The Nutmeg State may not have as much of a reputation for frigid temperatures as some of the states farther to our north and west, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get cold here! We average about 37 inches of snow a year, which is around 33% higher than the national average. Winters in Connecticut can be quite harsh, and if you were here for the winter of 1989, you probably remember that it was even harsher than most. It was one of the coldest winters in Connecticut history.
We’ve had several particularly rough winters in Connecticut over the last 50 years. Winter Storm Larry brought record snowfall to much of the Nutmeg State back in 1978.
slack12/Flickr
Another notable winter in Connecticut was that of 1989. That year’s December was the coldest on record in the Nutmeg State, according to the National Weather Service.
ilirjan rrumbullaku/Flickr
In the state’s capital, the temperature didn’t rise above freezing for 19 consecutive days that month. The previous record had been set back in 1905.
ilirjan rrumbullaku/Flickr
Bradley International Airport’s mean daily temperature in December 1989 was just 18.1°F, a good bit colder than the typical average for the area.
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The average temperature in Connecticut that month was actually pretty comparable to typical December temperatures in Anchorage, Alaska!
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The cold temperatures may result in beautiful icy and snow-covered scenery, but they can also cause severe issues. Heart attacks from snow shoveling, deaths from snow shoveling, and drastically increased power usage were all blamed on the 1989 cold snap.
Trenten Kelley/Flickr
Thankfully, the typical winter in Connecticut is not nearly as cold as that we experienced back in 1989!
Phil C/Google Local
Are you a fan of warmer weather, or do you look forward to icy weather temperatures each year? Share your thoughts in the comments!
slack12/Flickr
ilirjan rrumbullaku/Flickr
smilla4/Flickr
pedrik/Flickr
Trenten Kelley/Flickr
Phil C/Google Local
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