Connecticut, 2002

Drought in Connecticut, May 1 to 31, 2002

May 1 to 31, 2002 · NWS OKX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A wetter pattern developed during late March that lasted through May. The tri-state region saw drought conditions relax a bit due to some very beneficial rains and some diligent water use restrictions and conservation measures.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.

A wetter pattern developed during late March that lasted through May. The tri-state region saw drought conditions relax a bit due to some very beneficial rains and some diligent water use restrictions and conservation measures. May broke a string of 10 consecutive months of below normal precipitation. The Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) received 4.77 inches for the month, which was 122 percent of normal or 0.85 inches above normal. Sixteen of the past 20 months, dating back to October 2000, were below normal. The total precipitation deficit during the past 20 months was 17.71 inches; and during the past 11 months was 14.26 inches.Despite the recent rainfall, ground water levels were similar to levels during the 1965-66 drought. Ground water storage was much less than in normal years. However, surface water storage did improve.The combined reservoir storage levels increased from 84 percent capacity in April to 90 percent capacity in May. Of the 95 water utilities that supply to more than 1,000 people, 62 had requested voluntary conservation and 12 issued mandatory conservation orders. Of the 497 water utilities that supply less than 1,000 people, 398 requested voluntary conservation, and 14 issued mandatory conservation orders.The State of Connecticut extended the Drought Advisory for New London County and the Drought Watch for Fairfield, New Haven, and Middlesex Counties through May 31st. This advisory and watch were issued on April 3rd.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS New York, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 30, 11:20 PM EST, 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 11:20 PM EST, 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1220 AM EDT TUE MAY 1 2002

FORECAST UPDATED FOR RAIN FOG THAT HAS FORMED AS THE SKIES HAVE
CLEARED. DENSE FOG ADVISORY ONLY UP FOR INLAND ZONES UNTIL 4 AM AS
MIXING IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR BEFORE DAWN. MAY NEED TO EXPAND THE
ADVISORY TO THE ISLAND.

.OKX...
CT...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM CTZ005>008.
NJ...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM NJZ002.
NY...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM NYZ067>070.
MARINE...SCA ALL WATERS...ANZ330-335-338-350-353-355.

TONGUE

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Southern New London

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Southern New London forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.504, -72.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southern Middlesex

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Southern Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.451, -72.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southern New Haven

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Southern New Haven forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.443, -72.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southern Fairfield

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Southern Fairfield forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.285, -73.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern New London

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Northern New London forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.504, -72.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern Middlesex

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Northern Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.451, -72.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern New Haven

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Northern New Haven forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.443, -72.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern Fairfield

When
May 1, 12:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Northern Fairfield forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.285, -73.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Connecticut in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, May 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5296843, 5296844, 5296845, 5296846, 5296847, 5296848, 5296849, 5296850.