Paul Piorek's Blog

Full Buck Moon Happens Late Tonight

Hello.

I had company on my way to work this morning. Yes, the nearly Full Buck Moon smiled directly at me from a fairly low angle above the horizon as I drove westbound along I-95 in the middle of the night. And what a sight it was. You, too, may have noticed the light of the Moon filtering into your window last night.

In case you’re wondering, the Full Buck Moon takes place at 5:23 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time early Tuesday morning. July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer rush out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon since thunderstorms are common during this time of the year. Another name for this month’s Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans 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.

A Full Moon rises at about the same time the Sun is setting. Since the length of daylight is about 15 hours and two minutes today, the Full Moon will rise later and set earlier this time of the year. In addition, the Full Moon will appear lower in the sky since it won’t be visible nearly as long as during the mid-Winter nights.

For example, the Moon rises at 8:16 this evening and sets at 5:27 tomorrow morning. That means the Moon will be visible for nine hours and 11 minutes. Conversely, six months from now in January when the amount of daylight is at a minimum, the Full Wolf Moon will appear higher in the sky and be visible for about 17-and-half-hours. That’s over eight hours longer than this time of the year!

Today’s weather photo comes from viewer Hilkka Schulz. She wrote, “One of the most poignant sites to honor our July 4th was on the grounds of Greenfield Hill Church in Fairfield. There were over 5,000 flags in memory of our fallen heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan. It made one realize how truly fortunate we are as a nation to be able to have our freedom and to celebrate with picnics and fireworks. And how much we owe to our soldiers who keep us safe.”

Paul

June Weather Wetter and Cooler Than Normal

Hello.

Now that the month of June is in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to take a closer look at our weather for the month. I’m sure you won’t be too surprised to know that June was wetter and cooler than normal. It was the first month this year, however, with above-average rainfall, with well over a half-foot in the rain gauge at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford.

Incredibly, 23 of the 30 days (77%) saw at least a trace of rain, and 17 days (57%) featured measured rain. Overall, 6.42″ fell, which was nearly three inches above the 3.57″ normal for the month. At least a trace of rain fell for nine straight days from June 18 through June 26, punctuated by 2.15″ on June 18. Another stretch of eight straight days brought at least a trace of rain from June 8 through June 15, highlighted by 1.10″ on June 9.

There were only seven days all month without any measured rain, including back-to-back days on June 6 and 7, June 16 and 17, and June 27 and 28. The greatest 24-hour measured rain happened on June 18 and 19 when over two inches (2.16″) fell, causing flooding of low-lying areas and poor drainage areas.

Taking a closer look, there were 17 days with at least 0.01″ of rain, 10 days with at least a tenth of an inch, four days with a half-inch or more, and two days with more than one inch of rainfall. Only seven days featured clear skies, 14 days delivered a mix of sun and clouds, and nine days were mostly cloudy.

The average temperature for the month was 65.6 degrees, which was 2.4 degrees below the normal for June. The warmest days were June 27 and 30 when the mercury scraped 81 degrees, and the coolest morning happened on June 1 when the morning low temperature dipped to 44 degrees. The coolest stretch occurred between June 9 and June 20 when the average daily temperature was well below normal for all but two days.

Overall, 11 days brought average temperatures at least six degrees below normal, including a streak of five straight days with readings at least six degrees below the norm from June 14 through June 18. Conversely, there were only three days on which the average temperature was at least three degrees above normal (June 2, June 19, June 25).

Our weather will remain unsettled through tomorrow as a low pressure system continues to spin nearby. More showers and thunderstorms are likely later today, some of which may be strong, with daytime high temperatures reaching the mid 70s. Tomorrow will bring more of the same. However, the holiday weekend is looking good as high pressure begins to build into the region Friday.

Paul

Looking Ahead to July by the Numbers

Hello.

Half the year is nearly over. July arrives at midnight, and it’s time to look ahead at what the month brings climatologically to southwestern Connecticut. Not surprisingly, July is the warmest month of the year with a mean temperature of 74 degrees. The hottest temperature ever recorded at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford was 103 degrees on July 22, 1957.

