Wednesday.

Never a dull moment in the weathercenter.

Paul

Blizzard Two Years Ago Today Resulted in Snowiest January on Record

A powerful storm exploded over southwestern Connecticut two years ago this morning, delivering heavy snow, gusty winds, thunder, and lightning. Nearly a foot-and-a-half of snow was reported in most communities in the area before the snow moved away by daybreak, January 26, 2011. Not surprisingly, it resulted in the snowiest January on record across southwestern Connecticut.

Officially, after that memorable storm, nearly three feet (34.8") of snow had fallen at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, breaking the previous January record of 26.2 inches set in 1965. The normal snowfall for the month is 8.5 inches. Last January, just 7.4" of snow fell, while three years ago, only 7.7 inches of snow fell in January. Take a look at this photo from viewer Margaret in Devon which was taken at 2 o'clock in the morning two years ago today.



Here are snowfall totals from Wednesday, January 26, 2011:

• Norwalk: 17.0"
• Darien: 15.5"
• Milford: 15.0"
• Fairfield: 15.0"
• Greenwich: 14.5"

Once again, my neighbor, Todd, who owns a snowplow, drove me to work. Without question, it was the worst ride to work in my 15-and-a-half years of doing morning weather at News 12 Connecticut. I have never seen I-95 as snow-covered and as dangerous as two years ago today. There were several tractor trailers jacknifed, and the backup was extensive on the Northbound side in Westport. The heavy, wet snow made driving extremely difficult.



I woke up to the sound of muffled thunder shortly after midnight, and when I went to look out the window, I saw nothing but white. The snow was falling heavily, and I knew the storm had intensified due to the gusty winds, thunder, and lightning. This was no ordinary snowstorm. Nearly a foot of snow had accumulated by midnight. When Todd arrived at my driveway at 2:20, I couldn't get the kitchen door open because the snow was piled so high. Just walking to his plow was a chore in itself. Here's another shot from Devon two years ago this morning.



A blustery and cold day is ahead under mostly sunny skies and a high temperature in the upper 20s. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny and milder. A mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain will develop later Monday, but that will allow for much milder air and rain to arrive by the middle of next week.

Paul