PREVIOUS WEATHER REPORTS

First frost of the season

By Russell Russ

The month’s high temperature of 78 degrees was observed on September 4. The low temperature of 38 degrees was observed on both September 20 and 26. The average mean temperature this month was 57.8 degrees, just 0.9 degree below normal. The first frost of the season came on the morning of September 20 when it was seen in scattered low lying locations. There was also scattered frost on September 21 and a more widespread frost on September 26.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 2.33 inches, exactly half the normal amount for September. For the year 2009 through September, the total precipitation amount was 42.84 inches, which is 3.82 inches above normal.

After a long, wet summer it was nice to have a break from all the rain. We had our fair share of warm, pleasant days this month. There were no late summer heat waves that we can sometimes see in early September. The cooler temperatures and shorter hours of daylight once again brought on the fall colors. Some people were saying that the fall foliage would be spectacular this year due to the wet summer. We did see good coloring early, which lasted through the end of the month. Perhaps the maples let us down a little this year, but has there ever been a bad foliage year? Some people would say definitely not, they are all spectacular. Was this year any different than previous years? By mid October we will know the answer.

Finally some summer weather

By Russell Russ

With one month to go in the summer season we finally got some summer-like weather. If you were missing those hot, humid days of summer you finally got to enjoy some this month. Has global warming reduced Norfolk’s summer down to just one month? Does global warming have anything to do with it? These are very good questions that make for great conversations and give writers a great deal to write about. It seems that there are many opinions, but so far no definitive answers.

The month’s low temperature of 47 degrees was observed on August 8. The high temperature of 86 was observed on August 17. The average mean temperature this month was 68.0 degrees, 1.8 degrees above normal. We haven’t been above normal since May when we were just barely above normal. There were no individual days with record temperatures, but we did see 12 days with temperatures at or above 80 degrees. On average Norfolk reaches 90 or above 2.5 times per year. This typically occurs in July or August. The highest temperature recorded this year was 88 degrees and that occurred on April 28.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 5.69 inches, 1.16 inches above normal. August’s rainfall was above average, but not record setting by any means. There were only four thunderstorms observed at the station this month. For the year 2009 through August, the total precipitation amount was 40.51 inches, 6.15 inches above normal.

Norfolk’s June and July combined rainfall total of 18.37 inches made it the wettest June and July combination in the last 78 years. Norfolk’s June, July and August total was 24.06 inches, third wettest on record for that period. This summer was only surpassed by 1986 (24.32) and 1955 (27.91). The record setting summer of 1955 was quite dry until August weighed in with The Flood of ’55. The August total alone that year was 23.67 inches, still to this day, by far the record rainfall for any month.

For some perspective, with 18.51 inches recorded for June, July and August, it was Albany, NY’s third wettest summer dating back to 1826. Other regional summer amounts were Hartford, CT (20.29), Poughkeepsie, NY (20.47), Pittsfield, MA (23.01) and Bennington, VT (17.98). The summer of 2009 was definitely a wet one for the entire Northeast.

Another cool and very wet summer month

By Russell Russ

With 18 of 31 days recording measurable rainfall and only four days that were classified as being mostly clear, it was another cloudy, cool and very wet month. It was Norfolk’s second consecutive summer month with near record cool temperatures and near greatest amounts of rainfall.

The month’s low temperature 46 degrees was observed on July 13. The high temperature of 82 was observed on June 28. The average mean temperature this month was 65.1 degrees, 2.9 degrees below normal. There were no individual days with record temperatures, but it was the fifth coolest month of July in the last 78 years. There was only one day with a high temperature at or above 80 degrees.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 8.84 inches, 4.59 inches above normal. It was the fourth wettest month of July in the last 78 years. Norfolk’s wettest July on record was in 1996 with 11.47 inches. There were nine thunderstorms observed at the station this month. For the year 2009, through July, the total precipitation amount was 34.82 inches. Through July we are now 4.99 inches above normal.

Our official way of recording rainfall for the National Weather Service is to include monthly rainfall up to 8:00 a.m. on the last day of the month. Taking into account the rain that fell during the late morning to afternoon of July 31 the monthly total for July would have (could have) been 10.41 inches. It would have (could have) been the second wettest July on record, but officially it ended up as the fourth wettest. Don’t even ask why it is recorded this way, it is just how the government requires us to do it.

The summer of 2009 did break one rainfall record, and it doesn’t matter how you total it up, it still was the wettest June and July monthly combination in the last 78 years. With an official combined rainfall total of 18.37 inches it was the wettest June and July combination on record. It surpassed 1945 with 17.91 inches, 1986 with 17.31 inches and 2000 with 16.72 inches. If it is your summer vacation it is obviously not the best record to break.