The mercury reached the century mark two other times — July 2, 1966 and July 5, 1999. In fact, the average daily temperature climbs from 72 degrees at the start of the month to 75 by July 31. The warmest July on record happened 15 years ago, in 1994, with an average temperature of 78.4 degrees.

Many people have asked me why the hottest time of the year happens over a month after the first day of Summer. Well, it takes the Earth awhile to absorb the heat. As the Sun’s angle gets higher in the sky and the days grow longer in May and June, the Northern Hemisphere slowly starts to warm.

It’s much like warming your home. When you turn your thermostat up to 72 degrees after being away all day in the Winter, it will take awhile for the house to warm up. It doesn’t happen instantly. That’s why our hottest days are typically in July and early August.

On the flip side, the coolest temperature ever recorded in these parts in July was 49 degrees on July 1, 1988. Aside from that, every record low for the month is in the 50s. Believe it or not, according to the National Weather Service record book, a trace of snow fell at the airport on July 4, 1950. I find that too hard to believe.

As far as precipitation is concerned, the wettest July on record happened in 1971 when over a foot of rain (12.84″) fell. The average monthly rainfall is 3.77 inches. There have been several memorable rainstorms in July. For example, nearly a half-foot (5.95″) of rain fell on July 19, 1971, and nearly four inches (3.93″) was recorded on July 29, 1990. Two other days delivered well over three inches of rain — July 30, 1960 (3.57″) and July 23, 1953 (3.45″).

The length of daylight decreases this month. For example, on July 1, the Sun rises at 5:23 and sets at 8:30. By the middle of the month, on July 15, the Sun rises at 5:32 and sets at 8:24. However, at the end of the month, it rises at 5:47 and sets at 8:10, meaning we lose 44 minutes of daylight. Remember, the “longest” day of the year happened at the Summer Solstice in late June.

Today will feature a mix of sun and clouds with a slight chance of an isolated shower or thunderstorm. There is a better chance of showers tonight through Thursday as our atmosphere remains unstable. However, the holiday weekend weather looks great with mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures Friday through Sunday.

Paul

Unique Cloud Formations Provide Picturesque Skyscape Following Storm

Hello.

The severe weather which ambushed southwestern Connecticut Friday night did more than just add to our waterlogged rain gauge this month. The vivid lightning may have caused a fire which destroyed a home in Trumbull and triggered power outages across the area. Just minutes after the storm arrived Friday evening, we suffered a power outage which lasted over six hours.

The storm dumped close to another half-inch (0.45") of rain at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, running the monthly total to well over a half-foot (6.41"). That's nearly double the 3.32" normal for this month. What's even more remarkable is that it was the ninth straight day with at least a trace of rain. In fact, it was the 16th day in June with measured rain. There have been two days this month with at least an inch of rain, inlcuding the 2.15" which fell June 18.

After the storm departed Friday evening, many of our neighbors went outside to take a walk, chat, or admire the unique clouds which formed in the sky. After all, we didn't have any electricity, and there was absolutely nothing to do inside. Some of our viewers took the time to send photos of the clouds to us. Matt Lahey of Southport sent four photos to me. They are amazing.

  

 

 

 

David Podejko of Norwalk wrote, "Some Storm we had Friday the 26th. (At) one point, between two sets of thunderstorms, it was so calm I thought we might have been in an eye of a hurricane. However, around 8:30, looking out our front door to the East the clouds were so beautiful. They looked as if it were a painting. If there wasn't anything in the picture except clouds, you would think it was a painting."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Paliotta sent the following photo of the sunset after the storms.

 

Thanks to our viewers for sending the great photos to us. I sincerely appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of the "quieter" weekend weatherwise.

Paul

Great American Backyard Campout Planned for This Saturday

Hello.

Now that Summer is here and the kids are out of school, here’s an idea sure to spark excitement and quality time for you and your family this weekend. The annual Great American Backyard Campout is scheduled for this Saturday, June 27, through Sunday morning.

