tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50813797630798673802012-02-11T22:00:29.750-05:00CONNECTICUT WEATHER, NEWS AND FOODRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.comBlogger6291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-79880025660391925382012-02-11T12:54:00.003-05:002012-02-11T22:00:29.760-05:00

Skiers and snowboarders are bummed. Connecticut didn’t get a powder day. But don’t take it out on the local mountains! They’re ready for you with or without natural snow. Yesterday I went to Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall to snowboard with my college friend Ryan Hanrahan (also NBC meteorologist). He’s a skier. But we can forgive him for that. ;)Weekdays at Mohawk it only costs $20 for a four hour

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-81550165860826117862012-02-11T11:11:00.003-05:002012-02-11T11:29:48.340-05:00

People often ask me if I'm ever in a bad mood. On TV I'm described as perky, energetic, optimistic and upbeat. Not today.I slept late today. I knew I wasn't going to see any white on the ground when I woke up. My forecast on Thursday called for 2"-4". On Friday, 1"-3", Saturday at 2 AM a coating to 1". The storm had trouble organizing. The atmosphere was getting robbed by a much stronger area

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-2980817007389189972012-02-11T11:06:00.004-05:002012-02-11T11:32:03.083-05:00

The late models are trending down furthur with just a few FLURRIES in western CT. I think the lower end of my previous range may be too high (I was saying 1"-3". Instead... a coating to an inch seems more likely at this point. Don't be shocked if you see a lot of sun tomorrow afternoon. I hate when the forecast changes this much. I'll be cranky all day tomorrow. I'll also be sore all day

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-8003032429724521842012-02-10T16:12:00.002-05:002012-02-10T16:30:03.500-05:00

In the winter without a winter, everyone has been hyping up the snow expected on Saturday. Unfortunately, we’re not getting enough to make the snow lovers happy.The computer models have backed off on the idea of a moderate snow event. The developing coastal low will move too far south and east of CT. The storm will also have trouble getting its act together and will not intensify fast

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-40746494265467924792012-02-09T20:19:00.004-05:002012-02-10T00:35:08.197-05:00

Snow is in the forecast! This winter? Am I dreaming?A front interacting with a coastal low will bring the chance for a plowable snow on Saturday. The front, diving down from Canada will be the leading edge of arctic air. Meanwhile a low pressure system is expected to develop off the coast of the Carolinas on Saturday morning. There are still some questions that need to be answered. How close does

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-64944058088937716932012-02-05T22:50:00.001-05:002012-02-05T22:50:44.123-05:00

Our mild weather continues tomorrow with temperatures topping out near 50 degrees. You might feel a breeze at times with winds out of the southwest at 5 to 15 mph. High pressure will provide mostly sunny skies. A dry front will pass through the area early Tuesday. Although Tuesday will remain mild, temps will tumble into the 30s on Wednesday with the chance for a snow shower. Looking ahead,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-65965848876852132552012-02-01T17:44:00.002-05:002012-02-01T17:55:13.143-05:00

Last January was the snowiest month on record. This year, they're giving roof rakes away for free. What a difference one year can make!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-33778151943315063522012-02-01T17:22:00.005-05:002012-02-02T12:32:21.400-05:00

Bridgeport set a new daily record high tempeature today of 62 degrees. The previous record was 57 degrees set in 1989. Temperatures rocketed 6 degrees between 3 and 4PM. Why the big jump in temps? No one else in the state climbed more than 1-2 degrees.The wind was blowing out of the southwest all day long. That brings air over the cooler long island sound. At 3 PM the air temp was 56. Then the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-30010002797691277682012-01-31T17:00:00.002-05:002012-01-31T17:05:28.816-05:00

So any chance of storminess late week is GONE. Here’s a snapshot of the BUFKIT through next Tuesday night. The red and green lines show temp and dewpoint according to one of our computer models called the GFS. Time increases from right to left (just to confuse you). But I want you to focus on the red and green swatches at the bottom right of the screen. This is relative humidity and is usually a

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-13740742883081218542012-01-29T19:53:00.002-05:002012-01-29T20:11:11.056-05:00

Clouds will increase tonight as a cold front approaches. A few snow showers/flurries are possible after midnight with temps dropping into the upper 20s to low 30s.You will feel a breeze kick on Monday with winds gusting up to 30 mph. High pressure will provide partly to mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s. An approaching warm front will trigger a period of light

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-25360045926506037452012-01-29T13:49:00.005-05:002012-01-29T13:55:38.522-05:00

After four months of filling in for Rachel Lutzker on Morning Extra at 9 am, I’m back to working nights! You can catch my weathercasts on the News at 4 and 10 PM Sunday through Thursday nights. Don’t worry Geoff Fox fans! You can still get your fix at 11 PM.It was really fun filling in for Rachel Lutzker. Remember, I’m a meteorologist. I didn’t go to school to be an anchor or a host. I didn’

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-17987309502672546572012-01-21T16:04:00.006-05:002012-01-21T16:46:46.877-05:00

