Record-Setting Blizzard Punctuates Unforgettable February

Welcome to March. Today is the first day of meteorological --- or climatological --- Spring, which runs from March through May. Unlike astronomical seasons, which are determined by the Earth's position in relation to the Sun, meteorological seasons are categorized by temperature. Meteorological Winter is the coldest quarter of the year (December-February), while meteorological Summer is the warmest (June-August). The quarter between these periods is meteorological Spring.

A record-setting blizzard which brought more than three feet of snow to Milford and paralyzed many local communities for nearly a week highlighted our February weather. The storm, which began Friday morning, February 8, peaked during the early morning hours of Saturday, February 9, when snow fell at the rate of nearly three inches an hour. When all was said and done, Milford (38"), Fairfield (35"), and Stratford (30") were buried under heavy snow. The two-day total at Sikorsky Memorial Airport was exactly 30 inches.

The 30 inches of snow helped push the monthly precipitation total to more than five inches (5.02"), which is nearly double the normal (2.79"). The month normally averages 7.2" of snow. There were 14 days (50%) with at least one-hundredth of an inch of precipitation, seven days with more than a tenth of an inch, four days with more than a half-inch, and two days with more than an inch of liquid. In case you're wondering, the wettest February on record happened in 1972 when more than a half-foot (6.65") of precipitation fell.

Last month was just the second colder-than-normal month at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in the last two years. The average temperature was 31.3 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees below normal. The only other month which was colder-than-normal since February of 2011 was November of last year. The warmest temperature last month was 45 degrees (February 15 & 28), while the coldest was seven degrees (February 10) for a 38-degree range.

There were seven days with a maximum high temperature of 32 degrees or below and 23 days with a minimum temperature of at least freezing. Ten of the first 11 days last month were colder-than-normal, while temperatures were at or above normal from February 12 through February 16. In fact, 13 of the last 17 days last month were warmer-than-normal, including the last six days. Overall, 14 days featured below-normal temperatures and 11 days were above normal. There were three days with a normal average temperature.

This weekend will be fairly quiet, but we'll see plenty of clouds, especially Sunday, as a storm system retreats from the North and East. Daytime high temperatures will reach the lower 40s, which is normal for this time of the year. However, we'll be monitoring a coastal storm by the middle of next week. The European computer model is bringing the storm closer. Otherwise, daytime high temperatures will reach the lower 40s and nighttime lows will drop into the 30s early next week.

Paul

Beware the Month of March

Today officially marks the last day of meteorological Winter. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that Winter ends at the stroke of midnight. There is a difference between meteorological Winter and astronomical Winter. Astronomical Winter began on December 21 when the Sun was the farthest from the Earth in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteorological Winter, on the other hand, is simply the period of the year when the Northern Hemisphere is the coldest. That lasts from December 1 through the end of February.

Tomorrow is the first day of March, and although it will feel good to turn the calendar page, the month is anything but serene. March is a transition month as Winter slowly yields to Spring. As for our weather, just about anything goes during the month. The best example of the unpredictable nature of March weather is illustrated on the 13th of the month. That's the date when the mercury reached 84 degrees in 1990, establishing records for the season, month, and date.

Just three years later, though, on the same date, the so-called Storm of the Century dumped over a foot of snow to the region, making it the second snowiest date on record for March at the time. Winds gusted over 40 miles an hour and wind chills were at or below zero. Most of the eastern third of the nation was affected by the massive storm, which stretched from Maine to Florida, including hurricane force winds, tornadoes, strong thunderstorms, and blizzard conditions.

And, three years ago, on March 13, 2010, we experienced an unforgettable Nor'easter which brought flooding rains, damaging winds, massive power outages, and two local fatalities. Peak wind gusts reached 50 to 60 miles an hour in most communities, resulting in downed trees and power lines. Many local roads were impassable, and rainfall rates of up to one-half inch per hour were reported across southwestern Connecticut.

So, what can we expect in March? Basically, anything and everything. Based on local climatology, the normal average daily temperature climbs eight degrees from 36 to 44. The average high temperature increases from 43 degrees at the start of March to 52 degrees by the last day of the month. The record high temperature is 84 degrees set on March 13, 1990, while the record low is four degrees established on March 19, 1967.

