June 16, 2006

Spring Shortage

Hopefully you have outdoor plans this weekend. If not, think about this: my morning weather pal Paul Piorek says it is going to be sunny and in the 80's-- a rare springtime occurrence here in southwestern Connecticut. I'm looking at it as more of an early summer, which begins next week on the June 21st.

With summer approaching, I feel like I'm still waiting for my "spring break" from dreary weather. I've found that I'm not alone. Several people are telling me "What Bugs" them is that southwestern Connecticut doesn't seem to have their once-favorite season anymore, spring!

Plus, the state of Connecticut is blaming a slight drop in employment on the spring's cool and rainy weather.

Click here for the full report from the state.

Basically, the state Department of Labor says the rainy weather kept tourists away and halted construction work.

"Poor weather in May not only depressed beach goers in Connecticut, but also the employment figures for the month," said State Labor Economist John Tirinzonie. " With cloudy, cool conditions and record precipitation during May, the construction and leisure and hospitality industry sectors in May showed significant losses in jobs when seasonally adjusted," he noted. "Landscaping and retail building and garden supply stores seem to also feel the effects of a cooler and wetter than normal May. Hopefully, when summer finally heats up in June so will the state's job market."

For the past two years I've done "What's Bugging You" reports on the issue because people want their springtime back!

I have to thank Paul Piorek for compiling the weather statistics for me.  Lets take a look at what we're complaining about.

According to rainfall totals at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, more than double the amount of what's normal for the month fell in the first two weeks of June. As of June 13th, we've received 3.73". The normal for the month is 1.44".

May and April were wetter-than-normal, too.

May's total: 6.50". May's average: 4.03".

April's total: 7.98". April's average: 3.99".

2005 was cool and rainy as well. Southwestern Connecticut had five straight weekends with measured rain- beginning on the weekend of April 23rd. Plus, temperatures in the month of May were nearly 5 degrees below normal.

So get out your bathing suit, sunscreen and grill and enjoy this Father's Day Weekend, because before you know it we'll be complaining about the constant hot and humid temperatures of summer.