Artistic Geeks Rain Cool Sounds Movie

I didn't know what else to call it, ha! We are not going see any rain around here for at least the next 5 days with a really sunny and dry stretch of weather ahead of us. But a loyal viewer from Allentown (thanks Jay) sent me this video so we can hear what rain sounds like anytime...from an artistic perspective.

Come up with a better title for this blog post and I will use it!

More Like Rainstorm Danny

Wind impacts look minimal as Danny scoots just east of Cape Cod Saturday night. By that time Danny will either be a tropical storm or an extratropical storm (a storm that has lost it's tropical characteristics and looks more like--say, a nor'easter).

This will be a rain event more than anything else. BUT we could see LOTS of rain tonight and tomorrow with 2-4" expected with localized higher amounts. Flooding could be an issue for many places!

So the forecast for CT on Saturday: Rain, heavy at times, tapering off late in the afternoon. Bottom-line, a great day to stay inside and watch a movie/read a book. Sorry but it looks like the basement could flood with this one!


Here is the latest data from the National Hurricane Center and other info on the tropics!

FOX61 Storm Central is a great resource too with easy to follow graphics/information.

There is a Flood Watch in effect for the state tonight through Saturday afternoon. This is the statement issued by the NWS:

"Periods of heavier rain are anticipated later tonight that could bring flash flooding to the area as early as tonight. Additional rains... heavy at times... more directly associated with Danny are expected for Saturday. This will bring a continued threat for small stream and urban flooding. Event rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected... with localized higher totals.

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop."

Where Do I Know You From?

I meet a lot of people out in public who recognize me but they can't figure out how. Apparently I look much younger and shorter in person. Great! I end up hearing the strangest comparisons as people try to figure out who I could be.

Apple Picking Season Right Around The Corner

 
I made sure to get this story done fast...it was 93 degrees that day! The apples were practically cooking right on the trees!

Feeling HOT, HOT, HOT!

Some of you have been asking for info on the heat wave with specific temperatures over the past few days. I aim to please...

Hartford (Bradley Intl. Airport Official Climate Station):

Saturday, August 15th: 90 degrees
Sunday, August 16th: 91 degrees
Monday, August 17th: 94 degrees

A heat wave is defined as three or more days where the temperature is at least 90 degrees. This will probably be a 4-5 day heat wave when all is said and done. We'll probably hit the mid 90s again today, and then get near 90 tomorrow. Watch my forecast below for all the details.

REMEMBER to take care of yourself...the heat can be more dangerous than you think! Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing, stay out of direct sunlight, avoid strenuous activity outside, stay hydrated and spend some time in the shade or air conditioning.

The Original Gangsta's of FOX61

The original FOX61 News Team from back in September 1984!

You may recognize two people in this photo who still work at the station. Rich Coppola looks ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME! So he sticks out like a sore thumb. Anyone else look familiar? The guy on the right? That's morning meteorologist Joe Fury! Pat Sheehan is also in the pic. Someone told me who that woman was but I forgot...feel free to post her name in the comments section.

Outfit of the Day

Myself with Rachel Lutzker and Joy Lim Nakrin after the morning show.

I got this picture from "Rachel's Outfit of the Day" on the FOX61 website. Yes, this is what it sounds like, a link completely devoted to Rachel Lutzker's wardrobe. Sounds ridiculous, right? Well apparently, it's one of our site's number one pages. You can't make this stuff up! Go Rach! (Sounds like I'm talking to myself.) She has quite the following!

Forecast From Wednesday Night

I had curly hair for the day thanks to Gino from the Gallery! And it only took a whole bottle of hairspray! Also included in the forecast is a tropical discussion...

This video has been deleted...sorry!

Random Thoughts By Rachel Frank

Temperatures:
After struggling with cooler temperatures early this summer, we finally hit the 90 degree mark August 10th and 11th! On an average year, Hartford hits 90 eighteen times. This year we hit 90 four times...I guess we still some catching up to do.