I'm on a computer at my grandparent's house in Las Vegas. I left out of Newark this morning on one of the few flights that actually got off the ground! I should be spending time with my family. I haven't seen them in one year. But I couldn't shake my anxiety. I had to check up on snowfall totals.This was one of the few occasions southern Connecticut received more snow than the northern half of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-8421712657243471132012-01-20T17:06:00.001-05:002012-01-20T17:07:34.404-05:00

The biggest storm of the year is on the way, although that’s not saying much!!Timing: 3-7 AM snow begins, heavy at times through noon-1PM. Snow will stick to the roads immediately. Even salted roads are no match for temps in the teens! Snow ending Mid-late afternoon.Accumulations: 3”-6” of a light powdery snow. Locally higher amounts are possible because of the fluff factor. I wouldn’t be

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-45461219602969850252012-01-18T17:01:00.005-05:002012-01-18T20:22:25.293-05:00

Should I even call this next one a storm? Last year this "storm" would just be a hiccup compared to the feet of snow from our barrage of January nor'easters.Our weather will remain during the DAY tomorrow with highs in the 30s. Morning sunshine will fade behind increasing clouds. This is a quick hitter. Right now it looks like the snow will start around or just after the evening commute. So head

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-59075349422116985722012-01-18T16:42:00.003-05:002012-01-18T20:18:19.954-05:00

You can read the ctnow.com and courant articles here.I did not know Dr. Mel personally. But I feel like I do. Don't we all feel like we know people that we watch from our living room?Joe Furey, who is one of my mentors, was mentored by Dr. Mel. A few times Joe would teach me something that Dr. Mel taught him. So I guess Dr. Mel was teaching me indirectly. Joe says he was an incredibly smart man.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-69913480217748807582012-01-17T16:30:00.005-05:002012-01-17T16:43:45.195-05:00

Well, it’s official: winter has finally found its way back to Connecticut. After a freak October storm, we had quite a dry spell. Last night we added a little to the snow to the bank, 2.3" for Windsor Locks. Compared to last year, 2012 is a walk in the park!BridgeportSnow this season: 5.0"This Date last year: 33.2"Below normal: -6.6"Windsor LocksSnow this season: 14.6"This Date last year: 45.4"

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-48364305224843150632012-01-12T10:18:00.008-05:002012-01-12T11:39:27.382-05:00

The northwest hills received a coating to 1"-2" of snow with a few spots recording 3" at the very highest elevations. A few other towns in northern CT also picked up a coating to an inch. Although other areas inland may have seen a brief mix, everyone changed over to rain this morning. Rain will come down heavy at times with lightning, thunder and gusty winds. Here are some of the NWS snowfall

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-6260858357076923202012-01-06T10:29:00.002-05:002012-01-06T10:32:21.653-05:00

A massive two-day warm-up is underway thanks to a dome of high pressure shifting eastward from the toasty Midwest. High temps will rise into the 40s to near 50 Friday and Saturday. Still, for all the pattern shifts, the atmosphere is starkly lacking moisture and will continue to stay dry for the time being.Temperatures will remain a few degrees warmer than normal throughout next week, as a stable

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-85811233654311426182012-01-02T17:00:00.002-05:002012-01-02T17:02:59.368-05:00

After the 3rd warmest December on record...We are finally in for a big cool down! Here's the catch, the arctic air will only be around for TWO DAYS with daytime highs in the 20s and low temperatures in the single digits tomorrow night. Sorry snow lovers, other than a few flurries the forecast remains dry.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-49469572905626103562012-01-02T09:41:00.002-05:002012-01-02T09:43:23.206-05:00

Theluxuryspot.com joins us to talk about the weirdest products of the year. Earthworm poop cream anyone??

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-26966633107847351722011-12-23T09:55:00.000-05:002011-12-23T09:55:34.428-05:00

Create Your Own Wine, Beer And Soda At Cork And BrewThey’ve uncorked something new to Connecticut, a place where you can make your own wine, brew your own beer, and concoct your own soda. There is lots brewing on North Main Street in Southington at Cork & Brew where your inner vintner can come out.I got to make a cameo in this story, without even knowing about it!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-47407246246628416682011-12-23T07:52:00.002-05:002011-12-23T07:56:21.395-05:00

Well Erika learned how to professionally wrap. They just had me throw an old shirt over my gift. Somehow I managed to start singing in the middle of the interview. Typical. Watch here.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-48023130738040976882011-12-22T14:54:00.002-05:002011-12-22T15:03:44.741-05:00

There are three different definitions of winter.Solar winter: November - Januaryis the quarter of the year with the lowest sun angle and shortest days.Meteorological winter: December-Januaryis the coolest quarter of the year with the lowest average temperatures and the most snow and ice.Astronomical winter: December 22-March 20is the most familiar to you! Astronomical winter has to do with the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-41345683885234203092011-12-21T16:40:00.002-05:002011-12-21T16:45:32.913-05:00

The man in red talks about being good, the elves, and the elf on the shelf.Watch the video here.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-7140028072889275262011-12-21T16:25:00.000-05:002011-12-21T16:27:08.059-05:00

When it comes to tire traction, kitty litter is better than sand. Who knew?Watch my live interview from Morning Extra here!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-89039027063731817862011-12-15T22:23:00.003-05:002011-12-15T22:28:39.642-05:00

