Recent Rains Put Dent in Yearly Deficit

It seems like yesterday we were quite concerned about a possible long-term drought. Rain totals were running close to a half-foot below normal for the year, and Red Flag Warnings were becoming routine. Lawns were "burning out" in mid April, and we needed rain desperately. Thankfully, Mother Nature responded this month with nearly four inches of rain, bringing the yearly total to over a foot (12.41"), closing the gap to just three-and-a-half inches below normal (15.90").

The weather pattern changed drastically during the latter part of April. A heavy rainstorm on April 22 and 23 brought over two-and-a-half inches (2.55") of rain to the region, bringing the monthly total to just under three inches (2.97"). Although measured rain happened just once the remainder of the month, it seemed we finally turned the corner, even though the April rain gauge was still more than an inch below normal (4.13").

You may recall that March was one of the driest on record. Just over one inch (1.04") of rain fell during what is normally the wettest month of the year. That's more than three inches below the normal average of 4.05" and slightly more than the driest March on record when just 0.69" fell in 1981. Nearly a foot of rain fell two years ago in March of 2010.

There were only nine days with measured rain in March, including the first three days of the month (0.48" combined) and three of the last seven days of the month (0.38" combined). The longest dry spell happened from March 17 through March 24 (eight days) when only a trace of precipitation was recorded. The wettest day of the month was March 3 when over a quarter-inch (0.27") was recorded.

The weather picture in May has been quite wet. In fact, 10 of the first 16 days this month have produced measured rain. The wettest day this month was this past Tuesday when 1.07" fell, establishing a new record for the date. Three other days featured more than a half-inch of rain, and one day saw over a third of an inch. As of today, the total for the month (3.84") is more than two inches above normal (1.83"). The lawns and gardens have responded beautifully.

Another pattern is beginning to establish itself, too. Recently, we've enjoyed fine weekend weather while the rain falls during the week. Yes, that pattern will continue through the upcoming weekend and into next week. High pressure should bring plenty of sunshine and milder temperatures Saturday and Sunday while, at the same time, keep a storm system offshore. However, moisture from that storm will more than likely "back up" and spread showers and thunderstorms into the Northeast Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Paul

Extreme Weather Text Alerts Beneficial to Public

We've certainly had our fair share of extreme and dangerous weather over the last year. Tropical Storm Irene, which hit the region Saturday night, August 27, will long be remembered by residents of southwestern Connecticut for the number of lives it affected. Two months later, the Nor'easter of October 29 and 30, 2011, was one for the record books. The unusual early Autumn storm delivered record-breaking October snow and massive power outages across Connecticut.

Most of us were well-prepared for both events, especially Irene. Generators and sump pumps were in short supply days before the storm hit, and most people were ready for the heavy rain, gusty winds, loss of electricity, and the storm surge along the shoreline. According to Mitch Gross, a spokesman for Connecticut Light and Power, more than 700,000 customers were without power hours after the storm, easily breaking the previous record of 480,000 following Hurricane Gloria in September of 1985.

The October Nor'easter delivered record-breaking October snow and massive power outages across Connecticut. 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. 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. This storm left more than 760,000 customers of Connecticut Light and Power and 9,000 United Illuminating customers in the dark.

Preparation is most important when severe weather is about to strike. That's why I am pleased to know that wireless carriers and the federal government are launching a system to automatically warn people of dangerous weather and other emergencies via a special type of text messaging to cellphones. The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) service, which begins this month, is free, and consumers won't have to sign up. Warnings will be location-based. If you're traveling, you'll get an alert for whatever emergency is happening where you are.

Alerts will be issued for such life-threatening events as tornadoes, flash floods, hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, dust storms, extreme winds, blizzards and ice storms. Private forecasting companies have offered warnings to subscribers before, but this is the first national service by the federal government and the wireless industry. The weather alerts will be used specifically for weather "warnings," not the less-severe weather "watches."

"These text alerts will be very brief, under 90 characters," according to National Weather Service spokeswoman Susan Buchanan, "and are intended to prompt people to immediately seek additional information through the wide range of weather alert communications available to them, such as the Internet, television, radio or NOAA Weather Radio." Buchanan said alerts about very dangerous situations such as tornadoes will give advice such as "seek shelter immediately."

"This is another great way of receiving warnings immediately, just like weather radio and other sources," weather service spokesman Chris Vaccaro said. However, Vaccaro says people should not rely only on mobile devices for weather warnings since they can lose power. He urges using a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, which has longer-lasting battery backup. I have one in my kitchen, and it's always on during inclement weather.

Modern technology, when used in a responsible and informative way, can be extremely beneficial. This is just one way that modern technology can help us prepare for dangerous or violent weather and potentially save lives. I'd like to know if you will be signing up for the service. After all, you can't beat the price. It's free. I'll be signing up.

Paul

Dogwood Festival Shines on 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 late-day clouds with high temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s. However, there is a slight chance of a sprinkle or shower late in the day and into the evening. The weekend will get off to a great start, however, with sparkling weather tomorrow. In fact, Saturday will be the first day this month with mostly sunny skies. Daytime high temperatures will climb into the lower 70s by tomorrow afternoon.