Dancing:
Watch my Grandfather (Boo) dancing to Rihanna. Then notice how my Nanny ignores him and keeps eating. We're pretty serious about food in our family! make sure you watch until the end.

Tropical Depression #2:
The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season has been off to a slow start. Now it looks like activity is picking up. There are several tropical waves I'm watching. Tropical Depression #2 well out in the Atlantic may become Ana, the first named Tropical Storm of the season. Watch for a potential landfall in the US later next week...

Funniest e-mail of the day:
As a bit of background, I had to wear glasses today because I have a stye. Apparently the glasses were a hit because here is one of the e-mails I received. "The hair and glasses were smoking... I don't even know what the weather is going to be like tomorrow." Awesome! Maybe I should get painful pimples under my eyelids more often...

Stay Tuned:
I am editing a YouTube sketch comedy video about being a meteorologist. It's either going to be really funny OR you will never click on this blog again.

End stream of consiousness.

ReminderNews, Vernon

The Vernon ReminderNews recently published an article about the Morrin Education Fund Dinner. I know a bunch you attended, so I thought I would share the article. Even Governor Rell contributed to the community affair which raised over $25,000 not including silent auction items! There are some nice pictures in the article, including one of the FOX61 News team. You may not recognize me in a pony tail. I'm the really really short girl. ;) Thanks again for making this event such a success. Look for more fundraisers to come!

Sunflowers For Wishes

No, this is not a fake or doctored picture. Every year, Buttonwood Farms in Griswold plants 300,000+ sunflowers. At first they were planted for their beauty. But so many people came from all around to visit them and take pictures, the farm came up with a better idea. Now they sell bouquets of the flowers and donate the money to the Make A Wish Foundation. I missed the event this year, but I drove down last week just to see the flowers. All I can say is....WOW! It was even more beautiful than I expected.

Since the festival ended, the farmers unleashed their cows upon the helpless flowers, allowing them to graze. The cows were going nuts! It was like Halloween for them hunting down sunflower seeds and chowing down. They were also very vocal! I was giggling like a little girl remembering the toys I used to play with as a child "a cow says....moooooooo". They certainly do! What a fun day! Click here for more pics from the farm if you're interested.

Here's the link to the Sunflowers For Wishes page. You have to check it out next year! I love exploring Connecticut so tell be about your favorite places to visit in the comment section below(nature, food, whatever)!

NOAA Lowers Hurricane Season Outlook

Remember on June 2nd when I wrote this on my blog? "Every year forecasters put out predictions about the number of storms. I ALWAYS take these numbers with a grain of salt. At times us weather-folk have been known to make a mistake on the 7 day forecast...So how can you expect forecasters to predict the number of tropical storms in a whole season?"

Well, now it seems those forecasters are biting their tongues, changing their initial hurricane predictions for the 2009 season. I would still take the forecast with a grain of salt. But least the predicted number of storms is dropping, and you can thank El Nino. "El Niño produces stronger upper-level westerly winds over the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic Ocean, which help to reduce hurricane activity by blowing away the tops of growing thunderstorm clouds that would normally lead to tropical storms.”

Even though this hurricane season had a quiet start, it's not over yet! The peak usually occurs in late August through October.

Click here to read the NEW forecast for the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

ANOTHER Confirmed Tornado

What an active season!! Connecicut has an average of 1.3 tornadoes per year. Now a THIRD tornado has been confirmed by the National Weather Service. This tornado also occured on July 31st (the same day as the storm in Shelton). Sometimes it takes the NWS a little time to investigate damage before they make a confirmation. The EF1 tornado with winds of up to 100 miles an hour storm touched down in Madison (New Haven County) at 4:28 PM. The twister had a path width of 100 mph and traveled a distance of 2.75 miles. Old trees were uprooted by the fierce winds.

Click here to see pics of the damage from the Madison Volunteer Fire Department

Here is the entire statement issued by the National Weather Service:

"...TORNADO CONFIRMED ON JULY 31 AT MADISON IN NEW HAVEN COUNTY CT...