Watch Steve Yopp, executive chef of Besito make Champurrado, or Mexican hot chocolate! It was so good! The flavors are more complex than regular hot chocolate and it has a thicker consistency.Ingredients:4 cups Milk½ cup Ground Mexican Chocolate ½ cup Dark Chocolate 1 stick Canela (Mexican Cinnamon) 3 tbsp Corn Masa ½ cup Sugar(Optional)Steps to Make:1. Heat the milk gently over medium heat, with

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-30400341059241840932011-12-15T21:42:00.004-05:002011-12-15T22:09:14.018-05:00

Will we have a white Christmas? It's an age-old question that occurs to almost everyone this time of year. The National Climatic Data Center calculated the chance of a white Christmas by looking at a 30 year average from 1961-1990. I think their results are too high for Bridgeport and Hartford.Hartford57% chance of an inch on the ground27% chance of 3"3% chance of 10"Bridgeport30% chance of an

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-64206406453065214092011-12-11T17:35:00.004-05:002011-12-11T17:47:56.819-05:00

Little or no snow fell in Hartford and points south and east. I did think we would get more accumuation in the Litchfield hils. But the cold air didn't come in fast enough! Still, there were plenty of school delays in the higher elevations where it looked like a winter wonderland for a little while.This was more of a rain and wind storm than anything else. A peak wind gust of 56 mph was reported

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-22433257211179660262011-12-09T09:39:00.004-05:002011-12-11T17:52:27.286-05:00

Pat yourself on the back. We deserve some recognition after the wet year we survived! It all started with record breaking snowfall in January, then it was remnants of tropical storm Lee, tropical storm Irene, an October Nor'easter and lastly a rainy Tuesday/Wednesday.Now 2011 will go down in the record books as....THE WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD!! 2011: 66.97"Previous record (2008): 65.42Records for

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-90663028397058648752011-12-07T17:11:00.002-05:002011-12-07T17:20:51.053-05:00

I have adjusted snowfall accumulations down a smidge. Little or no accumulation for areas south and east of Hartford. A slushy coating to an inch everywhere else. The exception will be northern Litchfield County which can still pick up 2"-5" of wet snow. Here is the 9Z NAM. I like it better than the 12Z which looks a little too cold. Ski/Snowboard areas in MA/VT/NH could get anywhere from 3"-12"

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-68979292364871708812011-12-06T17:28:00.003-05:002011-12-06T17:31:18.513-05:00

WOW! 50s again today!? No wonder no one believes me when I tell them it’s December! The cold front preceding cold air to our west has stalled. That means we have one more mild, showery day before temperatures tumble.Tonight: mild with shower and patchy fog. Low: 45-50.Keep in mind, the low temperature tonight is above the average high temperature for this time of year!Tomorrow: Times of rain,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-41420228907525665502011-12-02T16:02:00.011-05:002011-12-02T16:42:15.766-05:00

My new addiction is weatherspark.com. The site takes boring weather stats and turns them into easy-to-read (pretty) weather charts and graphs.The month of December is characterized by falling daily high temperatures (thank you captain obvious). Daily high temps decreasing from 46°F to 38°F over the course of the month. Daily low temperatures range from 24°F to 31°F.Daily High and Low Temperature

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-38943386507988244792011-12-02T13:36:00.004-05:002011-12-02T13:57:23.794-05:00

November is notoriously cloudy. According to weatherspark.com, a website that collects and charts climate data, November is “cloudy” or “mostly cloudy” 55% of the time. See below.Not this year. This year the sky was cloudy only 30% of the time with 21 days spent partly cloudy or clear conditions.This November was also very mild with an average high temperature of 57.2 degrees. We had 13 days in

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-13959343914317557762011-12-02T13:36:00.001-05:002011-12-02T13:36:50.006-05:00

Welcome to winter! Huh? I know, I know. Your calendar says winter starts December 22nd when the sun’s rays shine over the tropic of Capricorn. That’s astronomical winter. But in meteorology, we like to keep things simple.The coldest quarter of the year is December through February. So we call those three months, meteorological winter. So here we go snow lovers….it’s only a matter of time

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-43981379453677731922011-11-30T14:18:00.006-05:002011-11-30T16:10:14.137-05:00

Here is a graphic I made showing the number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes this year. Let's not lie...there's only one hurricane that truly mattered to us this year. Hopefully another decade goes by before I say that again!2011 Season Highlights This level of activity matched NOAA’s predictions and continues the trend of active hurricane seasons that began in 1995.The 19

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-8180340475611624692011-11-30T14:05:00.002-05:002011-11-30T14:13:01.565-05:00

Another inch of rain last night helped us climb from the #4 to #3 spot. In over one hundred years of record keeping, this is the third wettest for Windsor Locks.Since January 1st: 64.22"#1 Wettest Year: 65.42" (2008)We need 1.2" of rain to break the record. With an entire month lelft to collect, it's almost certain we get there. And I hope I never have to talk about breaking the record again!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-32069080874049753352011-11-29T16:54:00.002-05:002011-11-29T17:01:56.431-05:00