That’s the word from Bill Dion of the National Wildlife Foundation. Prompted by an NWF campaign that encourages people to trade in their high tech world for just a little while, tens of thousands of families across the country will spend one night in their backyards, parks, and even the wilderness to explore the great outdoors.

What a great idea! Far too many people don’t get outside enough to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature. Working adults are indoors most of the day and never seem to have the time or energy to get outside. Children seem to be spending more and more time in front of the television or computer screens than ever before. My son’s middle school doesn’t even have time for outdoor recess anymore.

If you’ve never camped out before or may be a little intimidated by sleeping outside, the NWF’s Web site should put your mind at ease. It has tips, tricks, and fun ideas that will make your family event a success. You’ll see recipes, campfire songs, games, night watch activities, and crafts you and your family will enjoy.

In fact, the Web site even has a page of weather lore which I enjoyed reading. Perhaps you remember some of these old-time weather-related sayings and stories:

“Red sky at night, hiker’s delight.”
Red sky in the morning, hikers take warning.” The presence of high clouds and dust particles at night makes the sky look red as the sun sets. This indicates high pressure and calm air, both of which mean good weather will follow. A red sunrise means there are clouds, dust particles, and moisture in the air—could be rain on the way.

“Ring around the moon, rain is coming soon.”
Ice crystals around the moon can give it a glowing ring, indicating that a change in weather is ahead—most likely rain. The crystals come from high clouds, a sign of damp weather on the way.

Singing Frogs
A few hours before a storm hits, frogs start singing their little hearts out. Because their skin needs to stay moist, frogs usually spend most of their time in or near the water. When a storm approaches, the air’s moisture increases, making the frogs feel comfortable outside the pond—they climb out of the water and sing merrily.

Chirping Crickets
You can actually tell the temperature by listening to crickets. Count the number of chirps one cricket makes in 14 seconds. Add 40 to the number and you’ll have a decent estimate of the temperature. For example, if you count 35 chirps in 14 seconds, it means the temperature is around 75°F (35 + 40 = 75).

“Where there’s smoke, there’s a weather forecast.”
Try to make a forecast by looking at the way the smoke from your campfire moves. If the smoke hangs low, chances are it could rain. But if the smoke rises up in a nice column, good weather is ahead. Atmospheric pressure dictates the smoke’s movement. High pressure, a sign of good weather, forces the smoke down. Low pressure, a sign of rain, lets the smoke rise up.

The weather should be quiet for the most part Saturday night into Sunday, although some clouds are likely. There may even be a stray shower or thunderstorm Saturday evening, but the overnight will certainly not be a washout. Sunday morning’s low temperature will hold in the mid 60s. Whatever you have planned outside for the weekend, enjoy it. I may even take part in the annual Great American Backyard Campout myself.

Today’s weather photo comes from Jim Lloyd of Bridgeport. He wrote, “These are the first ones of the year after all of the rain.”

Paul

The author won the 2007 New York Emmy award, earned Emmy nominations three of the last five years (2005, 2007, 2008), and won the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association award for Best Weathercast three of the last four years (2006, 2008, 2009). 

Hello.

Now that Summer is here and the kids are out of school, here’s an idea sure to spark excitement and quality time for you and your family this weekend. The annual Great American Backyard Campout is scheduled for this Saturday, June 27, through Sunday morning.

That’s the word from Bill Dion of the National Wildlife Foundation. Prompted by an NWF campaign that encourages people to trade in their high tech world for just a little while, tens of thousands of families across the country will spend one night in their backyards, parks, and even the wilderness to explore the great outdoors.

What a great idea! Far too many people don’t get outside enough to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature. Working adults are indoors most of the day and never seem to have the time or energy to get outside. Children seem to be spending more and more time in front of the television or computer screens than ever before. My son’s middle school doesn’t even have time for outdoor recess anymore.