LOCATION...MADISON IN NEW HAVEN COUNTY CT
DATE...JULY 31 2009
ESTIMATED TIME...428 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...100 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...100 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...2.75 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...41.30N/72.62W
ENDING LAT/LON...41.28N/72.57W
* FATALITIES...0
* INJURIES...0

...SUMMARY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW YORK NY...IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NORTH MADISON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY AND THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF MADISON....HAS CONFIRMED A TORNADO AT MADISON IN NEW HAVEN COUNTY CT ON JULY 31 2009.

THE TORNADO CUT A NARROW...DISCONTINUOUS SWATH OF DAMAGE NEARLY 3 MILES LONG FROM NEAR COPSE TRAIL EAST-SOUTHEAST TO HULL ROAD BETWEEN ACORN AND SAXON ROADS. DOWNED TREES ON WELLSWEEP DRIVE WERE STREWN IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS IN A PATTERN INDICATIVE OF A TORNADO. SNAPPED AND UPROOTED HARDWOOD TREES WERE ALSO INDICATIVE OF MAXIMUM WIND SPEEDS AROUND 100 MPH...OR EF1 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE."

The Cold Hard (& Wet) Facts: June/July

You knew this summer was cold. You knew June and July were wet. But did you know we set new rainfall and temperature records the past two months? At least we receive some sort of acheivement for putting up with this crappy weather!

Hartford/Bradley International Airport CT Official records since 1905 (over 100 years ago!)

Precipitation Records:

This June/July were the #1 wettest on record with 17.44" of rain, that's 9.92" above average! This year beats the previous record of 17.42" which was set back in June/July of 1938.

This July was the #2 wettest on record with 11.17" of rain, that's 7.5" above average! The #1 spot wasn't too far ahead with 11.24" set back in 1938.

Temperature Records:

This June and July was the 5th coldest on record with an average temperture of 68.3 degrees. That's 2.8 degrees below average.

This July was the 6th coolest on record with an average temperture of 70.2 degrees, that's 3.5 degrees below average.

ADDITIONAL REMARKS...

- HARTFORD/BDL NO JUNE OR JULY MAXIMUMS 90 OR HIGHER - TWO SO FAR THIS YEAR.

- THE LAST TIME A 90 DEGREE PLUS DAILY HIGH DID NOT OCCUR IN EITHER JUNE OR JULY WAS BACK IN 1932....PRIOR TO THAT IN 1920 (NO 90 DEGREE HIGHS ALL YEAR)...1915 AND 1906.

- 43 DAILY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL...16 DAILY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ABOVE NORMAL...2 NORMAL IN JUNE AND JULY 2009.

- 37 DAYS OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION 0.01 INCH OR MORE OCCURRED IN JUNE AND JULY 2009...DEPARTURE PLUS 16 DAYS. THIS BEATS THE RECORD FREQUENCY 29 DAYS IN JUNE AND JULY 1959.

Tornado In Shelton, Fairfield County 7-31-09

This is the second tornado this year! The first one touched down in Wethersfield on June 29th. Here is the statement issued by the National Weather Service. If they send any additional updates, I will be sure to post them as well.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service New York, NY
Tornado confirmed near 3 miles south of Shelton in Fairfield County Connecticut

Location: 3 miles south of Shelton in Fairfield county Connecticut.
Date: July 31 2009
Estimated time: 3:56 pm
Maximum EF-scale rating: EF1
Estimated maximum wind speed: 95-105 mph
Maximum path width: 100 yards
Path length: 1/2 mile
• Fatalities...0
• Injuries...0
The National Weather Service in New York NY in collaboration with The CT department of homeland security has confirmed a tornado near 3 miles south of Shelton in Fairfield County Connecticut on July 31 2009.

A narrow path of wind damage extended along the Yutaka trail near Kanungum trail and Agawam trail to long hill avenue near Pochong Trail. The most concentrated wind damage was along the Oronogue Trail...where many trees were downed.