As far as precipitation is concerned, the average monthly total is 4.15 inches, making it the wettest month of the year. The wettest March on record occurred in 2010 when several storms brought 10.19" of rain, breaking the previous mark of 9.40" in 1953. The March 13, 2010, storm delivered 3.31" of rain. You may even recall the second wettest March day on record when 3.59 inches of rain fell on March 2, 2007. The average monthly snowfall is 4.3 inches, but there have been some memorable snowstorms. As late as March 22 nearly a foot of snow (11.1") fell in 1967.

The amount of daylight continues to grow during March, but this year we Spring ahead to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 10, so the evening hours will be much brighter than usual. Sunrise on March 1 happens at 6:27, and by the end of the month it will rise at 6:37, due in so small part to the start of DST. Believe it or not, the Sun sets at 5:41 this evening, but by March 31 it will set at 7:17. Personally, it will feel odd to have brighter evenings so early in the year. Not that I mind, of course.

The Vernal Equinox is less than three weeks away. Spring officially arrives Thursday, March 20, at 7:02 a.m. EDT. That's the when the direct rays of the Sun are above the Equator, technically marking "equal day and equal night" over the face of the Earth. We'll enjoy about 12 hours of daylight on the first day of Spring, and the amount of daylight will continue to increase through late June.The Full Worm Moon happens March 27 at 5:27 a.m. I'm ready for March!

Paul

Full Snow Moon Happens Monday Evening

You may have noticed how the Moon has been growing --- or waxing --- over the last two weeks. We didn't see much of the Moon the last two nights, but we will be able to see when it reaches Full Moon stage. That happens at 4:26 EST Monday afternoon. The Moon will rise at 4:46 local time this afternoon and sets at 6:01 tomorrow morning.

So, how did the February Full Moon get its name, anyway? Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the North and East most often called February's Full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.

Remember, Full Moon names date back to the days of the Native Americans, who lived 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. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

This Moon has also been known as the Full Storm Moon and Full Candles Moon. 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, today's Full Moon will rise a little later than it did in December or January. In addition, this Full Moon will appear still fairly high in the sky since we're still in Winter.

Paul

This Weekend Marks 10th Anniversary of Presidents Day Blizzard

We'll enjoy another mild day under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 40s this afternoon. That will certainly allow for more snow melt following last weekend's blizzard. The holiday weekend is just about here, and a potential snowstorm Saturday night into Sunday looks as though it will pass just to the East. However, that wasn't the case ten years ago.

This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the unforgettable Presidents Day Blizzard of 2003. It ranked as the snowiest day on record at the time at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, tying the previous mark of 16 inches established on December 19, 1948, over a half-century ago. In New York's Central Park, where records date back well over a century, the 19.8 inches ranked as the fifth snowiest single day total. The weather map below is from midday February 17, 2003.

The snowfall totals across southwestern Connecticut were impressive. Darien and New Canaan measured the most snow (20 inches), while Westport (19"), Bridgeport (17"), Norwalk (16"), and Milford (15") also posted impressive totals. New Fairfield, in Northern Fairfield County, led the way locally with exactly two feet of snow. Here is the satellite image of the massive storm.

The magnitude of the storm was quite impressive. It spread heavy snow across the major cities in the Northeast from Washington to Boston. In fact, it was the biggest snowstorm on record in Baltimore (28.2") and Boston (27.5"). The storm actually developed in the southern Rockies on February 14 and moved through southern Missouri and the lower Tennessee Valley over the next two days. Eventually, the storm brought heavy rain and severe weather to the deep South.

In the Northeast, Arctic air helped slow down the storm and kept all of the precipitation in the form of snow and some sleet. By late Sunday evening, February 16, the snow reached the New York City area, and by midnight, it was snowing across all of southwestern Connecticut. A secondary area of low pressure developed off the Virginia coast the morning of February 17, turning the Nor'easter into a full-blown blizzard.

I'm often asked how it feels to work during a major storm, from driving into work in the middle of the night to staying on the air for hours at a time. I tell people it's kind of like my version of the Super Bowl or the World Series. I'm on the main stage, and my adreline is flowing all day long. The viewers play a vital role by sending me their weather observations, current conditions, and photos which I use all the time. During a big storm, give me the ball or, in this case, clicker! It's the "big time" for me.

We are watching a coastal storm developing later this weekend, but it appears it will pass to the East Saturday night and Sunday. However, it will become windy and much colder Sunday and Monday. At least we won't have to worry about another blizzard this Presidents Day holiday weekend.

