Summer's Halfway Point

Today marks the official midpoint of Summer. It has been 46 days since the Summer Solstice, and the Autumn Equinox is 46 days from today. It seems like the Summer is flying by. The brutal heat and humidity of July have been replaced by delightful mid Summer weather once again today under mostly sunny skies, low humidity, and temperatures in the upper 70s to close to 80 degrees.

The first 46 days of Summer this year have been record-breaking. For starters, July was the hottest month on record at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford with a daily average temperature of 78.5 degrees. That eclipsed the previous record of 78.4 degrees set in July of 1994. In addition, there were two heat waves last month, including the first-ever seven-day heat wave on record, which included the highest temperature of the month, 95 degrees, on July 16.

There have been 12 days with a high temperature of 90 degrees or more since the Summer Solstice compared to 11 last year and just six at the midpoint of Summer in 2011. Similarly, there were two heat waves during the first half of last Summer. The first heat wave last year happened from June 29 through July 1 with high temperatures of 91, 92, and 92 degrees, respectively. The second heat wave happened July 16 through 18 when the mercury hit 91, 93, and 95 degrees on successive days.

The first half of each of the last two Summers featured 14 days (30%) with measured rain. This year, 16 of the first 46 days of Summer (34%) have had measured rain, including four of the last ten days in June, 10 days in July, and two of the first five days of August. There were four rainy days from June 21-30, 2011, while the last 10 days of June 2012 featured five days with measured rain. The last two July's each featured eight rainy days. August 1-5, 2011, had two days with measured rain, and last August 1 through 5 had just one rainy day.

Our weather will become unsettled by the end of the week. Tonight will become partly cloudy and slightly more humid with lows in the 60s along the shoreline and upper 50s inland. Tomorrow will become mostly cloudy and more humid with a high in the mid-to-upper 70s. Thursday features a few early showers followed by late-afternoon showers and thunderstorms with a high near 80. Stronger storms are likely later Friday and Friday night before showers taper early Saturday.

Paul

Hottest July on Record

It was a close call, but this was the hottest July on record in southwestern Connecticut. The average temperature of 78.5 degrees topped the previous record of 78.4 degrees in 1994 by the slimmest of margins. It was also the hottest month on record at Sikorsky Memorial Airport since record-keeping began in 1948. The month will be remembered for two brutal heat waves, the second of which was a first-ever seven-day heat wave from July 14 through July 20.

How hot was it last month? Just two of the first 20 days in July were cooler-than-normal, and eight days featured an average temperature of at least 10 degrees above normal. The first heat wave happened July 5 through July 8 with high temperatures of 92, 92, 93, and 90 degrees, respectively. The hottest temperature last month was 95 degrees on July 16, which happened during the brutal seven-day heat wave. In addition, the temperature never dropped below 62 degrees (July 25 & 26) last month.

July was the most uncomfortable month on record, too. Why? The dew point climbed to 70 degrees or warmer for 31 straight days from June 24 through July 24. That streak is unprecedented in these parts, and it dwarfs the previous record of 21 straight days in 1988. When the dew point reaches 65 degrees or higher, it becomes uncomfortable. The air is tropical and oppressive once the dew point reaches 70 degrees. That happened every day for over four weeks!

July was also quite dry with just over an inch-and-a-half (1.59") of rain. That's nearly two inches below the normal of 3.46" based on 40 years of climatology. Just ten days featured measured rainfall with the highest single-day total of 0.67" on July 23. The longest stretch of dry weather happened July 14 through July 20, and there was a six-day dry streak from July 3 through July 8. The wettest stretch from July 21 through July 26 featured five days of measured rain and one day with a trace of rain.

Now that the record heat is behind us, our focus turns to the weekend, which should be fairly nice. Today will be mostly sunny, warm, and slightly less humid with a high temperature in the low-to-mid 80s. There is a chance of a late-day or evening spot shower, but it shouldn't upset any outdoor plans. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a shower or two from mid-morning through midday, but the remainder of the weekend looks fine. Have a good weekend.

