Hot Air Balloon Experiment Highlights First Weatherkids Visit of the Season

Paul

Discovery Magnet School's Fourth Graders Kick Off New Weatherkids Season

Paul

September Slightly Cooler and Drier Than Normal

September was a fairly quiet month across southwestern Connecticut, although the month featured a wide range of temperatures and much of the last half of September was dry. The average daily temperature last month at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford was 65.2 degrees, which is exactly one degree below normal. More than two-and-a-half inches of rain (2.72") fell, which is well below the 3.48" normal for September.

Eighteen of the 30 days last month were cooler-than-normal, including eight of the last nine days. The warmest stretch of weather occurred from September 10th through the 12th when the high temperatures were 80, 90, and 85 degrees, respectively. However, the mercury didn't climb above 72 degrees over the last eight days of the month. The warmest temperature was 90 degrees on September 11th, and the coolest temperature was 44 degrees on September 24th for a 46-degree range.

There were only seven days with measured rain last month. Three of them, though, brought less than five-hundredths of an inch of rain. The two wettest days were September 12th (1.28") and September 22 (1.13"). Otherwise, the two remaining rainy days delivered less than a quarter-inch of rain. The last eight days of September were rain-free, and only two of the last 17 days saw any measured rain. Here is the climatological summary for last month. Please click to enlarge.

This year's weather has been nothing short of dramatic. We've experienced the second driest April on record, the second wettest June on record, the first-ever seven-day heat wave in July, and a cool August. The weather adversely affected the growing season, which was apparent at last week's Connecticut Giant Squash and Pumpkin Growers' Association's annual Weigh-Off in Ridgefield. However, the recent stretch of sunny days and cool nights should provide for splendid Autumn foliage viewing across the Northeast.

Our stretch of fair weather continues today with sunshine mixing with high-level clouds and a high temperature in the mid 70s. Tonight will become mostly cloudy and mild with patchy fog and a low near 60. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a possible shower and a high in the lower 70s. The weekend will be partly sunny and humid with daytime highs holding close to 75 degrees. Much-needed rain arrives early next week.

Paul

Welcome to October

October is my favorite month of the year for a variety of reasons. Naturally, we begin to experience Autumn across southwestern Connecticut, and the pleasant temperatures afford us the opportunity to enjoy the many outdoor activities planned throughout the month. Whether it be a hayride with the family, a visit to a pumpkin patch, or a seat at the local high school football game, October is just about the ideal month to be outside.

However, the last two Octobers have been anything but quiet and tranquil around these parts. I'm sure you remember the unusual early Autumn Nor'easter which delivered record-breaking October snow and massive power outages across Connecticut the weekend of October 29 and 30, 2011. 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, October 29, 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. There were more than 760,000 customers of Connecticut Light and Power and 9,000 United Illuminating customers without power Monday morning, October 31. Many school systems were closed or had delayed openings Halloween morning.

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, October 29.

Last year, Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the Eastern seaboard with powerful winds, record-low pressure, and historic tidal surges. The hurricane, which brought heavy rain and flooding across the mid-Atlantic region, made its heralded landfall near Atlantic City, N.J., around 8 p.m. Monday evening, October 29. It arrived slightly earlier than originally projected because it had picked up speed, moving at about 28 mph.

Although our region was spared the heavy rainfall, winds increased throughout the day Monday, reaching a peak wind gust of 76 miles-an-hour at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford Monday evening. The hurricane-force gusts resulted in massive power outages, downed trees and power lines, and three deaths in Connecticut.

Unfortunately, the storm came during a Full Moon, causing a storm surge of 10 feet at Bridgeport harbor late Monday night. Sandy's strength and angle of approach combined to produce a record storm surge of water into New York City. The surge level at Battery Park topped 13.88 feet at 9:24 p.m. Monday, surpassing the 10.02 feet record water level set by Hurricane Donna in 1960.

The local shoreline communities, especially Fairfield and Milford, were hit hardest. Many homes, which had been hammered by Tropical Storm Irene just over a year earlier, were severely damaged or destroyed by Sandy. Here is a video of the storm surge at nearby St. Mary's by the Sea in Bridgeport.

                    
 
Flooding prevented some homeowners from even getting to their homes near the beach in Fairfield. People were getting around by kayaks and canoes in the shoreline neighborhood, which was buzzing with the sound of pumps taking water out of houses. At one point Tuesday, United Illuminating reported that 100% of its Fairfield customers were without power. Schools were closed at least through Friday, and Fairfield Ludlowe High School opened a shelter for displaced residents and pets.

