HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THE WEATHER COOPERATES FOR NEW YEARS EVE PLANS!

Thankfully, the fog from this morning has lifted and the weather is cooperating for fireworks and festivities. If you’re heading out to celebrate New Year’s Eve, dress for temperatures in the 30s around the time of the ball drop.

YEAR IN REVIEW

2015 weather year in review! PLUS...I had a stare down with a cat. And the cat won.
Posted by Meteorologist Rachel Frank on Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 was a wild ride. This December will go down as the warmest on record by a large margin. But do you remember February? Not only was it the coldest February on record, but it was the coldest month ever recorded in Connecticut. After a snowy start to the year, 2015 ended on a dry note, 6-7” below average for Windsor Locks and Bridgeport with a moderate drought statewide. So what’s in store to start off 2016?

Party animals!

WINTER COLD BUT NO SNOW FOR SKIIERS

Looking ahead, we have a real dose of winter cold lined up for early next week. On Monday and/or Tuessday high temperatures will only be in the 20s with lows in the 10s and even single digits for some of the coolest spots. BUT still no snow for the skiers and snowboarders outside of the chance for a few flurries here or there.

From everyone here on the FOX61 Weather Watch team, have a very Happy New Year! Thank you so much for your support and trust.

Forecast Details:

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Midnight Temp: 30-35. Low: 27-32

Friday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance for a late day snow shower or flurry, mainly in northern Connecticut. High: Low 40s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: Upper 30s.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. High: Near 40.

Monday: Cold despite plenty of sunshine. High: 27-32.

Tuesday: Windy and cold. High: 20s.

Mild End To 2015, Some Winter Cold in 2016

ICY SPOTS IN THE HILLS TONIGHT

Most of the state is safe from ice concerns tonight. But temperatures in parts northern Connecticut are still around or below freezing. With areas of drizzle and mist, a fine layer of ice can get deposited on trees and surfaces. Treated roads should be fine for the most part. The big concern is really untreated side streets, your front steps, back deck…etc. Temperatures are expected to hold steady and even slowly rise towards daybreak. Hopefully (it will be a close call), temperatures will climb above freezing when steadier rain arrives later tonight, towards 11 PM – 1AM.

MILDER FOR NEW YEARS EVE!

This December will go down as the warmest on record by a landslide! Temperatures were an impressive 10+ degrees above average for the month. So it makes sense that the last day of the month (and year) should also be above average. With high temperatures in the 40s and developing sunshine, we will be able to melt away some of the leftover ice from our first winter storm. If you’re heading out to celebrate New Year’s Eve, dress for temperatures in the 30s around the time of the ball drop.

WINTER COLD BUT NO SNOW FOR SKIIERS

Looking ahead, we have a real dose of winter cold lined up for early next week. On Monday high temperatures will only be in the 20s with lows in the 10s and even single digits for some of the coolest spots. BUT still no snow for the skiers and snowboarders outside of the chance for a few flurries here or there.

Forecast Details:

Tonight: Icy spots hills. Areas of dense fog and mist with steadier rain developing. Low: 30s. Temps will hold steady or even rise towards daybreak.

Thursday: Clouds break for some sun. High: 45-48.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance for an afternoon flurry. High: Low 40s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: Upper 30s.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. High: Near 40.

Monday: Cold despite plenty of sunshine. High: 25-30.

Cooler But Not Cold!

These days record warmth is so common, NOT breaking a record may garner more attention. The next few days will “cooler”. But while temperatures will stay below record territory, they will still remain well above average for this time of year. Wednesday looks calm with plenty of sunshine. Clouds and rain return Thursday with the steadiest and heaviest arriving in the afternoon and evening.  A real taste of winter cold arrives this weekend with some towns struggling in the 30s for high temperatures. We may even see a few snowflakes flying through the air this weekend. But the long range models suggest the cool-down is short-lived with 50s & 60s approaching Christmas. Our chances of a white Christmas are looking bleak!

Forecast Details:

Tonight: Gradual clearing with the wind slowly diminishing too. Low: 35-40.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. Still mild for early-mid December! High: 45-50.

Thursday: Cloudy with morning drizzle giving way to more numerous showers in the afternoon and evening. Patchy fog. High: 50-55.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. High: Near 50.

Saturday: Partly cloudy, windy and colder. Chance for a few flurries. High: Upper 30s-low 40s.

Sunday: Sunny, seasonable. High: Low 40s.

Sunday wins the "pick of the weekend" award

Record Warmth was recorded this Black Friday! The Hartford area set a new high temperature record of 67 degrees. That beats the old record of 64 set back in 1976.  It was close for Bridgeport with a high temperature of 60 degrees. But the old record still stands at 62 set in 1999 and 2013.

But this was just a one day warm-up! Temperatures will begin a downward slide this weekend. Sunday is the better of the two weekend days which is great for people traveling home after Thanksgiving weekend.  Saturday will not be a total wash-out. But we’re looking at mainly overcast skies and the chance for a few showers or even a period of light rain. Monday will be the coolest over the next week or so with some towns struggling to hit 40 degrees! Rain moves back in Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forecast Details:

Tonight: Increasing clouds, mild. Low: 45-50.

Tomorrow: Cloudy with the chance for a few showers or a period of light rain. High: 50-55.

Sunday: Becoming mostly sunny.  Cooler than recent days. High: 45-50.

Monday: Cooler despite lots of sunshine. High: 39-43.

Tuesday: Increasing clouds. Becoming cloudy with showers developing in the afternoon. High: 45-50.

Wednesday: Periods of rain likely. High: 50-55.

Have A Spooktacular Halloween!