Our weekend weather is batting just about .500 this year. Ten of the 19 weekends (53%) have been completely dry, while nine weekends (47%) have seen measured rain. January, February, and March were evenly balanced as far as wet and dry weekends, while April featured three weekends with measured rain. Two of the last four weekends have seen rainy weather in southwestern Connecticut. Here's a look at our weekend weather this year

• January: 2 wet weekends, 3 dry weekends; total weekend rain 0.48"
• February: 2 wet weekends, 2 dry weekends; total weekend rain 0.05"
• March: 2 wet weekends, 2 dry weekends; total weekend rain 0.38"
• April: 3 wet weekends, 2 dry weekends; total weekend rain 2.21"
• May: 0 wet weekends, 1 dry weekend; total weekend rain 0.00"
• Yearly total: 9 wet weekends, 10 dry weekends; total weekend rain 3.12"

The Mother's Day weekend gets off to an early start today as the 77th 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 a fairly nice weekend for Mom. Enjoy it!

Happy Mother's Day!

Paul

Vibrant Spring Colors in Stamford

Hilkka Schulz of Stamford sent the following photos to me which I included on the News 12 Connecticut Facebook page and during our daily newscasts. They have been well-received.

She wrote the following to me.

Dear Paul,

Thank you so much for showing my photograph today. Throughout the day I have received calls from my friends in the area hospitals and doctors' offices telling me how much they liked the fact that a nurse's picture was shown on channel 12. This week is a National Nurses Week and I am also an RN (in addition to being an avid photographer). I am also a solid supporter of channel 12 and everyone who is part of it. Thank you for all you do, Paul.

Sincerely,
Hilkka.

Rare May Snowstorm Clobbered New England on This Date in 1977

One glance at our weather this morning, and it's hard to believe that a snowstorm hit much of New England on this date 35 years ago. Our daybreak weather this morning was rainy, foggy, humid, and quite mild with temperatures close to 60 degrees. You'll need to keep the umbrella handy through early tomorrow before our weather picture brightens later in the day.

However, it was quite a different story around these parts Monday, May 9, 1977. A storm system brought snow and record-cold temperatures to much of New England. In fact, at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, a trace of snow fell, and the temperature dropped to 37 degrees that morning, establishing a record low for this date. Other than a trace of snow which was reported May 27, 2010, it's the latest Spring day on which any snow has ever fallen in southwestern Connecticut.

The storm was quite shocking for this time of the year. Consider the normal high temperature for May 9 is 65 degrees, and the normal low temperature is 48. Snow in southwestern Connecticut is almost unheard of seven weeks after the Vernal Equinox. The coldest temperature ever recorded this month was 31 degrees on March 10, 1966.

According to the Naugatuck Daily News, "A Spring storm dumped several inches of snow on some parts of Berkshire County in Massachusetts. The area hardest hit by the storm was Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where police reported 10 inches of snow on the ground. Similar amounts were reported in parts of Vermont. Great Barrington police said there 'were about 100 trees down, wires are down, and we've got reports of accidents we can't get to.'"

Residents in the northwestern Connecticut rural communities of Goshen and Cornwall reported unofficial snow depths of up to five inches. The snow began to fall heavily in the Hartford area at the height of the commuter rush, slowing traffic considerably on most roads. The National Weather Service said a deepening area of low pressure over Connecticut produced a variety of weather conditions across Western Connecticut.

I consider myself a local weather history buff, but I honestly don't remember this storm. Special thanks to viewer Ralph Fato for recalling it and bringing it to my attention. It certainly had to be memorable for those who had to dig out of nearly a half-foot of snow in the northwestern corner of the state. I'm sure they were wearing their Winter coats, too, with the mercury plunging into the 30s.

Paul

Full Flower Super Moon & Meteor Shower Illuminate Weekend Night Sky

The Full Flower Moon takes place late tomorrow evening at 11:35 p.m. EDT. Just 25 minutes later, however, the Moon will arrive at perigee, which is its closest approach to the Earth, a distance of 221,802 miles away. Since this month's perigee is the closest of any in 2012, tomorrow's Full Moon will seem even bigger and brighter than usual, resulting in a stunning sight known as a Supermoon.

As a result, the Moon will appear about 16 percent brighter than the average Full Moon. It will also be accompanied by unusually high and low tides this weekend and into the new week. The Supermoon may make it difficult to witness the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which occurs when the Earth passes through the debris from Halley's Comet. The meteor shower begins tomorrow evening and lasts until the early morning hours Sunday.

In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. That’s how the Full Moon in May became known as the Flower Moon. Other names include the Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon. Full Moon names date back to Native Americans in what is now the Northern and Eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring Full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.

A Full Moon rises at about the same time the Sun is setting. Since the length of daylight continues to grow each day through the Summer Solstice, a Full Moon will rise later and set earlier in May and June. In addition, the Full Moon will appear lower in the sky since it won’t be visible nearly as long as during the long Winter nights. That’s because the Full Moon is a lunar phase which occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.

For example, the Moon rises at 6:27 this evening, nearly an hour-and-a-half before the 7:53 sunset, and it sets at 5:05 tomorrow morning, 40 minutes before the 5:45 sunrise. Conversely, in November, when the length of daylight continues to dwindle, the Full Beaver Moon will appear higher in the sky and be visible for about 16 hours. Although there will be some patchy clouds around, we should enjoy a fairly good view of this weekend's Supermoon.

Paul