An Easton volunteer firefighter died while clearing debris in front of a fire truck Monday night on Judd Road. Lt. Russell Neary was struck by a falling limb. The body of a missing 34-year-old man, who was seen swimming in the heavy surf after jumping from a pier Monday evening, was recovered in Milford. Also, a 90-year-old Mansfield woman was killed and two family members were seriously injured when a tree fell on them during the storm Monday.

Hopefully, this October will be much quieter. Temperatures begin to cool dramatically throughout the month. In fact, the average daily mean temperature at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford falls from 60 degrees October 1 to 50 degrees by Halloween. The average daily high temperature drops from 69 degrees to 58 degrees, and the overnight low cools from 52 degrees to 42 by the end of the month.

The warmest temperature ever recorded in October in southwestern Connecticut was 89 degrees, which was set October 8 of 2007. That broke the previous mark of 86 degrees set on October 6, 1997. It occurred one day after another record high of 78 degrees was established on October 7, 2007. The mercury also hit 85 degrees on October 10, 1949.

The warmest October on record, not surprisingly, happened six years ago (2007) when the mercury averaged 61.8 degrees, breaking the previous mark of 60.2 degrees in 1971. The coldest Octobers on record were in 1981 and 1988 when the temperature averaged 50.5 degrees. The coldest temperature ever recorded for the month was 26 degrees, set three times, most recently on Halloween of 1988. The other two times were on October 24, 1969, and October 20, 1972.

October’s average rainfall is 3.54 inches. The wettest October ever recorded happened in 1955 when 10.72 inches fell across southwestern Connecticut. On three occasions over four inches of rain fell in one day: October 7, 1972 (4.14″), October 15, 1955 (4.76″), and October 19, 1996 (4.12″). The driest October (0.33″) happened in 1963.

Daylight dramatically decreases during the month. October 1 we enjoy 11 hours and 45 minutes of daylight. The Sun rises at 5:49 and sets at 5:34. However, by the middle of the month, October 15, the Sun rises at 6:04 and sets at 5:12. By Halloween, after the return to standard time, we only have 10 hours and 26 minutes of daylight. Sunrise happens at 5:23 while it sets at 4:49 in the afternoon.

We don’t “fall back” to Eastern Standard Time until Sunday morning, November 3, at 2 o’clock. That’s when we set our clocks back one hour and gain one extra hour of sleep. Daylight Saving Time was extended for one month beginning in 2007 as a result of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. So, the Halloween trick-or-treaters will get one extra hour of daylight in the evening.

Happy October!

Paul

First Annual Ridgefield Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off a Tremendous Success

I had the pleasure of being the master of ceremonies at the first annual Ridgefield Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off yesterday at Ballard Park on Main Street. The event, which is sponsored by the Connecticut Giant Squash and Pumpkin Growers' Association, was previously held in Fairfield for several years before the venue was moved to Ridgefield this year.

Growers from across the Northeast, including Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, participated in the event. Most of the growers lamented this year's weather, which adversely affected the growth of their pumpkins. The dry April, wet June, brutally hot July, and unseasonably cool August resulted in just one pumpkin with a weight over 1,000 pounds. The winning entry came from Fairfield's Nick Huydic, who was pleased after his pumpkin tipped the scales at 1,290.5 pounds.

Second place was awarded to Chris Adams of New London, pictured below, who grew a 981-pound pumpkin. He took part in his first pumpkin weigh-off and was pleased with the result. Third place went to Mark Lombardi of Milford with a weight of 974 pounds, and the fourth-place finisher was Eddie Giarusso of Prudence Island, Rhode Island with a 968.5 pound entry.

The weather and setting of the event were picture-perfect with mostly sunny skies, a light breeze, and temperatures in the upper 60s. Steve Maydan, a regular participant when the event was held in Fairfield, spearheaded the change of venue and did a tremendous job planning and organizing it. The Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce partnered with the club to host the event. Chamber executive director Marion Roth greeted the huge crowd and was thrilled with the turnout.

In addition to the dozen pumpkins which were weighed, Dr. David Garrell of Fairfield, who previously hosted the event at Penfield Pavilion, took home the prize for the longest gourd, and there was a winner for the biggest green squash. I was helped by several Ridgefield children, who assisted me by keeping a huge chart with the results and holding the names of each of the contestants as his pumpkin was being weighed. It was a fabulous event and one which has become an annual tradition for me.

Paul

Today Marks 28th Anniversary of Hurricane Gloria

The tropics are fairly quiet this morning, and we haven't had much to worry about so far this year. However, that wasn't the case 28 years ago today. That's when southwestern Connecticut residents were bracing for Hurricane Gloria, which caused significant damage and destruction to the Northeast the next day.

I was a rookie educator at the time, having just secured my first position as a seventh grade teacher in a self-contained classroom at a private school in New Haven. Weather was my passion, naturally, and I was able to share my excitement at the upcoming storm. Just three weeks into the profession, I received a week's vacation unexpectedly.

I was also a weekend newscaster and disc jockey at WMMM radio in Westport. I received a phone call from program director Gary Zenobia just after I returned home from school on Thursday afternoon requesting that I host an overnight newscast to inform our listeners about the impending storm and emergency measures which may have to be taken. WMMM was a daytime-only station, meaning it was on the air during daylight hours and signed off at sunset, but this time it was granted an exception by the Federal Communications Commission.

As my family was applying tape to picture windows, securing lawn furniture, stocking up on non-perishable food, and checking batteries for flashlights and portable radios, I was packing a bag for my overnight stay at the radio station. We had a few reporters "on location" at various shelters throughout town, and then-First Selectman William Seiden joined me on the air most of the night to reassure listeners that their safety was our primary concern.

The overnight hours were anxious moments for all of us as we awaited the arrival of the storm. Local shelters began to fill up quickly, and I remember answering the telephone every couple of minutes from town residents who were sharing their concerns and fears. Gloria struck fast and furiously. The hurricane hit New York and Connecticut as a moderate hurricane early the next day. At the time of landfall on Long Island, Gloria had sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, while rapidly moving forward at 35 miles per hour.

This combination of sustained winds and rapid forward motion produced major hurricane conditions and gusts to 115 mph across a narrow area of Eastern Long Island, New York. Although Gloria was not a major hurricane when it struck Connecticut, it was still the most damaging hurricane to strike the state since Carol in 1954. The rain began overnight, and before long the winds became a serious matter.

As the morning wore on, Gloria continued to accelerate northward off the Eastern seaboard, brushing the coastlines of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey with hurricane-force gusts. Later that morning, Gloria finally crossed the coast of the United States mainland near western Long Island about 10-miles East of Kennedy International Airport. Passing over central Long Island, Gloria crossed the Connecticut coast near Bridgeport about 40 minutes later with sustained winds of 80 mph. By that time, I was already home, but there was no way I was going to go to sleep.

I vividly remember the eye of the hurricane passing almost directly overhead by midday. That's when the skies cleared, the winds calmed dramatically, and the damage was plainly visible. Downed trees, power lines, and debris scattered just about everywhere greeted us as we stepped outside. Naturally, the power was out, too, and we remained "in the dark" for almost six days. Needless to say, I didn't have to worry about any lesson plans for quite awhile.

There were very few wind reports near the area of landfall in New York and Connecticut due to the complete evacuation of Coast Guard personnel from stations across the region. The strongest official wind gust recorded on Long Island was 84 mph at Islip. In Connecticut, the National Weather Service at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford recorded sustained winds of 74 mph with a gust to 92 mph.

A barometric pressure of 28.37 inches was measured by aircraft when Gloria crossed Long Island. The National Weather Service at Kennedy International Airport recorded a minimum pressure of 28.57 inches, while Sikorsky Airport in Bridgeport, Connecticut, recorded a low pressure of 28.47 inches. This was the lowest barometric pressure recorded in Connecticut and New York since Donna in 1960, 25 years earlier.

Gloria produced weak Category Two hurricane conditions across southwestern Connecticut. The storm continued to lose intensity as it passed over Long Island. Peak wind gusts in south-central and southeastern Connecticut were close to 95 mph as the tropical cyclone swept over the region. The metropolitan New Haven area was hit with wind gusts of 90 mph and heavy rain. There were only a few reports of minimal structural damage in southwestern Connecticut. Tree damage in Connecticut was heavy within 10 to 20 miles of the coast, and along the coast from around Bridgeport to New London.

By late Friday afternoon, the storm was long gone, but the cleanup was just staring. Since the power was out, my family and I headed to nearby Bridgeport to have dinner at a restaurant which was operating on emergency generators. I still think of Gloria whenever I drive past that restaurant. In fact, I still have my framed certificate from Mr. Seiden thanking me for my service to Westport. It was a storm I'll never forget.

Paul