2/29- LEAP DAY- DOUBLE STORM WATCH- Active Week Ahead

Good Monday all-

Today is that fun curiosity we get each 4 years- happy leap day!



Today, for the most part, is going to be just fine- we're going to get very near or perhaps even eclipse 50, though some showers in the afternoon are a distinct possibility. The weather settles down for tomorrow, but it's Wednesday that the first storm watch comes into effect for us.

A strong low is going to move about 100 miles to our west, which puts us on the warm side of the system and is going to cause some thunderstorms that, although not as strong as last weeks, should still pack a fair punch. In any event, they will very likely produce over an inch of rain, so the storm watch goes up at this time.

Thursday and Friday look fine, but we run the risk of a very significant snow event on Saturday. The models disagree on the potential at this time, as would be expected five full days out, but if things come together it *could* be the biggest storm of the season. That said, once we get through this one...we *may* be through with the snow for this year as nothing really is in sight beyond that.

Today in weather history- Eh, who am I kidding? There haven't been enough Feb. 29ths to have had any massive weather events happen on this date.

Have fun today!

2/26- Zzzzz

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE-

Unfortunately, the weather has gone to sleep. I mean it. There, quite honestly, is nothing to talk about whatsoever until next Wednesday when a rainstorm will move in with heavy precipitation likely. Until then, 30s today, mid-30s tomorrow, 50s the rest of the way with bright sunshine and a few scattered cumulus clouds in the meantime.

Today in weather history- February 26, 1987- A crushing snowstorm paralyzes the Rocky Mountains, dropping 43" of snow on Fairplay, CO, and a monthly record 14" at Colorado Springs. Although everyone thinks of the Rocky Mountains as a place with extreme snow, it is usually drawn out over a season as intense snowstorms are rather difficult to get there as the moisture is usually depleted by the Cascade Mountain Range in California...the mountaintops of which are among the snowiest places in the world.

2/25- Historic Night for CT...nice day

Good Thursday all-

A FLOOD WARNING is up for the Housatonic River this morning.

The only words that can be used to describe last night are "wow", "amazing", and "remarkable". It was crazy- hurricane force winds were recorded through many portions of Connecticut and have taken enough trees down that many schools are delayed or even closed today- far more than I can remember for any previous rainstorm/severe event, so be sure to check the listings. It's unbelievable just how strong these storms were considering it is FEBRUARY- we shall remember this one for a long time throughout the region.

Fortunately, that's all there is to talk about for now. I mean it- there's nothing at all on the weather radar until a week from today and it looks similar to the previous storm, at least in terms of path, so snow/ice/rain type deal would be probable.

Today in weather history- February 25, 2016- Incredible storms wallop the northeast, bringing hurricane force winds and knocking out power to over 70,000 people in Connecticut and causing an incredibly large number of school delays and closings.

*I don't like doing this, but this event is so amazingly rare that I had to*

2/24- STORM WARNING- I have my tail between my legs...rain tonight

Good Wednesday all-

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is still up for Litchfield and Hartford counties until 9 AM, and a WIND ADVISORY is up for the immediate shoreline for tonight.

Well, the storm yesterday did something that, quite honestly, I should have realized would happen but didn't- the ground was above freezing and so the snow simply didn't stick until the very end of the storm...making it a total bust with most areas receiving nothing more than a dusting. Did 2-4" fall out of the sky yesterday? Yeah, probably but it just didn't stick so the accumulations were basically nothing.

Unfortunately, today looks absolutely miserable as it's going to be POURING all afternoon and evening tonight. Winds could gust up to 60mph, and hail is possible tonight as well. I would also expect some power outages as a result. When all is said and done, you can plan on some 1-3" of rain with locally higher amounts in thunderstorms (which could be severe). In fact, for the first time in recent memory in the month of February, the SPC has placed the shoreline under a MARGINAL risk of severe weather, while the rest of the state is under a SEE TEXT risk...which is still very impressive for this time of year. For those looking for snow...there really is nothing significant in sight. Although I hesitate to say "game over"...it may be close.

In lieu of weather history today, please send thoughts and prayers out to the victims of the tornadoes yesterday in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Amazingly, a tornado struck at or near the New Orleans Airport yesterday, after I was there less than a month ago. Somehow, this is the third time it happened to me in the last four years...very remarkable in its' own right

2/23- STORM WARNING- Issues this afternoon

Good Tuesday all-

Aside from the immediate shoreline and Middlesex/New London counties, all of Connecticut is under a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

Let's get one thing out of the way first...



There we go. I am pretty confident in these numbers, though there is probably a 30% chance or so that someone in Connecticut gets a 5 or 6" total, but these will be isolated in nature. If it's you...you just got really unlucky. The snow will begin at around 2 or 3 this afternoon, and will come down pretty heavily at times as we head towards the evening hours. That said...it won't take all that long to change over to sleet and freezing rain. The problem? It will take quite a bit of time to go from ice to rain and a glaze of ice is very likely, especially areas along and north of 84. With that in mind, my best guess is that tomorrow's schools will be delayed inland, but no impact will occur on the shoreline as there won't be enough icing left due to the earlier changeover. Tomorrow itself looks wet, but Thursday is the real loser of the week- as the odds of an inch or more of rain are now >75%, I have changed the storm watch to a warning. Thunderstorms and strong southwesterly winds will also be a big concern...though with the mild temps (mid 50s), I doubt many will complain about all aspects of the weather. That said, I can pretty much guarantee it will be miserable. Fortunately, the rest of the foreseeable future appears dry with a few flurries or showers possible in the Monday-ish timeframe.

Today in weather history- February 23, 1802- One of the all time great snowstorms strikes New England, dropping 48" of snow in areas just north of Boston. This storm, for whatever reason, is largely forgotten by history thanks to the great snowstorms of 1717, 1888, and 2013...but this is just as severe as them for areas just barely north of us.