Paul

Despite Deep Snowpack, Subtle Signs of Spring Appear

The Vernal Equinox, or the start of Spring, is less than five weeks away. Spring officially arrives Wednesday, March 20, at 7:02 a.m. EDT. I'm sure just about everybody is ready for a change of seasons after what we've experienced over the last two weeks. The blizzard was the breaking point for many. However, we'll enjoy a couple of fairly nice days before another storm system arrives Saturday, bringing periods of snow and the potential for two-to-four inches of accumulation by Saturday night.

In case you're wondering, we've received over four feet of snow this Winter. Officially, 51.2" of snow has fallen at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford this season. The seasonal snowfall is just about three times the normal (17.1") and well above the 11.6" total through this date last year. Unfortunately, more snow is on the way early this weekend. Here is a photo taken just after sunrise in Bethel this morning.
                                  


However, there are subtle signs that Winter's grip is beginning to lighten its hold on us, albeit slightly. For one, the days are getting longer. In fact, sunrise happened at 6:49 this morning, a half-hour earlier than the 7:19 sunrise on New Year's Day. Sunset is at 5:26 this evening, exactly one hour later than the 4:26 sunset on the first day of Winter. If you're doing the Math, daily sunlight has increased by an hour-and-a-half over the last eight weeks.

Average daily temperatures are slowly beginning to climb, too. Although today's average daytime high (38) and nighttime low (25) are actually one degree colder than the first day of Winter, the mercury will be on the rebound in a hurry. In two weeks, on the last day of February, the average high and low temperatures are 41 and 26 degrees, respectively. Three weeks later, on the first day of Spring, the average high and low are 49 and 34 degrees, respectively.

Believe it or not, Daylight Saving Time starts three weeks from this Sunday. We Spring ahead Sunday morning, March 10, at 2 o'clock. Although an hour of sleep will be lost, the Sun won't set until close to 7 o'clock (6:54 p.m.) that evening. Pitchers and catchers have already reported to Spring training camps in Florida and Arizona. We're slowly getting there.

The countdown is on!

Paul

Comparing the Consequences of the Blizzard of 1978 to the Blizzard of 2013

The blizzards of 1978 and 2013 were historic events which will be remembered by everyone who experienced them. I clearly remember the February blizzard in 1978 when I was a young radio announcer at WNAB in Bridgeport. I was the overnight host and was stranded at the radio station for two days. By contrast, this year, I think the public was much better-prepared for the blizzard due to advanced warnings and ample preparation time.

Although the recent blizzard delivered much more snow to my hometown, the blizzard of 1978 was a far more crippling storm. The blizzard of 1978 brought high-speed winds and 33 straight hours of snowfall, accumulating to almost two feet of snow in Fairfield and the rest of the Northeast. Last Friday’s storm buried Fairfield in 35 inches of snow by Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. By the time the storm arrived Friday morning, most schools had closed and businesses were shutting down early. People were well-prepared and safely arrived at their destinations well before the peak of the storm.

However, 35 years ago, the blizzard hit on a Monday and Tuesday, and the overall impact was much more serious. The dire forecast was deemed unlikely by much of the skeptical public since its arrival was late. Many people went to work and found it almost impossible to get home. The blizzard of 1978 was much more than a paralyzing inconvenience. Ninety-nine people died. Fatalities can happen in any ­disaster, but it is important to learn how and why they happened and then apply the lessons learned to the next storm.

The 1978 blizzard has been studied for decades to determine whether those 99 deaths could have been prevented. Many of the victims were overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning while waiting in their stranded cars. David Stackpole, a police officer at Groton Long Point, said that people "had less warning, and more people/cars (got) stuck. We were isolated a lot longer."

Stackpole added, "So I still feel that although we had less snow (in 1978) than this year, it was more of a crippler for the region in 1978. This year we had tons of warning, and people were prepared. In 1978, we didn't know much, except it was going to snow maybe five inches or so, but no biggie, we thought."

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Further, we didn't have the technology to easily communicate with family, friends, and neighbors 35 years ago. If someone was stranded, it was almost impossible to get help. Nobody had cell phones, the Internet did not exist, and pay phones were the only outlet on the street. People felt isolated and, ultimately, helpless and more fearful.

As a result, I believe the blizzard of 1978 was more deadly and more paralyzing than this year's blizzard. Unfortunately, many streets across the region still remain unplowed as of this morning, and one gentleman in Bridgeport died from an asthma attack when an ambulance couldn't make it through the snow in time to save him. But, when comparing the two historic blizzards, the consequences were much greater in 1978.

Paul