Near Record Rainfall

By Russell Russ

June was a cloudy, cool and wet month with temperatures below average and rainfall amounts at near record levels. Out of June’s 30 days there were 22 days with measurable rainfall. There were only two days that were classified as mostly clear. It definitely was not a typical summer month for Norfolk.

The month’s low temperature of 36 degrees was observed on June 1 and the high temperature of 80 degrees was observed on June 25. There were no individual days with temperature records this month, but it was the sixteenth coolest month of June in the last 78 years. The average mean temperature this month was 61.7 degrees, 1.6 degrees below normal. There was only one day with a high temperature at or above 80 degrees.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 9.53 inches, an impressive 4.83 inches above normal. It was the second wettest month of June in the last 78 years, surpassed only by June 1986 which recorded 10.41 inches. There were six thunderstorms observed at the station this month. One of the thunderstorms during the evening of June 15 produced a trace amount of pea-sized hail at the station. There were reports near Wangum Lake of a substantial ground covering of hail from that particular storm.

For the year 2009, through June, the total precipitation amount was 25.98 inches, 0.40 inches above normal. Through May we were 4.43 inches below normal.

An Average May for Norfolk

By Russell Russ

The month’s low temperature of 31 degrees was observed on May 19. The high temperature of 84 degrees was observed on May 21. Interestingly, the month’s low and high temperatures occurred just about 57 hours apart. The average mean temperature this month was 55.2 degrees, just 0.6 degrees above the May normal.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 4.75 inches, just 0.4 inches above normal. For the 2009 calendar year, through May, the total precipitation amount is 16.45 inches, 4.43 inches below normal.

There was not even a trace of snowfall this month. The May normal snowfall amount is 0.4 inches. For the calendar year, through May, the total snowfall amount is 56.9 inches, 9.4 inches below normal. A final look at the 2008-09 winter season snowfall amount shows that Norfolk recorded 78.9 inches from October through May. This is 12.3 inches below normal. The last measurable snowfall came way back on March 9 and since then we have only had trace amounts through April and none in May.

On May 7, 9 and 16 there was some thunder accompanying rain events, but no big thunder and lightning storms were observed. We did have a number of cool evenings during the middle part of the month. Frost was seen at the weather station during the early morning of May 19, when some lower elevation locations around town dipped into the mid to upper 20’s. The weather was beautiful for everyone for Norfolk’s Memorial Day parade and road race.

Record Setting Warmth

By Russell Russ

The month’s low temperature of 26 degrees was observed on April 13 and the high temperature of 88 degrees was observed on April 28. There were four days with record setting high temperatures. The high temperatures of 85 on April 25, 82 on April 26 and 87 on April 27 all broke old record highs for these dates. The high temperature of 88 on April 28 tied the record high for that date. The average mean temperature this month was 46.6 degrees, 3.7 degrees above normal. Over the last 78 years this was Norfolk’s eighth warmest April. April 2008 was the third warmest.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 3.18 inches, 1.17 inches below normal. There were three minor thunderstorms observed, one on April 3 and two separate ones on April 22. With only a trace of snowfall this month we were 6.3 inches below normal for snowfall.

For the year 2009, the total precipitation amount is now 11.7 inches, 4.83 inches below normal. The snowfall total for this same period is 56.9 inches, 9 inches below normal. The snowfall total for this winter season, October through April, is now at 78.9 inches, which is 11.9 inches below normal.

Conditions were cooler and wetter than normal for the first half of the month, but it cleared out and warmed up to finish off the second half. The dry and warm weather briefly raised the forest fire danger level for a few days. Many people noticed that the grass greened up almost overnight on April 20. After four straight days of record setting warmth, April finished with freeze warnings being issued. In a span of about 13 hours, between the late afternoon of April 28 and the early morning of April 29, the temperature dropped from 88 degrees to 41 degrees. Good old New England weather.

From Snowstorm to Thunderstorm

By Russell Russ

The month’s low temperature of 2 degrees was observed on March 3. The high temperature of 60 degrees was observed on March 28. Norfolk was nowhere near any temperature records this month, high or low. The average mean temperature this month was 32.4 degrees, 1.8 degrees above the March normal.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 2.80 inches, 1.69 inches below normal. March’s snowfall total was 14.2 inches, 4.2 inches below normal. At the weather station we lost our snow cover on March 29. There had been a continuous snow cover since December 17, 2008.