If you’ve never camped out before or may be a little intimidated by sleeping outside, the NWF’s Web site should put your mind at ease. It has tips, tricks, and fun ideas that will make your family event a success. You’ll see recipes, campfire songs, games, night watch activities, and crafts you and your family will enjoy.

In fact, the Web site even has a page of weather lore which I enjoyed reading. Perhaps you remember some of these old-time weather-related sayings and stories:

“Red sky at night, hiker’s delight.”
Red sky in the morning, hikers take warning.” The presence of high clouds and dust particles at night makes the sky look red as the sun sets. This indicates high pressure and calm air, both of which mean good weather will follow. A red sunrise means there are clouds, dust particles, and moisture in the air—could be rain on the way.

“Ring around the moon, rain is coming soon.”
Ice crystals around the moon can give it a glowing ring, indicating that a change in weather is ahead—most likely rain. The crystals come from high clouds, a sign of damp weather on the way.

Singing Frogs
A few hours before a storm hits, frogs start singing their little hearts out. Because their skin needs to stay moist, frogs usually spend most of their time in or near the water. When a storm approaches, the air’s moisture increases, making the frogs feel comfortable outside the pond—they climb out of the water and sing merrily.

Chirping Crickets
You can actually tell the temperature by listening to crickets. Count the number of chirps one cricket makes in 14 seconds. Add 40 to the number and you’ll have a decent estimate of the temperature. For example, if you count 35 chirps in 14 seconds, it means the temperature is around 75°F (35 + 40 = 75).

“Where there’s smoke, there’s a weather forecast.”
Try to make a forecast by looking at the way the smoke from your campfire moves. If the smoke hangs low, chances are it could rain. But if the smoke rises up in a nice column, good weather is ahead. Atmospheric pressure dictates the smoke’s movement. High pressure, a sign of good weather, forces the smoke down. Low pressure, a sign of rain, lets the smoke rise up.

The weather should be quiet for the most part Saturday night into Sunday, although some clouds are likely. There may even be a stray shower or thunderstorm Saturday evening, but the overnight will certainly not be a washout. Sunday morning’s low temperature will hold in the mid 60s. Whatever you have planned outside for the weekend, enjoy it. I may even take part in the annual Great American Backyard Campout myself.

Today’s weather photo comes from Jim Lloyd of Bridgeport. He wrote, “These are the first ones of the year after all of the rain.”

Paul

The author won the 2007 New York Emmy award, earned Emmy nominations three of the last five years (2005, 2007, 2008), and won the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association award for Best Weathercast three of the last four years (2006, 2008, 2009). 

Waterlogged Southwestern Connecticut Braces for More Rain

Hello.

The heavy rain which fell yesterday caused headaches for many people across southwestern Connecticut, whether they were motorists attempting to navigate flooded roadways or homeowners dealing with water in the basement. Officially, over two inches of rain (2.15″) fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, bringing the monthly total to nearly a half-foot (5.66″). Although we’ll enjoy a dry day today, more rain and thunderstorms are in the weekend forecast.

The normal rainfall for the entire month of June is 3.57″ based on 40 years of averages. The wettest June on record happened in 1972 when nearly a foot-and-a-half (17.7″) of rain was measured, highlighted by a three-day stretch of nearly ten inches between June 17 and June 19. It may seem hard to believe, but we are still below normal in the rain gauge for the entire year, since each of the first five months of the year produced below-normal rain.

Take a look at the unofficial rainfall totals for 12 communities across southwestern Connecticut through the first 19 days this month:

• Woodbridge: 8.03″
• Milford: 7.15″
• Stratford: 6.96″
• Westport: 6.62″
• Greenwich: 6.53″
• Norwalk: 6.42″
• Bridgeport: 6.07″
• New Canaan: 6.00″
• Southport: 5.97″
• Fairfield: 5.87″
• Sikorsky Memorial Airport: 5.66″
• Stamford: 5.45″

Viewer Hilkka Schulz of Stamford wrote, “The roses were really amazing this year. I have not seen so many rosesbloom at one time as this year. That of course was prior to this week’s never-ending downpour.”