Windsor Locks set a new record high today of 66 degrees. This shatters the old record of 63 degrees set back in 2005.It's November? REALLY!?Cooler air will slowly leak into Connecticut by this weekend when the calendar reads "December". The cooler air will arrive behind a front bringing heavy rain at times tonight. Temperatures will stay in the 50s tomorrow. By this weekend 40s are in the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-18076285901613610382011-11-29T16:29:00.003-05:002011-11-29T16:54:56.960-05:00

On black friday I had the pleasure of going to the dreaded mall. (Cue scary music)Actually...the Meriden Mall had surprisingly normal crowds. I was secretly hoping to see some elbow throwing (while watching from a safe distace).But I digress...Nothing was going to keep me from the mall because I was there to help the Marine Corps collect Toys For Tots. The programs has collected 400 million toys

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-62494824177915866842011-11-28T08:14:00.006-05:002011-11-28T08:34:43.152-05:00

I had a blast covering the 75th annual Manchester Road Race. Sure, working Thanksgiving is never really ideal. But does watching a race surrounded by people dressed up in rejected Halloween costumes count as work? Here is the highlight of my TV career:Watch me and winner Brian Olinger have a little fun! Some pics I snapped during coverage:Hanging with Joe Furey on the way to the race! Yes, I'm

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-64039421506646748962011-11-22T17:21:00.003-05:002011-11-22T17:27:33.367-05:00

Tomorrow morning will be nasty for the commute with heavy rain and gusty winds. Prepare for traffic. People don’t know how to drive in the rain (aint it the truth)!The heaviest rain is expected after midnight tonight through 10 AM tomorrow (Wednesday). Rain will taper off throughout the afternoon to scattered showers. So if you have plans to drive tomorrow, the later, the better! 1”-3” of rain is

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-17772231965745097562011-11-21T16:57:00.003-05:002011-11-21T17:11:22.739-05:00

You will have no problem traveling during the day tomorrow. Rain will move in tomorrow (Tuesday) night with the heaviest between midnight Wednesday to noon Wednesday. 1"-2" of rain is forecast during one of the biggest travel days of the year. Ouch. Hey, at least it's not snow! Skiers and snowboarders should head to northern New England where it's cold enough for a few inches of snow in

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-51959403622673110842011-11-20T21:09:00.008-05:002011-11-20T21:32:38.315-05:00

“How are you ignoring this possible storm Tues/Wed next week....isn't there a shot for snow??”This is a tweet I received on Friday and I continue to hear messages about a potential snow storm for Wednesday. I’m not sure who was sounding the alarm on this one…but it wasn’t anyone I work with!A storm moving in on Tuesday night into Wednesday will take a northerly track through central New York,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-55584208320842242262011-11-16T16:34:00.005-05:002011-11-16T16:44:35.433-05:00

The NWS will double check the numbers. But according to my calculations, 2011 is now the 5th wettest year on record for Windsor Locks with 61.15" (as of 4pm Wednesday). We need less than half an inch to climb up to the #4 spot.To shatter all records and climb to #1, we need to see 4.28" or precipitation between now and December 31. I think we have a pretty good shot! Records date back to 1905.At

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-9354002106834553272011-11-15T14:54:00.004-05:002011-11-16T09:13:35.794-05:00

Today on Morning Extra(weekdays 9-10) I got to hold a fennec fox from the children's museum. It was the highlight of my morning show career! Check out their ears! AND they're fully grown! I want one. Plus, my cats are bigger than they are so there shouldn't be a problem.Click here to watch the video!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-75299565466055703162011-11-15T11:55:00.002-05:002011-11-15T11:56:23.294-05:00

One thing I hate about working mornings: walking out the door only to face the coldest temperatures of the day. I have a hard enough time getting out the door as it is.But this morning was a treat! Temperatures starting in the 50s in NOVEMBER? The average low temperature is in the 30s. Right now it’s 66 in Willimatic, at 11:00 AM! We’re getting spoiled!So where IS the cold air? Very close.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-58255807468975256112011-11-10T20:51:00.005-05:002011-11-11T07:21:58.539-05:00

Tonight I helped kick start the holidays at Westfarms mall. Yeah, yeah I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet.Westfarms mall unveiled their new Ice Palace AND the winner of "The Voice", Javier Colon performed some holiday songs and his new single, "As Long As We Got Love".There was a huge turn out, I was shocked! Javier is from West Hartford so he has a lot of love and support here in Connecticut.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-16636251565975954492011-11-10T12:53:00.009-05:002011-11-10T13:57:56.278-05:00

Joe Furey is one of my favorite people in the world. He’s a great friend, a loving Dad and one hell of a meteorologist! Sometimes he calls just to say hi and we end up talking for an hour! He calls me his fifth daughter.Joe’s wife Tracy (who works for WFSB) wanted to plan a surprise party for his birthday at the New England Air Museum. She asked if I would help make a guest list and hand out

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-86940494308557338332011-11-08T11:56:00.003-05:002011-11-08T12:00:19.334-05:00

October 29th, 3:00 PM. Yes, home at last to track a storm from my couch! I just finished a ten hour workday and was settling in for a night of storm tracking. It’s so rare for me to be home to actually enjoy a snow storm. Yes, I realize how ridiculous that must sound to some of you. But while I’m at work on storm coverage, I’m stressed out. I am constantly hitting the refresh button checking