For the year 2009 through March the total precipitation amount is 8.52 inches, 3.66 inches below normal. The snowfall total for this same period is 56.9 inches, 2.7 inches below normal. The snowfall total for this winter season, October through March, is now at 78.9 inches. This is 5.6 inches below normal for this time period.

March came in like a lion with our largest snow event of the season starting in the late evening of March 1 and continuing into the afternoon of March 2. Overall the storm dumped a total of 12.7 inches of snow at the weather station. There were some higher totals recorded in other parts of Litchfield County. After this snowstorm we had relatively little snowfall for the rest of the month. We did not see any strong nor’easters this month. It is fairly common to be hit by at least one in March, often leaving Norfolk with some impressive snowfall totals. There was a thunderstorm with reports of hail during the evening of March 29.

This year both Tobey Pond and Wangum Lake lost their ice on March 30. This was almost two weeks earlier than last year, but about the same as in 2007. Typically the ice goes out between late March and the first or second week of April.

A fairly typical February for Norfolk

By Russell Russ

The month’s low temperature of minus 1 degree was observed on February 5. The high temperature of 54 degrees was observed on February 11, which tied a record high temperature for that date set on February 11, 1981. A high temperature of 53 degrees on February 27 set a new record high for that date, beating out the old record of 52 degrees set on that date back in 1976. The average mean temperature this month was 24.8 degrees, 3 degrees above the norm.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 2.24 inches, 1.38 inches below normal. February’s snowfall total was 17.6 inches, 2.6 inches below normal. There was snow cover on the ground at the station every day this month with depths ranging from 10 to 17 inches. The snowfall total for this winter season (October through February) is now at 64.7 inches, 1.4 inches below normal. So far, for the two months of 2009 we are at 42.7 inches of snowfall, 1.5 inches above normal and 5.72 inches for total precipitation, 1.97 inches below normal.

Twice this month, measurements were taken to determine the amount of water that was sitting on the ground in the form of snow and ice. On February 15, there were 3.4 inches of water equivalent in the 10 inches of snow and ice on the ground. On February 25, there were 4.5 inches of water equivalent in the 17 inches of snow and ice on the ground. This will become important to forecasters as we approach the spring thaw.

No global warming in Norfolk this month

By Russell Russ

The month’s low temperature of minus 12 degrees was observed on January 17. This tied a record low temperature for that date. January 17, 1971 also reached a low of minus 12 degrees. The high temperature of 40 degrees was observed on January 23. The average mean temperature this month was 15.5 degrees, 4.8 degrees below the January normal. This was colder than normal, but nowhere near record levels.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 3.48 inches, 0.53 inches below normal. January’s snowfall total was 25.1 inches, 3.4 inches above normal. There was snow cover on the ground at the station every day this month with depths ranging from 4 to 15 inches. The snowfall total for this Winter Season (October through January) is now at 47.1 inches. This is just 1.1 inches above normal. With no measurable snowfall in November we have made up for it during December and January.

This month, icebows were observed on two separate mornings. On January 20, a beautiful full icebow was visible for over an hour and on January 27, a partial one was also visible. An icebow is a unique phenomenon which generally occurs in colder climates. When the air temperature is very cold and there are high thin clouds the light from the low on the horizon sun refracts through the ice crystals in the clouds resulting in a band, or bow, of color. We were lucky enough to see this occurrence last January as well.

A note of apology to all the ‘weather nuts’ out there who enjoy viewing Norfolk’s weather conditions via the Internet. In January, Great Mountain Forest’s Davis Vantage Pro weather station malfunctioned for the last time, and had to be removed. The good news is that a new Davis Vantage Pro 2 station will be fully operational in February. The new station is fitted with a heater that should help with precipitation measurements in situations where the temperatures are below freezing. In these conditions, the precipitation readings may still not be perfect, but they should be more reliable than they were with the old station. Remember the station that you see on the Internet is our ‘just for fun’ station and not the official one, which is used to report to the National Weather Service.

You can access Norfolk’s Great Mountain Forest weather by going to our Web site, greatmountainforest.org, or by just doing a search for Norfolk, CT weather or Great Mountain Forest weather. Log on and enjoy.

Record setting month closes a record setting year

By Russell Russ

Here are the weather highlights from December 2008 as recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2 SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. Norfolk 2 SW has completed its seventy seventh year of recording weather observations.