She added, “Now most of the flowers are wilting, only to bloom again once when the sun comes out. This picture (above) was taken when there was a little dry period. I still like the rain, but we could use some real summer days. I hope you can do something about that. Fairfield County is counting on you.”

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to dry out too long before more rain arrives. Today will feature considerable cloudiness, and it will be warm and humid with a high temperature in the 70s. Saturday will be cloudy with rain and thunderstorms developing later in the afternoon. The rain may even be moderate to possibly heavy at times before tapering off early Sunday.

I wish I had better news for the upcoming weekend. However, it looks like our weather will turn the corner by the middle of next week with abundant sunshine and afternoon high temperature reaching close to 80 degrees. The Summer Solstice occurs at 1:45 EDT Sunday morning, so Dad will enjoy the first day of Summer on “his day.”

Have a good weekend.

Paul

The author won the 2007 New York Emmy award, earned Emmy nominations three of the last five years (2005, 2007, 2008), and won the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters' Association award for Best Weathercast three of the last four years (2006, 2008, 2009). 

Always Remember That Colorful Rainbows Follow the Rain

Hello.

It may come as little consolation to anyone who has outdoor plans scheduled for today, but it appears that our weather will be turning the corner in a big way by the start of next week, just in time for the beginning of Summer. In fact, the latest data suggests that sunny skies and much warmer temperatures are in the offing for most of next week. It’s about time.

There’s always a silver lining to our weather, no matter how bad it may get. Sure, it won’t feel like the middle of June today, and you’ll need your jacket and umbrella, but after every rain comes a rainbow. Viewer Eric Sundman of Southport took the following photo of a rainbow over the horizon earlier this week. He wrote, “Here’s a shot from Ye Yacht Yard in Southport from Monday, June 15, at 6 p.m.”

Donald Ahrens, author of Meteorology Today, calls rainbows “one of the most spectacular light shows observed on Earth.” There have been many sightings of rainbows across southwestern Connecticut in recent weeks. I've counted 13 days with at least a trace of rain thus far this month, and rainbows have been the end result more often than not.

So, what is a rainbow? When light and moisture meet in the sky on a Summer’s day, a rainbow will appear. Rainbows appear magically during or immediately following showers, when the Sun is shining and the air contains raindrops. The bow is divided into bands which display the different colors of the spectrum. It is formed by the refraction and reflection of the Sun’s rays in drops of rain. The light which appears to be white is made up of a mixture of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet light.

Eric sent another photo from earlier this week. He wrote, ”Here’s a cool shot of a rainbow that happened on Monday about 6:30 p.m. over Southport Harbor, viewed from Harbor Road, over the Pequot Yacht Club.” What a great shot.

When a ray of sunlight enters a drop of water, a part of it does not pass directly through, but is reflected from the inner surface and emerges from the side from which it entered. It is refracted on entering and leaving the drop of water. This process, repeated over and over again in raindrops, produces the primary rainbow, which appears in front of the observer, who has his or her back to the Sun.

Another larger bow is often seen outside the primary rainbow and parallel to it. This secondary rainbow is produced in a similar way, but the sunlight is reflected twice before emerging from the raindrop. For this reason, the color sequence is reversed, and red is on the inside edge. Since there is a loss of light with each reflection, it is not as bright as the primary rainbow.

Viewer Jennifer James of Norwalk took this photo of a rainbow looking Northwest from her home this past Monday evening. “Enough of this rain already,” she lamented. 

Today will look and feel more like mid-to-late April rather than a few days before the Summer Solstice. Periods of rain are expected through the day, possibly moderate to heavy at times, with high temperatures struggling to reach the lower 60s. The rain will taper to showers tonight with overnight lows holding close to 60 degrees. Summerlike weather will arrive by the start of next week. See, the rain will lead to a rainbow with a meteorological “pot of gold” at the end.

Paul

Recalling the Record-Breaking Rains 37 Years Ago This Week

Hello.