New Englanders are a little wary around Halloween. Festivities were postponed or canceled for many in 2011 (October nor’easter) and 2012 (Hurricane Sandy). Luckily, there’s nothing spooky about the forecast this year! Sunshine will blend with some high clouds in the afternoon on Saturday with highs in the mid-upper 50s. For sunset Trick-or-treaters, temperatures will start near 50 degrees before falling through the 40s.

You get an extra hour of sleep Sunday morning (horray) as we “fall back” one hour Sunday at 2AM. Sunday will start off cloudy with a slight chance for a sprinkle. Then clouds will break for some sun with highs in the lower 60s. Sunday is the start of a slow warming trend that will continue through the end of next week accompanied by a long dry stretch of weather.

Forecast Details:

Tonight: Clear, frosty. Low: 28-35.

Tomorrow: Happy Halloween! Sunshine mixing with some high clouds in the afternoon. High: 53-56.

Sunday: Fall back! Daylight Saving Time ends 2 AM. Clouds break for some sunshine, milder. High: 59-62.

Monday: Mostly sunny, milder. High: 60-65.

Tuesday: Sunny, mild. High: 65-70.

Wednesday: Sunny, mild. High: 64-68.

CT Children's Storybook Gala

I love this so much!! Reading to Andon to support a great cause! Andon has had a few minor procedures/tests at CCMC and my husband spent months there as a child. Happy to give back and this spot turned out so cute in the process. I'm going to watch it over and over again for many years to come.

To learn more about the Storybook Gala for Connecticut Children's Medical Center click here.

Humid, Showers Tomorrow

There could be a sneaky thunderstorm with gusty (maybe even damaging winds) tomorrow. It's a fairly low probability but the threat isn't zero. So just keep an eye on the weather. Good news, we dry out just in time for the weekend!

Tonight: Becoming mostly cloudy. Low: 50-55.

Tomorrow: Becoming mostly cloudy and breezy with scattered showers. Warmer and a bit more humid with an isolated thunderstorm possible in the afternoon. High: 70-74.

Saturday: Early clouds break for sunshine. Cooler. High: 60-65.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. High: 65-68.

Monday: Mostly sunny, warmer. High: 70-73.

Tuesday: A mix of sun and clouds, chance for a shower or two. High: 67-70.

Summer Saturday, Septembery Sunday

The last weekend of summer is here and our unusual stretch of September warmth continues one more day.

Saturday will feature warm and moderately humid condition with areas of fog early in the morning. The fog will burn off by mid-late morning, allowing for the sunshine to break-out and temperatures to reach into the low 80s. Sunday will be cooler as the cold front will approach the region and linger off-shore. There is a chance for a shower or sprinkle in spots in the morning. But most towns will stay dry.

Winds will switch out of the northwest, transporting more seasonable September temperatures with highs in the 70s and low temperatures dropping into the 40s at times early next week. Our weather next week will continue to stay dry and pleasant with plenty of sunshine and seasonable temperatures.

The high pressure ridge continues to keep the rains away with dry conditions into the first day of fall which begins Wednesday, September 23 at 4:21 a.m.

Tonight: Clear, areas of fog developing late. Low: 58-65.

Tomorrow: Chance for early low clouds and fog. Otherwise, partly to mostly sunny, warm and humid. High: 78-82.

Sunday: Cloudy start with the chance for a shower in spots. Then slow clearing, developing sunshine. Less humid, cooler than recent days. High: 72-75.

Monday: Mostly sunny, cooler. High: 70-73.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High: 70-73.

Wednesday: Sunny, seasonable. High: 75-77.

Thursday: Sunny. High: 75-77.

Perfection!

We won the weather lottery! High pressure will settle in and make itself comfortable over New England this week bringing warm sunny days and comfortable nights with low humidity. A warming trend will keep temperatures 5-10 degrees above average for this time of year, with highs in the low-to-mid 80s. Obviously Mother Nature will not help water your lawn or garden. That’s our job this week. A cold front will bring change on Sunday with the chance for a few showers followed by a cool-down.

Tonight: Clearing, winds diminish. Low: 48-57.

Tomorrow: Sunny and warmer with low humidity. High: 80-83.

Wednesday: Sunny, warm. High: 82-86.

Thursday: Sunny, warm. High: 82-86.

Friday: Sunny, warm. High: 82-86.

Saturday: Sunny, warm. High: 80-84.

Temporary Relief From Heat & Humidity

We promised you a cooler, less humid forecast, and we’re delivering!

Thursday night's cold front will bring a limited amount of rain, but a seemingly limitless amount of drier air from the north. Clouds Friday morning will break for sun as the front moves out. Temperatures will struggle to hit 80 degrees. That's downright chilly compared to recent days!

We’re full of sunshine and no rain through the holiday weekend, as we slowly warm-up. Low 80s Saturday, mid 80s Sunday, Near 90 by Labor Day! The humidity remains in check until Tuesday when the combination of heat and humidity will once again make it feel more like the middle of July rather than early September. A late summer heat-wave is possible Monday - Wednesday inland before temps start to cool off again.

Tonight: Chance for an early shower or storm in spots (most towns stay dry). Mostly cloudy. Low: 65-69.

Tomorrow: Cloudy start (slight chance for a morning shower). Developing sun throughout the day, especially in the afternoon. Cooler and less humid. High: 76-81.

Saturday: Sunny, low humidity, beautiful! High: 80-83 inland, 76-79 shoreline.

Sunday: Sunny, warmer with low humidity. High: 84-87 inland, 78-83 shoreline.

Labor Day: Sunny and very warm/hot! Still not too humid. High: 85-90.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High: 87-92.