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-28807838937066347852011-11-02T07:44:00.003-04:002011-11-02T07:52:44.403-04:00

According to the Courant, the same out of state power crews that helped after Irene will NOT come back this time because they haven't been paid. REALLY? 99% of the state is supposed to have power back by Sunday. I find that hard to believe.You can read the article here

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-8335639796373515002011-10-31T12:02:00.008-04:002011-10-31T16:39:20.593-04:00

The October Nor’easter was the storm of a lifetime. Really. Many of you will not see destruction like this from a snowstorm for the rest of your lives. And now all you ghosts, goblins and Lady Gagas will be trick or treating for the first time on plowed driveways. That is…if your town doesn’t cancel the holiday festivities.Why was it so bad?If this storm happened two weeks later, we would have

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-9524644159326566262011-10-31T07:39:00.005-04:002011-10-31T12:11:03.247-04:00

Snow Totals:Litchfield CountyFairfield, Middlesex, New Haven CountiesHartford, Tolland, Windham CountiesI'll have time to talk more about this later! For now I have to get ready for FOX CT Morning Extra.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-70757924866716543162011-10-29T17:15:00.007-04:002011-10-31T07:33:57.498-04:00

I was about to hit "publish" on this post right before the power went out. I don't use the word dangerous very often. Over 325,000 people (including me) are now without power. Thats is 25% of CL&P's consumers. Trees, branches and powerlines are falling all across the state & the worst of the storm hasn't even hit yet.This is a very heavy wet snow with a low snow to liquid ratio, meaning it's

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-20265372924052976332011-10-29T12:51:00.002-04:002011-10-29T13:06:53.366-04:00

Hmmmm....I thought the NAM (computer model) was too cold. But we are changing over to snow way too quickly along the shoreline. This could mean more snow for New Haven, Bridgeport. I initially had the shore in the 6"-10" range but bumped them down to 3"-6" because I anticipated more mixing. (Read blog post below) I'll keep an eye on things and let you know if I need to go back to my original

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-73922360247219283032011-10-29T12:10:00.003-04:002011-10-29T12:13:46.382-04:00

Check out the heavy sleet band heading for the shoreline. Many areas in southern Connecticut now reporting light snow. Heavy snow is falling in Greenwich and Stamford right now with light rain in New London.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-73080711438336670922011-10-29T10:06:00.002-04:002011-10-29T10:15:28.646-04:00

This morning is the time to run your errands! The weather will deteriorate throughout the afternoon and tonight.The overnight models haven’t changed much. I’m comfortable with 6”-12” inland. But the shoreline/SE CT is a much harder forecast with the opportunity for more rain to mix in. I will need to closely monitor everything throughout the day and “nowcast” as they call it.Don’t be

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-54057625129757743042011-10-28T20:22:00.004-04:002011-11-02T14:59:13.416-04:00

The biggest October storm in recent history was October 4, 1987. But this event was primarily in western Connecticut. Norfolk recorded 9.5” of snow. But Hartford got a little coating (trace).The most snow ever recorded in October for greater Hartford is 1.7” on October 10, 1979. All we need Saturday is to 2” to break the record and I think we will triple that number! Timing:The storm will

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-37943642906037044112011-10-27T20:36:00.001-04:002011-10-27T20:37:53.629-04:00

Sorry for the bad audio/video synch. Bad kung foo movie times 10!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-35531164573818004202011-10-25T13:40:00.002-04:002011-10-25T16:17:09.979-04:00

Ahhh yes, the four letter “S” word. In October people act like I’m curing when I say it. Snow. We have two chances to see flakes flying around here in the next five days. But don’t go buying milk and eggs just yet! Thursday a cold rain will break out across Connecticut. Temps will stay in the 40s so grab an umbrella AND a warm jacket. But as the storm exits Thursday night into Friday

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-50222338951769479872011-10-24T12:20:00.001-04:002011-10-24T12:20:41.230-04:00

A cold front will pass through tonight bringing some scattered showers. Tomorrow the front stalls to our south and bright sunshine temporarily returns. Winds will be gusty out of the NW 15-25 mph. Clouds will increase on Wednesday with a few scattered showers. I think most of Wednesday will be dry. Not Thursday. Thursday looks very wet and chilly with periods of heavy rain and temps stuck in

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-52703657778361993012011-10-23T18:22:00.000-04:002011-10-23T18:23:38.346-04:00

I’m sort of obsessed with Regis Philbin. And I heard there was a private tribune dinner for Reg at Mohegan Sun this weekend. I wasn’t cool enough to get invited. But I pulled some strings and scored two tickets for me and my sister. I heard there would be surprise celebrity guests! BUT…no one was more exciting then Regis. Susan Lucci and the host of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ made an

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-530796235372321572011-10-20T16:29:00.006-04:002011-10-20T16:41:06.289-04:00

Since January 1st, the greater Hartford area has received 58.28” of precipitation. That makes this year the 6th wettest on record! And records date back to 1905!If we just get “average” precipitation in November (4.06”) and December (3.6”) we’ll beat the #1 wettest year on record!The Top Ten Wettest Years (Since 1905)Windsor Locks, CT 2008: 65.43"1972: 64.55"1955: 62.94"1938: 61.63"1920:

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-71464740033136233422011-10-18T12:20:00.004-04:002011-10-18T12:27:50.953-04:00

I helped emcee the 2011 Black & Blue Ball which helps raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I never did an auction before so I was very nervous. But it was a lot of fun and the event helped raise over $30,000 for the MDA!Zuko from WCCC also helped with the auction. He was super sweet and we worked really well together!With some of the amazing people that work with kids who have

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-42133231443761971262011-10-16T16:00:00.005-04:002011-10-16T16:24:35.255-04:00

This was the first marathon for the 2011 female winner Erica Jesseman! REALLY!? You go girl! Check out all the pics and finalists on CTNOW.com.Plus, if you ran in the race you can enter your last name or bib number on CTNOW.com to watch video of yourself crossing the finish line!Our very own Joe Furey ran in the 5K and kicked butt!! He lost 70 pounds in a few months by training at Akua Ba fitness

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-36159091527424632612011-10-13T16:30:00.001-04:002011-10-13T18:04:43.978-04:00

The rain has stopped for now…But we aren’t done yet! Many places received a quick 1”-1.5” early this morning. Some towns could add another 1”-2” to the rain gauge before this unsettled weather pattern moves out! Periods of rain will continue, some heavy through tomorrow evening.Here’s the great news! We dry out just in time for the ING Hartford Marathon! I’ll be there covering the race on FOX

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-91841296970269976892011-10-11T22:00:00.001-04:002011-10-11T22:01:24.968-04:00

Yes, I drink at 9 AM. The things I do for my job. ;) 

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-32099380197112233172011-10-11T21:58:00.001-04:002011-10-11T21:59:37.421-04:00

 

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-74838033444206315552011-10-10T16:31:00.001-04:002011-10-10T16:32:24.063-04:00

 

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-46658809698343682492011-10-05T22:23:00.002-04:002011-10-05T22:27:19.831-04:00

You may want to close the windows tonight! Or just reach for a heavy blanket. Temperatures will drop into the 30s inland, low 40s along the shore with scattered frost! A Frost Advisory is in effect for southern Litchfield Co. with a Freeze Warning for northern Litchfield. Frost can damage plants. A freeze means widespread temps near or below freezing will kill all plants/crops ending the growing

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-44031836095750017932011-10-04T21:17:00.005-04:002011-10-04T21:25:16.958-04:00

Mohegan Sun hosted the sold-out MADD About Dancing, featuring local celebrities partnered with professional dancers from the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. I won the award for top female dancer, and Waterford Patch Editor Paule Petrone won for best male dancer. He only practiced for three weeks!Contestants included Morgan Aramone(Miss CT), Jennifer Bosworth, Sonia Baghdady, Kevin Hogan, Gil Simmons

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-18605761898935502682011-10-04T16:32:00.005-04:002011-10-04T17:14:29.254-04:00

We are a few tenths of an inch away from the 10th wettest year on record and it's only October! Windsor Locks is already 20" of precip above average so far this year.The wettest year on record is 2008 with 65.63". If we get an average amount of precip for October, November and December, we will beat the current record by .07". This could very well be the wettest year on record!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-1711449043634980282011-09-26T20:07:00.003-04:002011-09-26T20:41:33.072-04:00

As many of you know, FOX added an extra hour to the morning show, starting today. The AM News now extends from 4:30 AM - 10 AM. You could fly to Los Angeles in the amount of time we are on air every morning!The last hour of show 9-10 AM is NOT your typical newscast. The show will be more of a conversation between Erika Arias and Rachel Lutzker about current events, health issues, style, cooking

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-602708353142520702011-09-25T22:53:00.001-04:002011-09-25T22:54:33.337-04:00

Summer warmth and humidity are going strong with temperatures soaring into the 70s and 80s again on Monday under partly sunny skies. Tuesday will remain mild and muggy with more clouds around and the chance for a late day shower in parts of the state. There is a better chance for widespread rain on Wednesday and Thursday when a slow moving storm finally moves away! Humidity will fall

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-45311582705108462592011-09-21T19:13:00.002-04:002011-09-21T19:16:30.238-04:00

The color grey is here to stay! A slow moving storm will bring unsettled weather today right through the middle of next week with waves of clouds and showers. Today feels like summer for the last day of the season! Temperatures will climb into the 70s with mostly cloudy skies and scattered showers. The humidity is creeping up too! Rain will become more steady and possibly heavy tomorrow with

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-88294756952257382792011-09-18T21:41:00.001-04:002011-09-18T21:42:56.317-04:00

Although this week will start off feeling like autumn, a warming trend will allow summer weather to briefly return midweek. Monday remains dry and cooler than average with temperatures stuck in the 60s and partly to mostly sunny skies. Warmer air will start to invade Tuesday, triggering a few showers. Wednesday will be milder and increasingly humid with temperatures in the mid and upper 70s!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-69857373249433015832011-09-16T17:16:00.004-04:002011-09-16T17:31:10.091-04:00

