Extreme Weather Series: Crazy weather in Connecticut 2011 Photos included
it seems like everyday there is another natural disaster impacting the United States. Extreme heat and wildfires in Texas all summer, tremendous spring flooding along the Missippi River, Blizzards in January and February in the east, horrific tornadoes, bizarre earthquakes, Hurricane Irene and now the latest flooding all along the east coast. The year 2011 is turning out to be one crazy year for extreme natural disasters. As these 100 year floods deluge the nation and quarter of a century storms continue to hit the same areas, it really makes this year stand out as one to remember meteorologically, economically and mentally. Here in Connecticut it has been no different. Since January 2011, the Connecticut region has experienced record snowfall, extreme cold, flooding, heat, earthquakes and Hurricane Irene. I have been able to catch many of these extreme events through photos, which i'll share below, along with a brief listing of the extreme weather we have experienced so far this year in Connecticut.
Once in a 100 year Snow Cover
Back in January 2011 Connecticut got stuck in a weather pattern that produced mid to large snowstorms at least twice a week almost a month. This resulted in 4 feet or more of snow on the ground by the end of the month. There was so much snow, snow removal had no place to put it! Streets and sidewalks were clogged with mountains of snow channeling pathways. Due to the number of photos I wanted to share from this extreme snowfall, I created a separate hub for the snow cover. Follow the link here to see: Extreme Weather Series: Once in a 100 year snow cover: Connecticut, January 2011
Ice Storm
Following the extreme snowfall in January 2011, we saw an ice storm, where the ice stuck around for days! It's not unusual to see accumulating ice in Coastal Connecticut however to get as much as we did and for it to stick to trees for days was unusual. In a way it was beautiful, everything was glistening in the sun the days after the storm. The storm hit on Ground Hog's day, see more photos and details at:
Extreme Weather Series: Ice Storm: Connecticut Groundhog Day 2011
Flash Flooding August 14, 2011
This year has been very wet. From all the snowfall in the winter to summer flooding and then Hurricane Irene, it feels like water, water everywhere! Luckily the snow melted slowly in the spring time, avoiding a devastating flood considering the amount of snow cover. However we did have a wet spring, not heavy rain, just long periods of rain. This continued into the summer. One extreme day was August 14, 2011. That day it had rain from about 2 a.m to midnight. It was a steady rain with brief downpours. Then at about 10 p.m. the heavens opened up along a small area, right over downtown Milford, Ct. This downpour lasted over an hour and was a result of the training effect, which is where storms move continuously over teh same area as if they were trains running on the same track. This result in 3 or more of rain in about an hour, creating flash flooding and river flooding. Many sections of route 1, the Boston Post Road, flooded which i have never experienced before. On and off ramps to Interstate 95 also flooded. Even the lower floor of the Connecticut Post Mall experienced serious flooding (see video), with water bubbling up through the tiled floor! This flash flood came on top of 4 inches of rain that had fallen throughout the day and put the day's total up near 7.5 inches, as you can see in the weatherbug screen capture below for Harborside Middle School,which is located in the center of town. Many hadn't seen the Wepawaug River rise that high and that fast since another extreme flood event in 1982. To say the least this flash flooding was the most extreme in over 25 years!
Hurricane Irene
The most recent weather extreme to impact this area of the country was Hurricane Irene. Hurricane Irene technically hit as a tropical storm on August 28, 2011, however it didn't lack in damage. I have a number of hubs on Hurricane Irene's impacts and you can follow the links below to check them out!
Hurricane Irene Slams the Connecticut Coast! Photos!
Hurricane Irene Slams Connecticut more photos 2
More Photos from Hurricane Irene in Connecticut 3
Devastation along the Coast- More of Irene's Impacts through Photos
and finally
Have you been impacted by extreme weather this year?
With all this crazy weather this year, who knows what's to come in the last four months! Who knows maybe we'll get a White Christmas...