Paul

August Traditionally Hot & Tropical

I'm sure many people will be happy to see July end. This has been the hottest month ever on record at Sikorsky Memorial Airport with an average daily temperature of 78.8 degrees through yesterday. That's 4.4 degrees above normal and 0.4 degrees above the record of 78.4 degrees set in 1994. There have been two heat waves, including a record-setting seven-day heat wave two weeks ago. However, August can be just as hot and oppressive.

You may recall that August of 2010 was much warmer than normal. We experienced a heat wave the last three days of the month, and the average monthly temperature (75.1 degrees) was less than one degree from the record of 76 degrees set in 1955. Seven years ago, we christened August with a heat wave when the first three days established record high temperatures of 95, 96, and 97 degrees, respectively, at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford.

Traditionally, August is the second warmest month of the year with a mean average temperature of 73.1 degrees, just behind July's average of 74 degrees, based on 40 years worth of data. The mercury has actually climbed to 100 degrees twice --- on August 9, 2001, and August 27, 1948. In fact, the daily record highs for the month never dip below 90 degrees. The warmest August on record (1955) featured two of the most potent rainstorms.

However, there are subtle signs that Summer is in decline over the next four weeks. The normal high temperature falls from 82 degrees on August 1 to 78 degrees by the end of the month. The overall mean temperature drops from 75 degrees to 70 by August 31. In fact, the record low temperature on August 29 is 44 degrees!

Daily sunshine continues to dwindle, too. We'll enjoy 14 hours and 21 minutes of daylight today. But, by the last day of August, the Sun is out for 13 hours and nine minutes. We lose about an hour and a quarter of daylight over the next 31 days. In fact, sunrise occurs at 6:18 and sets at 7:27 by August 31. Remember, on the first day of Summer, the Sun set at 8:30.

As far as rainfall is concerned, the month averages about 3.75" of precipitation. The wettest August happened in 1952 when 13.29" of rain fell. There have been some drenching rains in August, including 4.66" on August 19, 1991, 4.01" on August 27, 2006, 3.99" on August 11, 2000, 3.92" on August 12, 1955, and 3.69" on August 21, 1952. Remember, we are in the heart of hurricane season, and tropical moisture is always a threat.

Long-time area residents will never forget August of 1955 when two of the most memorable hurricanes --- Connie and Diane --- battered the Northeast. Hurricane Connie soaked New England with torrential rains on August 13, 1955. Just five days later, Tropical Storm Diane followed suit creating massive flooding not seen since the 1930s.

The combination of Connie and Diane yielded rainfall totals close to 25 inches in some areas, resulting in unprecedented flooding. Nearly all of the major rivers in the lower Connecticut Valley exceeded flood stage. Some rivers rose more than 20 feet over their banks. There was tremendous destruction in the Naugatuck River Valley, especially in the city of Ansonia.

Summer officially reaches its halfway point this Sunday. Another pleasant day is ahead under a mix of sun and clouds and a high temperature in the lower 80s. A trough of low pressure will bring periods of rain and a possible thunderstorm tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow night. But, clearing skies are expected Friday, and a generally nice weekend is expected. Good-bye, July!

Paul

Dog Days End in Two Weeks

Are you tired of the heat and humidity yet? This is the hottest July on record with a daily average temperature of 79.0 degrees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. That's 4.7 degrees above normal and 0.6 degrees warmer than the record of 78.4 degrees set in 1994. Although today is starting on a warm and sticky note, the humidity level will drop through the day, and a fairly nice week is ahead.

Not surprisingly, we are in the heart of the "dog days" of Summer, a 40-day period which began in early July and ends exactly two weeks from yesterday. There have been two heat waves this month, including the record-setting seven-day heat wave from July 14 through July 20. There have been 11 days this month with a high temperature of 90 degrees or more. In fact, all but five days this month have been warmer than normal.
 
In case you're wondering, the "dog days" of Summer run from July 3 through August 11 in the Northern Hemisphere and have to do with the star Sirius, known as "the dog star." Sirius is the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere other than the Sun, and it is found in the constellation Canis Major, thus the name "dog star."

In the Summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. During late July, Sirius is in "conjunction" with the Sun. The ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the Sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, the "dog days" after the dog star.

The conjunction of Sirius with the Sun varies somewhat with latitude. Although we are in the middle of the dog days of Summer right now, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. The heat of Summer is a direct result of the earth's 23.5 degree tilt on its axis, meaning the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during the Summer.