The month’s high temperature of 56 degrees was observed on December 10. The low temperature of 5 degrees was observed on December 22. The average temperature this month was 27.6 degrees, 3 degrees above normal.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 8.45 inches, 3.87 inches above normal. It was the fifth wettest December since we began observations in 1932. It was very nearly the third wettest December. The snowfall total was 20.0 inches. This was 2.5 inches above normal. The snowstorm on December 19 was the largest, dumping 8 inches at the station. We picked up a total of 15.5 inches of snow between December 19 and December 21. Even though the temperature hit 48 degrees on December 25 it was another white Christmas in Norfolk.

As described in January’s issue there was a damaging ice storm on December 11 and 12. Many homes in the area lost power from downed lines due to broken branches and toppled trees. Some homes were out for days. Norfolk had some damage, but we were much more fortunate than our neighbors up in Massachusetts who really got the brunt of the ice damage.

After freezing and thawing a few times beginning on December 7 most local ponds and lakes, including Tobey Pond and Wangum Lake, froze over for good on December 18. This was about two weeks later than last year. It would have been similar to last year had it not been for a few days in the mid-50 degree range during the middle part of the month.

In review of Norfolk’s weather for the 2008 calendar year it was a little warmer than average and much wetter than average. The yearly mean temperature was 46.0 degrees, 1.6 degrees above average. Interestingly, this is exactly what last year’s yearly mean temperature was. The average yearly mean temperature for the last ten years is 46.2 degrees. The year of 2008 was the fourth wettest year since 1932 when we began observations. The yearly total precipitation amount was 68.21 inches, 15.72 inches above average and 20.04 inches more than we measured last year. Snowfall for the year totaled 77.0 inches. This was 19.1 inches below average, but by no means a record for least amount of yearly snowfall.

My closing comment from last year’s yearly review seems to still be appropriate so I will use it again for this year. A common statement being made these days by many weather experts is that we can expect to see big swings in both temperature and precipitation. For now, it appears that they seem to know what they are talking about.

December Storm Summary

December’s weather started out quietly with the first ten days being relatively normal with not much recorded precipitation; then came the ice storm of December 11 and 12. This ice storm was a classic example showing how important elevation is to what we get in the way of precipitation. With the general cut-off line of 1,000 feet in elevation there was a marked difference in the way we experienced this storm. Below 1,000 feet there was mostly just rain, but above it there was rain and damaging freezing rain. The higher you went in elevation the more ice you had on your trees and power lines. Winsted and Canaan had minimal ice while many parts of Norfolk and Colebrook had upwards of one quarter of an inch of ice build-up. Just over the Massachusetts line the damage was even worse. Power was knocked out in many parts of the region for days.

You could just tell we were in for trouble when on the afternoon of December 10 the temperature dropped nearly 10 degrees between 2:00 pm and 2:15 pm. At 2:00 pm it was 55 degrees and by 5:00 pm it was 38 degrees. Starting back on December 10 here are some rain totals. From December 10 at 2:00 am to December 11 at 8:00 am we recorded 1.12 inches from rain and rain showers. From December 11 at 8:00 am to December 12 at 10:30 am we recorded 3.30 inches of rain and freezing rain. Here in Norfolk we made it through most of the day on December 11 with mostly just rain, but then during the late evening and into the early hours of December 12 the ice began to build and that is when much of the damage occurred. All night long and into the daylight hours of December 12 you could hear the “pops” and “crashes” of branches and whole trees breaking from the weight of the ice. On the Great Mountain Forest property the roads were a mess. Many trees and branches blocked miles of our woods roads. After a few days of clean- up we managed to at least cut our way through a good portion of our road network. With the roads scheduled to be closed for vehicles at the season’s first significant snow it was a rush to make them passable for skiers while we could still drive in.

Then the snow hit. The snow began about 12:00 noon on December 19 and continued to fall at a moderate to heavy rate until about 9:00 pm. There was nearly 7 inches of snow by 5:00 pm. In total we recorded 8 inches of snow from this storm. The totals from all over the state ranged from 4 inches to 10 inches. It snowed off and on all day on December 20 where we recorded 2.5 inches. It snowed again during the morning and afternoon of December 21 leaving us with an additional 5 inches on the ground.

Looking at the monthly totals through December 22 we are at 18.3 inches for snowfall, already almost one inch over the normal December monthly total. We have measured 7.20 inches of total precipitation during this same period, already 2.62 inches over the normal monthly total. And, more rain is in the forecast for the coming days.

With November and early December being relatively dry and snow free these two weeks in December were big reminders of what Norfolk can experience for winter weather. In early December everyone was wondering if we would be having another warm winter without much snow, but if these last two weeks are any indication of what is to come, then we better buckle up for a good old fashioned Norfolk roller coaster winter.