Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - CIG

CONNECTICUT, NorthwestCTZ001LitchfieldCONNECTICUT, SouthernFairfield CountyCountywideNew Haven CountyCountywideNew London CountyCountywide27311200EST1900EST0 0Excessive HeatThe end of March was a period of record heat across northwest Connecticut as strong high pressure off the Mid-Atlantic coas tproduced a persistent southerly flow. From March 27 through March 31, daily high temperatures ranged from the upper 70s toaround 90.0909Storm Data and Unusual Weather PhenomenaTimePath PathNumber ofEstimatedLocal/ Length WidthPersonsDamageLocation DateStandard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm0100EST1800EST0100EST1800EST0000Urban/Sml Stream FldUrban/Sml Stream Fld09 0200EST0 0Urban/Sml Stream Fld2000ESTTwo low pressure systems formed along a front over the Southeast U.S. One low formed over the Western Gulf of Mexico andanother formed off the Southeast U.S. Coast. As both lows moved north-northeast, they intensified. A strong moist east wind flowdeveloped ahead of the approaching strong warm front.This system produced widespread heavy rainfall including thunderstorms that caused widespread urban and small stream floodingas well as river flooding. Many low-lying and poor drainage areas, including streets were flooded throughout the area.A 250 foot stretch of Steamboat Road in Greenwich was closed due to flooding. The Still River in Danbury overflowed its' banksbehind the Danbury Fair Mall and in back of Stew Leonard's on Federal Road. In Newtown, a dam split, causing the PootatuckRiver to rise. Employees inside two mills along the river evacuated. In Naugatuck, water inundated several home basements.Widespread urban and small stream flooding also occurred in New London County.Rainfall began around 1:30 pm on March 8th across coastal Connecticut and spread north by 5 pm. It became heavy and producedflooding at the times shown above.This system also produced strong wind gusts from 40 to 55 mph that in combination with the heavy rain caused some tree limbs tofall along with scattered power outages. A vessel sank in the waters off Pear Tree Point Beach (Fairfield County) around 5:25 amon Monday, March 9th.Rainfall amounts generally ranged from around 2 1/2 to just over 4 inches. Here are selected rainfall amounts:o For Fairfield County, from 2.52 inches at Bridgeport to 3.08 inches at Danbury. A new daily rainfall record of 1.98 inches wasset at Bridgeport. The old record was 0.48 inches in 1995.o For New Haven County, from 3.19 inches at Ansonia to 4.10 inches at North Branford.March 1998CTZ006-008-010o For New London County, from 2.95 inches at Groton to 3.89 inches at the Norwich Public Utilities.Northern New Haven - Northern New London - Southern New Haven09 0800EST0 0Flood11 0600ESTTwo low pressure systems formed along a front over the Southeast U.S. One low formed over the Western Gulf of Mexico andanother formed off the Southeast U.S. Coast. As both lows moved north-northeast, they intensified. A strong moist east wind flowdeveloped ahead of the approaching strong warm front.This system produced widespread heavy rainfall including thunderstorms that caused moderate river flooding and widespread urbanand small stream flooding across the area.The Wepawaug River at Milford (Southern New Haven County) was at or above its' flood stage from 12:15 pm on March 9ththrough 5:30 am on March 10th. It crested at 4.80 feet (0.80 feet above its' flood stage) on March 9th around 8:30 pm.The Quinnipiac River at Wallingford (Northern New Haven County) was at or above its' flood stage from 8 am on March 9ththrough 6 am on March 11th. It crested at 10.24 feet (3.24 feet above its' flood stage) on March 9th around 11:05 pm.The Yantic River at Norwich (Northern New London County) was at or above its' flood stage from 8:30 pm on March 9th through34 28