By Russell Russ

Normal was not the norm for anything in 2020, and it definitely was not the norm for the weather. 

There were arguably four main weather themes that highlighted the year. The first was the lack of snowfall during the January through March winter months. After just three months into the year, Norfolk was already nearly three feet below normal for snowfall. Monthly snowfall for the remaining months of the year was more normal, but the damage was done early. The yearly snowfall amount of 55.2 inches was 34.3 inches below normal, ranking 2020 as the seventh least snowy year on record. 

Secondly, the drought conditions experienced for much of the year were another story that made headlines. Through June, Norfolk was nearly eight inches below normal for precipitation, and much of Connecticut was under some form of drought condition. Conditions improved after August, but a sizable deficit continued through the end of the year, peaking after November at 10.12 inches. One positive that occurred in 2020, likely owing to our deficit and fall weather conditions, was that the fall foliage coloring this year was one of the best in recent memory. With a total precipitation amount of 45.11 inches, 7.51 inches below normal, the year ended up being the 18th driest on record. 

Thirdly, the warm temperatures recorded throughout the year were also noteworthy. Ten of the year’s 12 months were above normal for temperature, and seven ranked in the top 10 for warmest. July was the warmest month of any month on record for Norfolk. The year’s average temperature of 48.0 degrees was 3.1 degrees above normal, ranking it as Norfolk’s fourth warmest year over the last 89 years. The average yearly temperature for Norfolk is 44.9 degrees. The year of 2012, with 48.5, was Norfolk’s warmest year, and 1940, with 41.9, was the coldest. Overall, 2020 was a warm year with many warm days, but there were just two days that hit 90 or above for highs. This is average for Norfolk. There were just seven days with single-digit low temperatures, just one day with a low of zero and no days with below-zero temperatures. This is unusual for Norfolk. 

However, the fourth and most notable weather event of 2020 was when Tropical Storm Isaias came through the Northeast on Aug. 4. Most of the heavy rainfall occurred to our west in New York and Pennsylvania. Norfolk only recorded 1.36 inches of rainfall, but there was widespread wind damage throughout Connecticut, most of it in the western part of the state. Trees and wires were down in many locations, and many people were without power for days.

Just two days before Isaias hit town, there was a small tornado that touched down in North Norfolk. It was a relatively small tornado, one of several that spawned from one small, but strong, storm cell that traveled from the Sharon area into Massachusetts. This tornado event got an incredible amount of attention from Connecticut’s TV meteorologists. Tornado warnings with radar maps being zoomed in over local Norfolk roads and landmarks does not happen very often. It was not a large event, but it did result in some tree, branch and power line damage, and even a small blowdown of multiple trees near the western shore of Wood Creek Pond. It was a very busy first week of August for Norfolk’s emergency responders. 

The year of 2021 will be the 90th year of continuous daily weather observing at the Norfolk 2SW weather station. Everyone hopes that 2021 will be a much better year than 2020. Let us hope it will also be better when it comes to the weather. 

Weather observations and record keeping are performed by Russell Russ for the Great Mountain Forest at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW.