PREVIOUS WEATHER REPORTS

Fourth wettest April on record

By Russell Russ

Here are the weather highlights from April as recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

The month’s high temperature of 82 degrees was observed on April 23. This was a record high temperature for that date. It replaced the old record of 79 degrees set back in 1996. The low temperature of 17 degrees was observed on April 7. The average temperature this month was 41.3 degrees which was 1.3 degrees below normal. On April 11 the ice went out on both Tobey Pond and Wangum Lake. Last year the ice went out between March 28 and March 30. Typically, the ice goes out sometime between late March and the first or second week of April.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 7.62 inches. This was 3.18 inches above normal making this April the fourth wettest April in the last 75 years. For the record, April 1983 was first with 10.79 inches, followed by April 1987 with 8.65 inches and April 1996 with 8.20 inches. The nor’easter that hit the area on April 15 ended up dumping 4.95 inches of total precipitation, included in this total was the 3.5 inches of heavy wet snow that came at the start of the storm. The 4.5 inches of snowfall recorded for the month was 2.6 inches below the normal monthly snowfall amount.

Thanks to April’s rains the total precipitation for 2007 through April is 18.07 inches which is 1.43 inches above normal. The 2007 snow total of 42.5 inches is 26.6 inches below normal. This is potentially record setting for least amount of snowfall for a calendar year, but we must wait for this coming November and December to get our 2007 totals.

Our winter season (October through April) snowfall total was just 44.0 inches. Comparing this winter season to the last 75 years we were 52.1 inches below normal, ranking 2006-2007 as the season with the third least amount of snowfall. The least amount of snowfall for a winter season was 40.9 inches recorded in 1994-1995 followed by 43.7 inches recorded in 1991-1992.

Typical Mud Season in Norfolk

By Russell Russ

March 2007 weather highlights from Norfolk’s National weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, as recorded by the great Mountain Forest Corporation. The station has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

The month’s high temperature of 69 degrees was observed on March 14. This was a record high temperature for that date. It replaced the old record of 68 degrees set back in 1990. The low temperature of minus 5 degrees was observed on March 6. The average temperature this month was 30.4 degrees which was just 0.1 degree above normal.

This March saw nineteen days with measurable precipitation and unfortunately not many nice clear early spring days. The end result was a typical mud season in Norfolk. There were numerous days where we received only a little snow then it turned to rain or sleet or freezing rain. Norfolk usually will get more snow during these types of storms, but this year that snow line was to the north of us. Freezing rain on March 2 accumulated to about a quarter inch of ice on trees and wires causing some power outages throughout town. The storm on March 16 dumped 11 inches of snow at the station, but there were reports around town of 12 inches all the way up to 16 inches.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 4.72 inches which was 0.27 inches above normal. The 16.4 inches of snowfall recorded was 2.3 inches below the normal monthly snowfall amount.

Through the first quarter of 2007 we are 1.75 inches below normal for total precipitation and 24.0 inches below normal for snowfall. Our winter season (October through March) snowfall total through March is 39.5 inches. Comparing this winter season to date to the last 75 years we are now 49.0 inches below a normal winter season’s snowfall total.

We ended the month with ice still covering Tobey Pond and Wangum Lake. Last year the ice went out between March 28 and March 30. Typically, the ice goes out sometime between late March and the first or second week of April.

Winter came back with a cold and windy month

By Russell Russ

February 2007 weather highlights from Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, as recorded by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. The station has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

The month’s high temperature of 43 degrees was observed on February 20. The low temperature of minus 3 degrees was observed on February 19. The average temperature this month was 17.1 degrees which was 4.2 degrees below normal. Yes, below normal. The coldest temperature ever recorded (officially) in Connecticut, minus 37 degrees, occurred on February 16, 1943. It was observed in Norfolk at our “valley” station, located just off Westside Road. Our neighbors at the Falls Village Weather Service station on that date recorded minus 32 while our Norfolk 2SW station had minus 26 degrees.

Although it wasn’t a record setting cold month it sure felt like it at times with all the wind we had. There were at least eight days where we observed wind chill values at or below zero degrees and remember there were only 28 days this month. The coldest wind chill value we saw at the station was minus 28 degrees on February 19.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 2.73 inches which was 1.01 inches below normal. We did finally get some snow this month. The monthly snowfall total of 17.5 inches was 4.1 inches below normal. The winter storm on February 13 and 14 produced 6 inches of a nasty mixture of sleet and snow that proved to be quite difficult to shovel, plow or blow. For those who enjoy snow removal this particular storm took the fun right out of it.

Our Winter Season (October through April) snowfall total through February is 23.1 inches. Comparing this season to date to the last 75 years we are now 46.7 inches below a normal season’s snowfall total.

Finally some colder temperatures, but still not much snow

By Russell Russ

Here are the weather highlights from January 2007 as recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

The month’s high temperature of 62 degrees was recorded on January 6. This was a record warm temperature for that date beating the old record of 54 degrees set back in 1993. A high temperature of 56 degrees on January 5 was also a record warm temperature for that date beating the old record of 54 degrees also set back in 1993. The low temperature of 5 degrees below zero was recorded on January 26. Cold for this winter, but really fairly typical for a Norfolk January. A much warmer than normal first half of the month was followed by a normal to just below normal second half. The average temperature was 26.4 degrees which was 6.1 degrees above normal, but not record setting. Cold temperatures and high winds in the latter half of the month gave rise to numerous days recording wind chill values in the range of 10 to 30 degrees below zero. On January 17 both Tobey Pond and Wangum Lake finally froze over for the season. On January 26 Tobey’s ice depth was almost 7 inches.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 3.00 inches which was 1.01 inches below normal. The month’s 4.1 inches of total snowfall was 17.6 inches below normal. This was the second least amount of snowfall for a January in our 75 years of recording. January 1980 recorded the least snowfall for a January with 2.6 inches. Had we not received 2.3 inches of snow on January 30 this January would own that least snow amount record.

Our Winter Season (October 2006 through April 2007) snowfall total through January is only 5.6 inches. Comparing this season to date to the last 75 years we are now 42.6 inches below a normal season’s snowfall total. We are most likely pushing another record, but let’s get through February and March first. Those two months have dumped some serious snow on Norfolk in the past.

Norfolk’s December 2006 Weather & a Yearly Summary for 2006

December was another unusually warm month in an unusually warm year

By Russell Russ

Here are the weather highlights from December as recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932. The conclusion of 2006 marked the completion of 75 full years of weather recording for this station.

The month’s high temperature of 63 degrees was recorded on Dec. 1. The low temperature of 8 degrees was recorded on Dec. 8. We got a quick taste of some cold weather during the first full week of the month. A wind chill temperature of 13 degrees below zero was recorded during the morning of Dec. 8. The cold was short lived and all in all it was a much warmer than normal December. This month was the second warmest December observed in the last 75 years. The month’s average temperature was 34.6 degrees which was a whopping 10 degrees above normal. December of 2001 was warmest with an average temperature of 36.0 degrees. The monthly precipitation of 2.22 inches was 2.36 inches below normal. There was one thunderstorm in the early evening of Dec.1. National Weather Service radar indicated three possible tornados in the Litchfield County area that evening prompting them to issue a tornado warning for our area. There was some wind damage around Litchfield County, but officially no tornados formed. There were six days with snow flurries or light snow, but all that could be measured was a total of 1.5 inches, a full 16 inches below the monthly normal. This month recorded the third least amount of snow for a December since we began keeping records. December 1943 was first with only 0.6 inches and Dec. 1999 was second with only 1.3 inches of snow.

The yearly (January – December) precipitation total for 2006 was 56.16 inches. This was 3.67 inches above a normal year, but nothing too special. The snowfall total for the year was a mere 50.4 inches making it the fourth least snow total for any year since 1932. The other years with record little snow totals are 1998 with 33.0 inches, 1999 with 44.1 inches and 2004 with 49.5 inches. The average temperature for the year was 47.8 degrees making it tied with 2002 as our third warmest year in the last 75 years. The warmest years were 1998 with 48.4 degrees followed by 2001 with 48.3 degrees.

Warmest November on record

By Russell Russ

Here are the weather highlights from November as recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

The month’s high temperature of 64 degrees was recorded on Nov. 16. The low temperature of 22 degrees was recorded on Nov. 22. This month was a record setter. This station recorded the warmest November observed since we began keeping records. The month’s average temperature was 43.2 degrees which was 6.5 degrees above normal. The monthly precipitation of 5.26 inches was 0.43 inches above normal. There were heavy rains on Nov. 8 when over 2 inches fell and on Nov. 16-17 when nearly 1.5 inches fell. The only snow recorded was from a few flurries that fell on Nov. 3 and Nov. 20, making the monthly snowfall total fall way below normal. The station normally receives 8.2 inches of snow during November.

Taking a look at the 2006 yearly totals, through the month of November we have recorded 53.94 inches of precipitation, making us 6.03 inches above normal. With December still to be added in, the station has already recorded more precipitation than in a normal year. Our year to date snowfall total of only 48.9 inches is 29.7 inches below normal. Here in Norfolk we normally get about 96 inches of snow per year. If December is as snow free as November we could be looking at one of the top three least snowy years on record. For 2006 to reach the yearly normal snowfall amount, December will have to see over 4 feet of snow. Now that would be another record.