If you think the rainy stretch of weather we’ve experienced this month is bad, you probably don’t remember the incredible flooding downpours 37 years ago this week. A three-day deluge brought nearly 10 inches of rain to southwestern Connecticut, flooded residents out of their homes, forced postponement of school graduation ceremonies, and caused widespread damage.

Personally, I’ll never forget those three days since our basement was flooded beyond belief. I actually thought our house was going to float away. Firefighters, neighbors, and relatives helped my family furiously pump water out of the basement in what can only be called a losing battle. I distinctly remember riding with my father to pick up another sump pump at a friend’s house in the middle of the night while our next-door neighbors helped out downstairs. 

How much rain fell during the three day period? Too much. The monsoon started June 17 with nearly two-and-a-half inches (2.37″) of rain. The next day, June 18, brought nearly an inch (0.98″). But the deadliest blow happened the next day — June 19 — when over a half-foot (6.18″) of rain buried the region. That one day total is nearly the average rainfall for two full months! Cumulatively, 9.53″ of rain fell at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford. According to the National Weather Service, it marked “the heaviest flooding damage since the Fall of 1955.”

According to the front-page article in June 19, 1972 edition of The Bridgeport Post, “A civil defense warning was issued today at 9:10 a.m. concerning flooding in the Southern Connecticut area. The report, which came over the air from the city’s Emergency Reporting Service, stated that the rain would continue through most of the day, and that flash floods were expected to occur.”

The following day, the newspaper reported that “Many residents who had never experienced water accumulations before, were still busy pumping out and drying up cellars. Fire departments throughout the area were besieged by requests from residents seeking pumping assistance.” One storm-related death was reported when a gentleman was electrocuted as he waded through two-feet of water in his basement of his home. The victim came into contact with live wiring as he was repairing the furnace.

Fire authorities had warned that flooded basements posed hazards as water threatened to “short out” furnace motors. Civil defense officials in the state estimated that a damage toll reaching as high as $1 million was expected. The American Red Cross established emergency shelters at its headquarters in Fairfield and Darien. Adding insult to injury was the threat of even more rain from Tropical Storm Agnes through Wednesday, June 21.

What do I most remember about that memorable three-day deluge? Our junior high school graduation was postponed. The Fairfield Woods Junior High School ceremony, which was originally scheduled for June 21 at Andrew Warde High School, was pushed back one day. We were extremely disappointed, since we couldn't wait to walk into our new high school as soon-to-be-freshmen at Warde.

I also remember my cousin, Pat, a Vietnam veteran, blew out his knee while attempting to start a generator in our backyard. I can vividly remember him being wheeled into the back of the ambulance in a driving rainstorm while neighbors watched from our backyard. He eventually married my next-door-neighbor, Ruth Ann, who stopped by with a home-cooked meal and met Pat.

The total rainfall for the entire month of June in 1972 was nearly a foot-and-a-half (17.7″). To put it in perspective, this month has produced three-and-a-half inches (3.51″). However, more rain is on the way. Clouds will build today, and showers arrive tonight. Thursday will be rainy, breezy, and cool with a high temperature holding in the low-to-mid 60s. More scattered showers and storms are possible Friday through Sunday.

Paul

When Does Summer Officially Start?

Hello.

Ask any child when Summer begins, and he or she will undoubtedly respond with the date of the last day of school. Ask an adult and his or her answer is most likely either June 20 or June 21. However, as we approach the start of the new season, our weather has been anything but Summerlike. In fact, nine of the first 15 days this month have delivered measured rain, and temperatures are averaging well below normal.

Summer officially arrives this Sunday, June 21, at 1:45 EDT in the afternoon. That’s when the Sun’s rays will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer, marking their northernmost point on the face of the Earth. The Sun rises at 5:19 a.m. and sets at 8:30 p.m., which is the latest Sunset during the year. We’ll enjoy 15 hours and 11 minutes of Sunlight.

Two days later, the Sun rises at 5:20, and the days begin to get “shorter” once again. Remember, since the first day of Summer is “the longest day” of the year, the days actually become shorter by the end of the month and the remainder of the Summer.

