Snow Fell Across Connecticut on This Date in 1977

Here's a little-known fact which just may surprise you: snow fell across southwestern Connecticut and much of New England on this date — May 9 — in 1977. Just to be sure, I visited the local library and found several newspaper articles documenting the snow. While only a trace of snow was recorded at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, substantial snow was reported in much of northern Connecticut.

According to a story which appeared in The Bridgeport Post the following day, the Northeast felt the lingering effects of a storm that brought more than a foot of snow in some areas and power failures to thousands. Utilities in Connecticut and Massachusetts said about 110,000 customers were without electricity because of power lines knocked down by snow-laden tree limbs. The temperature dropped to a record-low of 37 degrees in our region.



Unofficially, up to a foot of heavy snow fell in the Northwest hills of Connecticut, and the Greater Hartford area recieved its first measurable May snow since 1903 when records were first kept. The National Weather Service reported eight-tenths of an inch of snow at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, about 20 miles North of Hartford.

The snow forced the closing or delayed-opening of schools in the harder hit areas of Connecticut. At its peak, it left an estimated 25,000 Northeast Utilities customers without electricity. A spokesman was quoted as saying that the heavy snow snapped off tree limbs, and they dragged down power lines. The Southern New England Telephone Company reported about 500 customers lost service in Torrington and Kent, also due to downed lines.



The snow also tore down acres of tent-like coverings over tobacco fields in Connecticut and Massachusetts. As the wet snow ripped through the thin, billowing cloth, poles and wires used to support the snow snapped. The executive dorector of the Connecticut Shade Tobacco Growers Association said a modest estimate of the damage was $1.5 million. He said 80 percent of the damage was in Connecticut.

The story writer added, “On the brighter side, operators of two shopping malls in Eastern Connecticut apparently felt it was better to join Mother Nature than to fight her. So, in recognition of a Winter that refused to say farewell, they piped in Sleigh Bells Ring and I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”

Interestingly, today is not the latest date on which snow has fallen across southwestern Connecticut. A trace of snow actually fell as late as May 27, 1961, when the temperature dropped to a record low of 36 degrees at the airport. Consider the normal high temperature for that date is 70 degrees. That’s why I love our weather so much. Just about anything can happen!

Paul

Dogwood Festival Kicks off Mother's Day Weekend

Mother's Day weekend is here, and Mother Nature will deliver a gift to us with a fairly nice Sunday under a mix of sun and clouds with high temperatures in the mid 60s. There is a slight chance of a scattered shower but most, if not all, of the day will be dry. Unfortunately, a shower or two can be expected late tonight, and tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with scattered showers, but there won't be any heavy, day-long rain.

That's certainly good news, considering two of the last three weekends featured well over an inch of rain. However, since the start of the year, our weekend weather has been pretty good. In fact, only six of the 18 weekends (33%) thus far this year have had any measured rain. Even better, just two of the last eight weekends have been wet, dating back to the first weekend of March.
Here's a look at our weekend weather this year

• January: 2 wet weekends, 3 dry weekends; total weekend rain 0.06"
• February: 1 wet weekend, 3 dry weekends; total weekend rain 0.05"
• March: 1 wet weekend, 3 dry weekends; total weekend rain 1.26"
• April: 2 wet weekends, 3 dry weekends; total weekend rain 2.82"
• Yearly total: 6 wet weekends, 12 dry weekends; total weekend rain 4.19"

The Mother's Day weekend gets off to an early start today as the 76th annual Dogwood Festival begins high atop Greenfield Hill in Fairfield. The event, which is traditionally held on Mother's Day weekend, draws people from all over the Northeast. From its humble beginnings on a card table that displayed handmade aprons and similar items three-quarters of a century ago, the Festival has grown into an event which attracts thousands each year.


Every year, the festival offers an opportunity for all to share the beauty of the historic hill. I've been at Greenfield Hill to provide LIVE weather reports a number of times to promote the Dogwood Festival, and it seems that rain has always been in the forecast just about every year. This year, Mother Nature is promising some showers Saturday, but we'll enjoy a nice finish to the Mother's Day weekend.

Happy Mother's Day!

Paul

Celebrate National Teacher Day & Teacher Appreciation Week

Today is National Teacher Day, which is observed on Tuesday during the first full week of May. We honor professional educators and acknowledge the crucial role teachers play in making sure every student receives a quality education. Each week when I visit a different school across southwestern Connecticut, I'm always impressed with the commitment and dedication of our teachers to their craft and their students. Clearly, they have a passion for what they do, and it shows through their creativity and energy.

The demands and challenges teachers face today are much different than when I left the classroom nearly 16 years ago. I taught middle school Science and English from 1985 to 1995, long before the widespread use of modern-day technology, which has become an integral part of the educational experience. Educators are constantly improving their curricula, and many attend classes and seminars during the Summer months to learn new methods of instruction and classroom management.

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. According to the teacher appreciation Web site, "Teaching is possibly one of the most vocational jobs. It is simply impossible to teach if you don’t like that activity, or if you don’t care for your students. Care, that’s the word. But, how often do we, the rest of us, care for our current or former teachers? How often do we show our teacher appreciation? How often do we thank them for their care, efforts and help?"