Enjoying the foliage last year.The chill in the air today reminds us that fall is just days away! You can already see a few colors on the trees. But could the heavy, tropical downpours this season stifle some of the fall colors? According to a Courant article by Edmond Mahony, yes!"All that moisture is nurturing the growth of molds that wither tree leaves and threaten to dull the seasonal

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-4570982027531878862011-09-15T18:23:00.004-04:002011-09-16T17:35:13.375-04:00

A strong cold front is giving summer the boot! This first cold blast may feel a bit more like winter when contrasted with Wednesday’s (record breaking! — at least in Bridgeport, Conn.) warm temperatures. Here are some graphics I was planning on showing tonight on-air. Don't tell my boss I'm unveiling them early for my loyal blog readers. :)The last time daytime highs were in the 60s and lows were

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-76124446593131426472011-09-15T16:57:00.003-04:002011-09-15T17:04:59.017-04:00

Thanks to Bill Riordan for sending these cool lightning pics! These were taken in Hartford last night from the Park Place Towers! GORGEOUS! But the storms were LOUD for people who were trying to sleep.The rapid expansion of heated air causes thunder. Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder is heard after the lightning. If you see lightning and hear thunder at the same time, that

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-49222985338033152752011-09-14T17:04:00.002-04:002011-09-14T17:14:00.907-04:00

At 1:39 PM, Bridgeport set a new daily record high temperature of 86 degrees! This breaks the previous record of 85 set back in 1995. At 5:00 PM the temp in Bridgeport is 81 degrees. For most of the day winds were blowing out the southwest over the cooler water of the LI sound. But a quick wind shift out of the west resulted in a brief spike in temperatures!Enjoy the summer warmth. Because it's

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-21175261527792408852011-09-13T12:17:00.005-04:002011-09-13T12:31:32.751-04:00

10 days until the Autumnal equinox--Fall begins September 23rd at 5:05 A.M. Today is nice and summery. But later this week...a sign of what's ahead. A cold front Wed-Thu will knock temps on their butt.Here is the WRF computer model showing temps for Thursday night/Friday morning. While we will easily drop into the 40s (green shading), some places in northern New England could fall into the 30s (

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-74613250323985381282011-09-08T17:39:00.008-04:002011-09-08T19:07:05.257-04:00

The soil was saturated after heavy rain in August. Then Irene caused rivers and streams to flood all across the state. And just when you thought everything was back to normal...Lee came to pay us a visit. Sure, we only got Lee's "remnants". But Lee was the straw that broke the camel's back. The rivers were already swollen and this latest round of rain sent some rivers EVEN HIGHER than they were

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-26673023099987461362011-09-08T17:20:00.004-04:002011-09-08T17:38:15.423-04:00

Last night Bradley International Airport recorded 3.65" of rain! Rainfall rates were over an inch per hour for two hours. I have to admit the heavy rain last night wasn't in the forecast. I called for showers and a few heavy downpours but there was no hint of the flooding that followed. The computer models were blindsided, the radar was fairly quiet, even at 11 PM. Looking back, I didn't "miss"

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-46843395462537538772011-09-06T17:23:00.001-04:002011-09-06T17:24:56.749-04:00

Labor Day weekend is considered by many to be the unofficial end to summer, and this week the weather seems to agree! Temperatures stayed in the 60s today with periods of rain, making it feel like fall! Tonight rain will continue at varying rates. But I think the steady heavy rain ends by late tonight. Wednesday and Thursday will also have a soggy fall feel. BUT the worst is over. The next

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-23072257762529422452011-09-01T18:00:00.002-04:002011-09-01T18:01:11.930-04:00

Downed trees, powerlines, river flooding, storm surge...WOW.  While many of you got lucky with little or no damage, Irene has changed the lives of some people living in Connecticut.  I took these pictures from CTNOW.com.  Click here to see more. Milford ( Bettina Hansen ): A beachfront home was heavily damaged after Hurricane Irene ripped through the area Sunday, August 28, 2011 in Milford,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-28531670978302592382011-09-01T17:24:00.001-04:002011-09-01T17:27:31.740-04:00

I'm stealing one of Geoff's blog entries now.  One of his good friends, Bob Hart, a renowned expert in tropical meteorology and a North Branford native wrote an essay recapping the coverage of Irene on FOX CT. I obviously like the fact that he complements our forecasting.  But even better...he recaps the storm, discusses the hype factor, and addresses Irene's forecasting challenges. "First, I

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-71574627501957784232011-09-01T17:11:00.000-04:002011-09-01T17:11:26.577-04:00

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been promoting the fact it “nailed” Irene’s track four days out. Their home page features a satellite animation following the National Hurricane Center (NHC) track issued at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 23. You have heard me say this before. Four days out, the average tropical forecast error is 200 miles. So that makes this forecast

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-79151921279738276242011-08-30T19:16:00.002-04:002011-08-31T21:17:10.100-04:00

The Housatonic and Farmington rivers have already peaked and are receding. The Connecticut River is cresting right now in Hartford. But in Middletown the river will cresting up near major flood stage early tomorrow morning. The amount of flooding will mimic spring 2007. By this weekend all rivers will be back to normal! But don’t jump in the water yet, there is still a lot of debris floating

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-15241663710121149262011-08-30T17:07:00.000-04:002011-08-30T17:07:16.176-04:00