So, why does the Summer Solstice actually happen? Well, the seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis. Because the Earth rotates like a gyroscope, the North Pole points in a fixed position constantly, while the Earth is revolving around the Sun. During one half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere has more exposure to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere, while the reverse is true during the other half of the year. At noontime, the Sun appears high in the sky during Summertime, and when the Sun reaches its maximum elevation, or angle, in the sky, that’s when the Summer Solstice happens.

Summer was a joyous time of the year in prehistoric times for the Aboriginal people who lived in the Northern latitudes. The snow had melted, the ground thawed out, and warm temperatures returned. Flowers were in full bloom, and leaves had returned to the trees. More important, food was easier to find, and crops had been planted and would be harvested for months to come. The Full Moon is June is called the Full Honey Moon. Tradition dictates that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives.

This time of the year, between the planting and harvesting of crops, is the traditional time for weddings because many ancient peoples believed that the grand union of the goddess and god occurred in early May. Since it was unlucky to compete with the gods, many people delayed their weddings until June. Today, June remains a favorite month for marriage.

Native Americans have constructed many stone structures linked to the Equinoces and Solstices. Many are still standing today. One of them is called Calendar One. It is a natural amphiteatre of about 20 acres in size in Vermont. From a stone enclosure in the center of the bowl, one can see a number of vertical rocks and other markers around the edge of the bowl. “At the Summer Solstice, the Sun rose at the southern peak of the East ridge and set at a notch at the southern end of the West ridge.” The Winter Solstice and both equinoxes were similarly marked.

I’d love to be at Calendar One this Sunday afternoon at 1:45 EDT. The start of each of the four seasons carries more significance to this writer than New Year’s Day, which, in essence, is an arbitrary day on the calendar. The start of Summer is just five days away, and that is reason to celebrate in the Northern Hemisphere.

Today’s weather photo comes from David Bondlow. He wrote, “Hey, Paul, this is in my garden in Noroton Heights.”

Paul 

Hello.

Ask any child when Summer begins, and he or she will undoubtedly respond with the date of the last day of school. Ask an adult and his or her answer is most likely either June 20 or June 21. However, as we approach the start of the new season, our weather has been anything but Summerlike. In fact, nine of the first 15 days this month have delivered measured rain, and temperatures are averaging well below normal.

Summer officially arrives this Sunday, June 21, at 1:45 EDT in the afternoon. That’s when the Sun’s rays will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer, marking their northernmost point on the face of the Earth. The Sun rises at 5:19 a.m. and sets at 8:30 p.m., which is the latest Sunset during the year. We’ll enjoy 15 hours and 11 minutes of Sunlight.

Two days later, the Sun rises at 5:20, and the days begin to get “shorter” once again. Remember, since the first day of Summer is “the longest day” of the year, the days actually become shorter by the end of the month and the remainder of the Summer.

So, why does the Summer Solstice actually happen? Well, the seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis. Because the Earth rotates like a gyroscope, the North Pole points in a fixed position constantly, while the Earth is revolving around the Sun. During one half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere has more exposure to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere, while the reverse is true during the other half of the year. At noontime, the Sun appears high in the sky during Summertime, and when the Sun reaches its maximum elevation, or angle, in the sky, that’s when the Summer Solstice happens.

Summer was a joyous time of the year in prehistoric times for the Aboriginal people who lived in the Northern latitudes. The snow had melted, the ground thawed out, and warm temperatures returned. Flowers were in full bloom, and leaves had returned to the trees. More important, food was easier to find, and crops had been planted and would be harvested for months to come. The Full Moon is June is called the Full Honey Moon. Tradition dictates that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives.

This time of the year, between the planting and harvesting of crops, is the traditional time for weddings because many ancient peoples believed that the grand union of the goddess and god occurred in early May. Since it was unlucky to compete with the gods, many people delayed their weddings until June. Today, June remains a favorite month for marriage.

