Snow & Cold Affected Region One Year Ago Today

The first snowfall of the season affected much of southwestern Connecticut one year ago this morning, creating hazardous driving conditions during the early commute to work and school. A strong storm system in the Atlantic Ocean moved from East-to-West, bringing gusty winds and cold temperatures when the precipitation started around daybreak. Morning lows dipped into the 30s even along the shoreline.

The wind began howling as the storm slowly approached in the early hours of the morning, and it continued through the day. There was a Wind Advisory gusts over 40 miles an hour. Photographer Lori Golias took several photos from Route 127 on the Bridgeport/Trumbull line. She reported snow and sleet at her home.

One of our receptionists, who lives in Weston, reported nearly an inch of snow on the hillier terrain. She said several drivers experienced some difficulty negotiating hills and curves in the snow and the wind. The storm, which was originally forecast to stay offshore and not directly impact the region, began "backing up" the day before, creating the mess on area roadways.

The wintry weather occured 57 years to the day of one of the earliest snowstorms on record in southwestern Connecticut. Nearly a half-foot (5.4") of snow fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford on Friday, November 6 (3.4") and Saturday, November 7 (2.0"), 1953.

Our weather will be anything but Wintry on this Election Day. Today will be mostly sunny and milder with a high temperature in the low-to-mid 60s. Tonight will be partly cloudy with patchy fog and a low in the 40s. Tomorrow will feature a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the 60s once again. Get out and vote.

Paul

Historic Autumn Storm Highlighted October Weather

The effects of this past weekend's historic October Nor'easter are still being felt by thousands of people without electricity today. Record snowfall caused heavy branches and small trees to come crashing down. More than a foot of snow fell in parts of Northern Fairfield County, while Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford received four inches of snow, a record for October 29 and the entire month. Here's a picture of Southport Harbor last Saturday.

Last month was warmer than normal. The average daily temperature was 57.1 degrees, which is exactly two degrees warmer than normal. The mercury climbed to an unseasonably warm 85 degrees on October 10 and fell below freezing only once all month. The average daily temperature was at or above normal for 19 consecutive days from October 8 through October 26. The average temperature was 13 degrees above normal October 10 and 11 degrees above normal October 11, 14, and 20.

October was also wetter than normal, continuing the theme for the year. Nearly four inches (3.96") of liquid precipitation fell last month, which is about a third of an inch (0.32") above normal. There were 10 days which featured measured precipitation, including each of the first three days of the month. Well over an inch (1.25") of precipitation fell during the Nor'easter, which was the wettest day of the month.

The record snowfall punctuated the month. Consider the normal average snowfall for October is just a trace, and it was quite surprising to see four inches of snow along the immediate shoreline before Halloween. The only other day with measured snow on record in southwestern Connecticut happened Sunday, October 4, 1987, when just a half-inch fell. Even more surprising was the heavy snow in Northern Fairfield County. It was historic, to say the least.

November is off to a much quieter start, thankfully. Other than an Air Quality Alert this afternoon due to the burning wood and running generators, our weather looks fairly quiet through the middle of next week. A cold front will march through the region tonight, producing mostly cloudy skies, but clouds lift for sunshine later tomorrow morning. Friday will become sunny and windy with a high in the mid 50s. The weekend looks sunny and cool.

Paul

Taking a Look at November by the Numbers

Hello.
Now that Halloween and a historic Autumn Nor'easter are behind us, it's time to look ahead to November and how the month shapes up climatologically. Normally, we try and predict when the first measured snow of the season will fall, but incredibly that already happened. The week ahead looks fairly quiet, too, as we adjust to Standard Time, which begins this coming Sunday morning, November 6, 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 35 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 Thursday, November 10. 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

Historic October Nor'easter Not Soon to be Forgotten

This was one for the record books. An unusual early Autumn Nor'easter delivered record-breaking October snow and massive power outages across Connecticut over the weekend. 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 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 early this morning, 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 are closed or have delayed openings today.

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.

The normal average monthly snowfall for October in southwestern Connecticut is just a trace. Prior to this weekend, 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 last night. The mercury fell into the 20s inland and lower 30s along the shoreline early this morning, causing icy roads and cold homes for those without power this morning. Take a look at this picture of a downed tree and snow-covered Route 7 in Danbury. Is this really October?

Fortunately, our weather should be quiet for much of the week ahead. Halloween will be fine for the trick-or-treaters under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 40s to close to 50 degrees. Tonight will become mostly cloudy with a chance of a shower or two late and a low in the 30s to close to 40 degrees along the coast. At least we won't have to look at any more photos of snow and a fallen tree over the railroad tracks in the near future.

Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Paul

Satellite/Radar of Historic October Nor'easter

First Winter Storm of the Season Arrives This Weekend

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Northern Fairfield and New Haven counties from Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night. A major storm system will bring rain, snow, and wind to the region beginning Saturday morning, and up to three-to-six inches of snow may fall inland by the time the storm departs.

The unusual early-season storm will also deliver strong, gusty winds late tomorrow and Saturday night. The wind and heavy wet snow will combine with the leaves still on the trees to possibly cause power outages throughout the state. High temperatures will fall from 40 degrees early tomorrow into the 30s by the afternoon. The normal high temperature for this time of the year is 59 degrees!

The coldest air of the season arrived this morning with daybreak temperatures falling into the lower 30s across southwestern Connecticut. The mercury dropped to 34 degrees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, well below the normal low of 43 degrees. However, it was slightly above the record low of 30 degrees set in 1976. Prior to today, the coldest temperature this month was 44 degrees on October 6, 7, and 24.

Viewer Ralph Fato sent this photo of a beautiful sunrise this morning along the southwestern Connecticut shoreline.

A trace of snow is the normal monthly average for our region based on 40 years of records. According to my weather record book, the only measured snow in October at Sikorsky Memorial Airport happened on Sunday morning, October 4, 1987, when a half-inch was recorded. I was working at the Western Connecticut State University weathercenter in Danbury at the time. It was an unusual sight for early October, to be sure.

Nor'easters are not uncommon in October, but measured snow is certainly a rarity. You may recall the storm of October 19, 1996, which brought damaging winds and heavy rain. More than four inches (4.12") of rain fell that day, and many people experienced flooding. The wettest day on record this month happened on October 15, 1955, when 4.76" of rain fell.

The storm will be gone by Sunday, but cooler-than-normal temperatures will be with us through the start of next week. Sunday will become mostly sunny, breezy, and chilly with a high in the upper 40s. Halloween will be mostly sunny and dry with a high in the mid-to-upper 40s. That will be a real "treat" from Mother Nature, considering she's giving us quite a "trick" tomorrow.

Paul