A teacher’s highest reward is feeling the true appreciation and gratitude of his or her current or former students. I know, because I've received letters and phone calls from former students of mine. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to hear from a student I taught 25, 20, or even 15 years ago telling me how much they learned and enjoyed my classes. I still enjoy teaching today. Here are two photos of my recent school visits with News 12 Connecticut's Weatherkids from Fairfield Woods Middle School and West School in New Canaan.





If you have children in the school system, I'm sure you're grateful for the work of our teachers. Even if you don't have any school-aged children, I'm sure you're aware of the work of our dedicated educators. They deserve our support, and I applaud them. I have a son at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and another son at Fairfield Woods Middle School. I'll be sure to thank both of my sons' teachers this week.

Thank you, teachers.

Paul

Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association Honorable Mention Award Continues Impressive Eight-Year Stretch of Accolades

The honorable mention award I received from the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association for Best Weathercast at its annual awards banquet last Friday continued a remarkable and impressive eight-year stretch of professional awards and accolades. Here is a yearly summary of my accomplishments since 2004:

• 2004 - Connecticut Associated Press, honorable mention, Best Weathercast
• 2005 - New England Emmy nomination
• 2006 - Connecticut Associated Press, award winner, Best Weathercast
• 2007 - New York Emmy award winner, Best Weathercast
• 2008 - Connecticut Associated Press, award winner, Best Weathercast; New York Emmy nominee
• 2009 - Connecticut Associated Press, award winner, Best Weathercast; Fairfield County Weekly Readers' Poll, runnerup, Best Local TV Personality
• 2010 - New York Emmy nominee; Fairfield County Weekly Readers' Poll, runnerup, Best Local TV Personality
• 2011 - Connecticut Associated Press, honorable mention, Best Weathercast; Fairfield County Weekly Readers' Poll, runnerup, Best Local TV Personality

Paul

Delightful Weekend Weather to Christen the Start of May

The stormy weather yesterday has moved well offshore, and one more weaker disturbance will move through the region this afternoon before we enjoy a delightful Spring weekend. I am expecting a sunny and breezy Saturday with afternoon temperatures climbing into the low-to-mid 60s, and sunshine mixing with some late-day clouds Sunday and a high in the mid 60s. The weather will be fine for any outdoor activities you may have planned for this weekend. Now, it's time to look ahead to May.

The average daily temperature for May jumps from 54 degrees on May 1 to 64 degrees by the end of the month. There have been several days on which the mercury topped 90 degrees, the most notable being 97 degrees on May 20, 1996, which came one month after the last snow of the snowiest season on record, and 94 degrees on May 26, 2010, which was a record for the date. The record low for the month is 31 degrees, set on May 10, 1966. The warmest May on record was in 1991 when the mercury averaged 64.4 degrees.

Can it snow in May? Yes. Believe it or not, there have been two days with at least a trace of snow, including May 27, 1961, which is just over three weeks from the start of Summer! There was also a trace of snow on May 9, 1977. May is the second wettest month of the year, on average, behind March. The normal rainfall for the month is 4.03 inches, based on 40 years of record-keeping. The wettest May happened in 1989 when 9.53″ fell, while the wettest single day rainstorm delivered 3.21″ on May 29, 1968.


The amount of daylight continues to grow each day through the end of the month. There are exactly 14 hours of daylight on May 1 when the Sun rises at 5:50 and sets at 7:50. However, by the end of the month, there are just about 15 hours of daylight as the Sun comes up at 5:22 and sets at 8:19. Three weeks later, on the Summer Solstice, the Sun sets at 8:30, which is only 11 minutes later than on the last day of May.

I hope you enjoy this coming weekend. As for me, I'm taking my sons to the Bridgeport Bluefish season opener this evening at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The Bluefish will start their 14th season in the Atlantic League after reaching the league championship series last year. Saturday, my sons and I are visiting Quassy Amusement Park to ride the brand new wooden roller coaster, the Wooden Warrior, which debuted last week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Have a good weekend.

Paul

Damp & Dreary April to End on Stormy Note

I'm looking forward to turning the calendar page to May. April can't leave soon enough. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for southwestern Connecticut through 4 o'clock this afternoon as a line of severe storms marches in our direction. Ahead of the front, a warm and humid air mass is setting the stage for tornado warnings and severe thunderstorms in Northern New Jersey early this afternoon. Needless to say, I'll be watching the radar carefully today.

As far as this month is concerned, it has been dreary and wet. In fact, we've received over four-and-a-half inches of rain (4.59") so far, and that's an inch above normal through today. Based on 40-plus years of record keeping, this month is the third wettest of the year with an average of 3.99 inches of rain. If you're counting, today will be the 15th day with measured rain this month. That means more than half of the days this month have been wet.

There have been two days (April 16 and April 23) with more than an inch of rain, while another storm which stretched from April 12 to April 13 delivered 1.20" inches of rain. Measured rain fell on five of the first seven days this month and a stretch of six out of nine days from April 11 through April 19. Today's rain will mark the fourth day out of the last six with rain. So, yes, it has been an extremely wet month.



Fortunately, our weather will turn the corner by tomorrow, and this weekend may be the best one of the year. Clearing skies are expected late tonight as low temperatures drop into the upper 40s inland and lower 50s along the immediate shoreline. Tomorrow will bring a mix of sun and clouds, but it will be windy and pleasant with a high in the mid 60s. The weekend will be sunny and delightful with daytime highs in the 60s and nighttime lows in the low-to-mid 40s.

Paul