It has been said that November, especially the latter half of November, is the indicator for the type of winter that we will have. If this is true, we here in Norfolk are in for a cloudy, wet and warm winter. Only time will tell.

Norfolk’s October 2006 Weather

By Russell Russ

Here are the weather highlights from October as recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation. Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

It was pretty much a normal October for Norfolk. There were no days that stood out with any sort of record. We did have our fourth consecutive Halloween with temperatures of 60 degrees or higher. The 68 degrees recorded on Halloween this year made for a very pleasant evening for treat-or-treating.

The month’s high temperature of 73 degrees was recorded on the 4th and the low of 25 degrees was recorded on the 27th. Our station is fairly high in elevation so there were most likely some even colder low temperatures observed in some of the area’s low lying valleys. The month’s average temperature was 46.9 degrees which was just 0.6 degrees below normal. The 5.99” of precipitation recorded was 2.00” above normal. There were heavy rains on the 11th and 12th and then again on the 28th. A few rumbles of thunder could be heard on the afternoon of the 28th. We saw our first snow flurries of the season on the morning of the 29th, but no measurable snow fell. October normally receives a little less than 1” of snow on average.

Looking at the 2006 yearly totals, through the month of October we have recorded 48.68” of precipitation, making us 5.60” above normal. Our year to date snowfall of only 48.9” is 21.5” below normal. Here in Norfolk we normally get about 96” of snow per year, so we would need just about 4 feet of snow from November 1st to the end of December to get to our normal yearly snowfall total.

As recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation.

Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

September 2006

High Temperature: 77° F on the 9th

Low temperature: 34° F on the 30th

Average Temperature: 58.1° F (only 0.2° F below normal)

Total Precipitation: 3.95” (only 0.7” below normal)

Worth Noting:

• This month was a typical September for Norfolk. No records were broken for temperature or precipitation. Some Norfolk residents in low lying valleys reportedly had frosts on the 12th and 22nd. This station did not record a frost until the early morning of the 30th. This is roughly two weeks later than our usual first frost of the season.
• There was one thunderstorm recorded at the station in the late afternoon of the 9th which for a brief period did produce vivid lightning and a small amount of 1/8” sized hail. Precipitation for the month was just a little below normal. We are now 3.60” above normal for total precipitation for the year.
• Fall Foliage Report: As many may have heard, or seen for themselves, all summer long our maple trees have been infected with Anthracnose fungi and during September it was really apparent with their early leaf browning and leaf drop. The northwest hills were hit especially hard with this fungus this year. Some say it was worse than ever recorded, making late September look like a typical late October. We missed the bright yellows and oranges of our sugar maples and it has many local maple syrup producers a bit nervous. The experts do say that there should be no permanent damage done to the trees and that the spring’s maple syrup season won’t be affected that much and that next summer we should again see the maples full of healthy leaves. Only time will tell.

As recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation.

Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

August 2006

High Temperature: 92° F on the 1st and 2nd

Low temperature: 46° F on the 13th

Average Temperature: 67.2° F (1.3° F above normal)

Total Precipitation: 5.62” (1.06” above normal)

Worth Noting:

• August 2nd’s high temperature of 92° was the record high temperature for that date for this weather station. August 1st and 2nd were the only two days all year that had a temperature of 90° or higher. This is fairly typical for Norfolk; on average we record only 2.5 days per year with temperatures of 90° or greater.
• Precipitation for the month was a little above normal. We are now 4.30” above normal for total precipitation for the year. The thunderstorm recorded on the 7th was the only one this month.

As recorded at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW, by the Great Mountain Forest Corporation.

Norfolk 2SW has recorded weather observations since January 1, 1932.

July 2006

High Temperature: 89° F on the 17th and 18th

Low temperature: 54° F on the 1st and 7th

Average Temperature: 71.7° F (3.9° F above normal)

Total Precipitation: 1.98” (2.13” below normal)

Worth Noting:

• For this weather station this month was the 2nd warmest July since 1932. It was actually tied with 1935 for the 2nd warmest July. The warmest July on record was in 1955 with an average temperature of 72.1°. July 17th’s high temperature of 89° tied the record high temperature for that date for this station. July 17, 1968 also recorded 89° as a high. In June we were wishing for warm summer-like weather and in July we got it.
• Precipitation for the month was below normal, but we are still 3.24” above normal for total precipitation for the year. There were three thunderstorms recorded on the 3rd, 12th and 28th.
• Thunderstorms and the threat of storms played havoc with some local Independence Day fireworks shows. Luckily we had only a quick passing shower in the early evening of the 29th, resulting in a wonderful night for Norfolk’s terrific fireworks display provided by Yale University’s Summer School of Music for their 100th Anniversary celebration.