Native Americans have constructed many stone structures linked to the Equinoces and Solstices. Many are still standing today. One of them is called Calendar One. It is a natural amphiteatre of about 20 acres in size in Vermont. From a stone enclosure in the center of the bowl, one can see a number of vertical rocks and other markers around the edge of the bowl. “At the Summer Solstice, the Sun rose at the southern peak of the East ridge and set at a notch at the southern end of the West ridge.” The Winter Solstice and both equinoxes were similarly marked.

I’d love to be at Calendar One this Sunday afternoon at 1:45 EDT. The start of each of the four seasons carries more significance to this writer than New Year’s Day, which, in essence, is an arbitrary day on the calendar. The start of Summer is just five days away, and that is reason to celebrate in the Northern Hemisphere.

Today’s weather photo comes from David Bondlow. He wrote, “Hey, Paul, this is in my garden in Noroton Heights.”

Paul 

Violent Weather Marked End of June Heat Wave One Year Ago

Hello.

Severe thunderstorms plowed through southwestern Connecticut one year ago last night, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, dangerous lightning, and a loss of electricity for thousands. I received emails one year ago this morning from viewers who were directly affected by the violent weather. There were several reports of damaged property, but fortunately nobody was injured.

The storms put an abrupt halt to the first heat wave in nearly two years across southwestern Connecticut. The high temperature for Tuesday, June 10, 2008, was 96 degrees, which tied the record high for the date. The mercury scraped 97 degrees the day before, establishing an all-time record high for the month of June. A high of 90 degrees on Sunday, June 8, began the three-day stretch of oppressive heat and humidity.

One of our viewers, Barb in Norwalk, wrote to tell me of her family’s harrowing experience during the violent weather Tuesday evening, June 10. The garage door was blown open, and the family ran into the basement when flying debris uprooted trees and caused havoc for residents on Ledgewood Court. She sent several graphic photos, too. The peak wind gust at Sikorsky Memorial Airport that night was 38 miles an hour, while sustained winds hovered close to 30 miles an hour during the storms.

“I heard a deafening whirling,” she wrote. “It sounded like a train coming fast and was going by my ear. It was so loud, it drowned out the TV and the air conditioner in our bedroom. I quickly looked out the window and saw a ton of trees and debris all flying sideways — branches, trees, I can’t tell you how much debris. It took up the entire sky. Trees were uprooted and flying by.

“The sound was so loud it ran through my whole body. After two seconds it registered what I was looking at. I grabbed 12-year-old Sara by the arm and was screaming at everybody to get downstairs. At that moment, it hit the house and it felt like an earthquake. My son Stefan’s clock radio flew off the shelf and hit him in the head. I heard a loud metallic crash below me (the garage), and then another crash on the other side of the house.  

“We ran downstairs to get away from the windows. It lasted about one minute and was gone extremely fast. It just left with flashes of lightning and some thunder a few minutes later. My husband, Mike, went outside. The trees were ripped from the ground, and our yard is a gnarling warzone. But the amazing thing is that this mini twister, as I call it, ripped our garage door open.

“When it was over, Mike took a drive to find the path of this thing and he found it went from Lancaster to Ponus Avenue to Ledgewood Court. The garage door being blown up was freaky.”

Nora Massella of Milford wrote to tell me of what happened in her city and sent a photo. “This tree on Round Hill Terrace was hit by lightning,” she said. “United Illuminating is out inspecting all the downed trees in the Milford area at this point.”

Jennifer Hochberg of Fairfield wrote, “(It’s a) good thing I got home from work when I did because around 10:15 the wind really kicked up, the lightning was going on, and we had rain. That would have been one devil of a ride home from work. It was so fabulous this morning waking up to cooler air. I’m not complaining about that.”

It was a dramatic ending to a most unusual early-June heat wave. Our weather will still leave much to be desired through the end of this week, although it won’t be nearly as sensational. A shower or two is possible later this afternoon, but more showers develop late tonight. Friday will be cloudy, warm, and humid with showers and thundesrtorms ushering in better weather for the weekend.

Paul