Today Marks 11th Anniversary of Presidents Day Blizzard

Today marks the 11th 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.

Another snow event is expected later today into early tomorrow afternoon. This next system, however, will pale in comparison to the blizzard 11 years ago today. Two-to-three inches of snow are possible by Tuesday afternoon before much milder air arrives by the middle of the week. In fact, the mercury may come close to 50 degrees by Friday with some light rain.

Paul

Blizzard Crippled Region 56 Years Ago Today

According to our weather record book, over a foot of snow fell on this date, Sunday, February 16, 1958. A front-page article from The Bridgeport Post dated Monday, February 17, states "The prostrate Fairfield County area today began to shake off the crippling effects of a howling blizzard which slammed into the region late Saturday and dumped 14 inches of snow before tapering off late last night."

Sustained winds were clocked at 20 to 30 miles an hour during the height of the storm, and wind gusts reached as high as 55 miles an hour. There were eight deaths reported in Connecticut as a result of the storm, including one in Stratford and three others in Fairfield County. Snow drifts reached as high as 15 feet in some places, and schools and many factories were shut down.

Making matters worse, the temperature dropped to near zero inland the following morning. Back roads were described as impossible to navigate due to the high snow drifts. A spokesman for United Illuminating Company reported that the service crews and office staff were nearly 100 percent on duty throughout the storm. Crews concentrated on snow removal operations around substation sites. Fortunately, electric service during the blizzard continued uninterrupted, according to UI officials.

I am always fascinated about local weather history. I subscribe to a Web site which archives local newpapers, including The Bridgeport Telegram and The Bridgeport Post. Naturally, I typed in the date and found the front-page articles about the blizzard. I enjoy looking at the headlines and reading the stories in the newspaper. You can click on the images to enlarge them and read more about the blizzard which happened over a half-century ago today.

Paul

Snowy February Continues

Another burst of snow developed late this afternoon as an Alberta clipper moved across the region. The snow began falling early this afternoon, and it became steadier after 4 o'clock. The storm was a quick-mover, and by 8 o'clock the snow shield moved away to the East. However, the storm exploded, and heavy snow fell across Cape Cod and extreme eastern Massachusetts.

Officially, 1.5" of snow fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Bridgeport, bringing the monthly total to just about two-and-a-half feet (29.3"). It was also the sixth day out of 15 (40%) with measured snow this month. The total snow for the season is nearly four-and-a-half feet (53.4").

The snow caused hazardous driving conditions, as temperatures fell from a high of 37 degrees at 12:37 p.m. into the low-to-mid 30s during the late-afternoon. The daily low temperature was 25 degrees at 3:41 a.m. The wind gusted over 20 miles an hour with a high wind speed of 30 mph and a high gust speed of 46 mph out of the Northwest. I took these photos during the late-afternoon snow at my home.

Paul

Full Snow Moon Quite Appropriate for This Month

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 it this evening and early tonight. The Full Snow Moon happens at 6:53 p.m. EST. The Moon will rise at 5:28 p.m. local time this afternoon and set at 6:45 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

Classic Nor'easter Delivers Over a Foot of Snow to Southwestern Connecticut

A classic February Nor'easter delivered heavy snow and strong winds to southwestern Connecticut yesterday, nearly paralyzing local roads and closing schools. The heavy snow pushed the season's total well over four feet. The snow began falling lightly just after 1 o'clock Thursday morning, and the heaviest snow fell between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Here is the surface map from 7 a.m.

There were white-out conditions during the morning with snow rates of one-to-three inches an hour. Another round of light snow developed early this morning, padding the snow totals. Cumulatively, nearly a foot-and-a-half of snow fell in Darien and Fairfield, and over a foot of snow was reported in New Canaan, Weston, Norwalk, Stamford, and Sikorsky Memorial Airport. Here are the snowfall totals from February 13 & 14 for southwestern Connecticut.

The storm's cumulative snow total of 12.2" at the airport pushed the monthly snowfall to 27.8" through February 14. It also marked the fifth day with measured snow in two weeks. Local climatologist Ralph Fato created this video showing the key highlights of the storm. The snow tapered off later in the afternoon.



Paul

Today Marks Eighth Anniversary of Record-Setting Snowstorm

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the record-setting snowstorm of Sunday, February 12, 2006. New York City's largest snowstorm ever was classified as a category three major storm. Low pressure formed over the Southeastern United States and moved Northeast off the mid Atlantic coast by Saturday evening, February 11.

The storm then intensified as it moved to the East-Northeast, passing South of Long Island on Sunday morning, February 12. A very intense band of heavy snow developed, producing snowfall rates as high as two-to-four inches an hour across extreme Southeastern New York and across much of Southern New England.

Here is a sampling of the official snowfall totals from across southwestern Connecticut following that memorable snowstorm:

• West Redding: 28"
• Easton: 27"
• Stamford: 24.5"
• Darien: 22.5"
• Norwalk: 22"
• New Canaan: 21.5" 
• Fairfield: 18"
• Stratford: 13"
• Bridgeport: 12.5"

Here is video of the storm taken in Stamford where two feet of snow fell:



The storm closed regional airports, canceling hundreds of flights and for several hours virtually paralyzing normal traffic for city residents who took to the snow-caked streets in snowshoes and skis. New York municipal authorities had braced for the onslaught. Five-thousand workers at the New York City Department of Sanitation were put in place to use about 2,000 pieces of heavy equipment, including 350 salt spreaders and 20 snow-melting machines.

The National Weather Service said 26.9 inches of snowfall was measured in Central Park, exceeding the previous record of 26.4 inches, set in December 1947. The Winter storm's high winds, icy snow, thunder and lightning hit much of the mid-Atlantic and New England region, with parts of Arkansas and Tennessee also feeling the brunt of the storm.

"It's certainly the strongest storm this winter season," said Bruce Sullivan, an official with the National Weather Service. It hit a fairly large area, with accumulations of more than 20 inches of snow throughout New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Power also was out at thousands of homes and businesses in the New York City metropolitan area, including southwestern Connecticut.

Next Monday, February 17, marks the 11th anniversary of the Presidents Day snowstorm of 2003. That was one of the largest snowstorms in New York City's weather record books, too. I'll take a closer look at that storm next week.

Paul