Connecticut River Rising; Flooding Expected In Middletown

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-44235762608789999922011-08-30T16:32:00.001-04:002011-08-30T16:32:50.620-04:00

 

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-35212311130971311852011-08-28T19:29:00.016-04:002011-08-28T20:19:47.601-04:00

At least 25 homes in East Haven were completely destroyed, one person has died, others are missing and more than half the state is without power after Tropical Storm Irene tore through Connecticut. Irene made landfall on the New Jersey shore and then on western Long Island this morning as a weak category 1 or a strong strong tropical storm (that's up for debate). The storm could've been much

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-66861650026093407952011-08-28T11:23:00.002-04:002011-08-28T11:28:42.733-04:00

Irene has been downgraded to a tropical storm as the center moves into western Connecticut. The forward speed has increased to 23 mph (twice the speed Irene was yesterday). That's good for us! The track was slightly west of the official National Hurricane Center forecast. Maximum sustained winds are 40 mph. The storm is transitioning into an extratropical storm (a cold core storm instead of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-73886197575062264242011-08-27T19:08:00.001-04:002011-08-27T19:09:33.552-04:00

Irene is now a category one hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph. The center of Irene is now moving away from North Carolina towards Virginia Beach. The National Hurricane Center track remains unchanged, taking the storm up the eastern coast of New Jersey, making landfall early in the afternoon near Stamford Connecticut as a weak category one hurricane. Even if Irene weakens into a strong

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-8040255461620283282011-08-27T00:30:00.001-04:002011-08-27T00:31:50.443-04:00

The audio is terrible because of the air conditioning. But that's what you get for trying to record video updates on your couch in your pajamas.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-67565897135368762892011-08-26T16:57:00.006-04:002011-08-26T17:20:15.489-04:00

Hurricane Watches for the Connecticut shoreline have been upgraded to Hurricane Warnings now with hurricane force winds likely in the next 36 hours. The storm's inner core has weakened and it's possible that Irene falls just below hurricane strength before reaching southern New England. BUT the impacts will not be very different for us here in CT if the storm is a weak category 1 hurricane or a

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-88678054200036165342011-08-26T11:06:00.005-04:002011-08-26T11:23:09.978-04:00

Irene has once again decreased in intensity caused by wind shear! During the 11 AM update, Irene has sustained winds of 105 mph making her a category 2 hurricane. This decrease in wind speed is good news for North Carolina. But the downgrade has no impact on us here in Connecticut. The forecast remains on track. Given the storm's structure and envoronmental factors, little change in strength is

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-75837387879251102022011-08-26T10:40:00.008-04:002011-08-26T11:37:41.475-04:00

Alright here we go. Irene is taking a very similar track to Gloria. Hurricane Watches are in effect for the southern four counties of the state with Tropical Storm Watches in effect for the northern half of Connecticut. Irene will take a very similar track to Hurricane Gloria. Prepare for similar damage. Storm surge could be even worse. The track from the National Hurricane Center has shifted

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-61784065262108194922011-08-25T17:46:00.005-04:002011-08-25T19:00:22.423-04:00

A direct hit from a cat 1 hurricane is still a likely scenario. All preps for Irene should be ready by Sat night. So you have plenty of time. If this is a direct hit, make sure you have enough non-perishables and supplies to last you a week just in case. If the NHC track is right, we will get the worst from the storm. If it wobbles W, the storm will experience more land interaction and weaken. If

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-46492500218106340812011-08-25T10:23:00.002-04:002011-08-25T10:39:47.389-04:00

In a previous blog post I told you that the models were shifting east with every run. I hoped they would continue on that trend. But our luck ran out. Yesterday some of the models began pushing the storm back west. Other models I trust began following suit. The storm is taking a similar track to Hurricane Gloria but it's moving much slower. That can create additional storm surge problems,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-9555634544511585732011-08-24T18:29:00.004-04:002011-08-24T19:10:31.451-04:00

When I'm at Mohegan Sun I always bring this blackjack strategy card with me. It's allowed, don't worry! The card tells you how to play based on your hand and the dealers card. If I'm dealt a 14 and the dealer has a low card, I know I should stay because the majority of the time, the dealer will bust. Using math and probability, you have a better chance at beating the house. You can use the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-81065668720038907462011-08-24T00:13:00.006-04:002011-08-24T00:46:45.956-04:00

The track continues to push east with every run!! This would be bad. Here's the 11 PM update. Irene is still forecast to become a major hurricane, brushing North Carolina. Then the track shows a hurricane making landfall on LONG ISLAND. But most of the computer models are east of the NHC track at this point. I hope the track continues to move east. Trust me, you do too! Look familiar? Here

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081379763079867380.post-19715075375121270792011-08-23T18:06:00.006-04:002011-08-23T19:04:59.096-04:00

If you felt the ground shake today it was the result of an earthquake all the way from Virginia, 380 miles away! I came into work today blissfully unaware of the earthquake. I walked out of the elevator to a flurry of activity. Shouting, running, news cut-ins…what was happening? I caught up quickly. I had to! Luckily Geoff Fox was at work already and he briefed me on everything so I could start

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436479927377861416noreply@blogger.com0