Skies will become mostly sunny later this afternoon with a high temperature in the lower 80s. Tonight will be mostly clear and comfortable with lows in the 50s inland and lower 60s along the coast. Tomorrow and Wednesday promise to be beautiful days under mostly sunny skies, high temperatures close to 80 degrees and dew points in the 50 to mid 60s later Wednesday. The "dog days" of Summer are coming to a close.

Paul 

A Summer Reality Check

The dramatic change in weather yesterday was nothing short of incredible. Just days after the first-ever seven-day heat wave across southwestern Connecticut, the temperature didn't escape the low-to-mid 60s Thursday afternoon. In fact, it felt more like early October rather than late July. Last Sunday marked one month since the Summer Solstice, and you've probably already begun to notice the subtle changes across southwestern Connecticut.

Here's another point to ponder. This Sunday marks the midway point of Summer vacation for my younger son. How is that possible? It seems like only yesterday we were helping them celebrate the last day of school. That was more than four weeks ago. In less than five short weeks, the students and teachers will be heading back to the classroom once again.

The days are indeed getting "shorter." In fact, we have lost nearly 40 minutes of daylight since the first day of Summer. Sunrise on June 21st happened at 5:19. This morning's Sunrise was at 5:43, 24 minutes later. Sunset is now at 8:15, 15 minutes before the latest Sunset, at 8:30, on the Solstice.

By the end of the month, Sunrise occurs at 5:47, while the Sun sets at 8:10. Two weeks later, by mid-August, the shorter days become even more pronounced, with Sunrise and Sunset times at 6:02 and 7:51, respectively. The "shorter" days have to do with the Earth's revolution around the Sun, and the 23.5 degree tilt on its axis. By the end of September, the Autumnal Equinox begins a six-month period of longer nights and shorter days in the Northern Hemisphere.

Need further proof that we're moving through Summer rather quickly? My favorite NFL team, the New England Patriots, open training camp today. Their first exhibition game is less than two weeks away, Thursday, August 9, against the Eagles in Philadelphia. Before you know it, the regular season will be here.

Our weather will improve today under developing sunshine and warmer temperatures. Today's high will reach close to 80 degrees, which is slightly below normal for this time of the year. Tomorrow will feature a mix of sun and clouds, but it will be more humid, with a high in the low 80s. Sunday will be warm and humid with scattered thunderstorms and a high in the low 80s. Have a good weekend.

Paul

Dew Point Streak Unprecedented

This month will long be remembered for the longest heat wave on record in southwestern Connecticut. The mercury topped 90 degrees for seven straight days from Sunday, July 14, through Saturday, July 20. The previous record of six straight 90-degree days happened twice, July 7 through July 12, 1993, and July 16 through July 21, 1991.

However, another impressive streak is unprecedented in these parts. The dew point has climbed to 70 degrees or above for 30 straight days. That dwarfs the previous record of 21 straight days in 1988. When the dew point reaches 65 degrees or higher, it becomes uncomfortable. The air is tropical and oppressive once the dew point reaches 70 degrees. This has happened every day for over four weeks!

Take a look at the following chart created by local climatologist Ralph Fato. It shows the maximum number of consecutive days with dew points of 70 degrees or higher over the last 30 years. Notice that 23 of the 30 years had the highest number of consecutive days with 70+ dew points in the single digits. Six of the previous 30 years had streaks in the double-digits, including 16 straight days in 1995, 2003, and 2010. There was a 15-day streak in 1994. Click the chart to enlarge.

As for the heat, the average temperature this month is 80.6 degrees, making this the hottest July and hottest month ever on record. That's 6.5 degrees above normal and 2.2 degrees above the record of 78.4 degrees in 1994. All but two days this month have been warmer-than-normal, and there have been eight days with an average temperature of at least 10 degrees above normal. The warmest temperature this month was 95 degrees on July 16.

The dew point should hold close to 70 degrees after midnight tonight before it begins to drop into the 60s tomorrow. The streak will finally come to a close Thursday when dew points are expected to drop into the 50s across the region. By that time, we'll finally have a chance to breathe. This month has been record setting as far as heat and humidity are concerned. Quite frankly, I can't wait for Autumn.

Paul