More Wet Weather Expected This Week In Connecticut And New York

As the old saying goes, April showers bring May flowers, but what does all this rain in May bring? And why the heck is it so cold?

According to the Connecticut Weather Center in Danbury, we just had the second wettest April on record, with 7.48 inches of rain falling. Normally, the state gets about 4 inches of rain for the month.

April statistics from the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University cited 21 days with measurable rain. That beats the previous record of 18 days, set in 1929. Believe it or not there were only eight dry days in April which is pretty much a reversal of the normal pattern of 18 dry days and ten wet ones. Plus, the high temperatures are 15-20 degrees colder then normal.

So why, now that we're well into May, is the rain still falling and the temperatures are so cool? According to both weather centers in Danbury, it's all about the jet stream pattern we are in.

Chief Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin of the Connecticut Weather Center in Danbury, offered this explanation to newstimes.com:

The jet stream patterns can lock in for about six weeks. Because this one began at the beginning of April, it may not change much until mid-May. In the meantime, enjoy what the rain has to offer. Trees are getting a full drink this spring. Farmers aren’t complaining about dry fields and allergy sufferers are happy because the rain washes the pollen out of the air. Vernal pools will be full, proving ample room for amphibians to breed. Ditto on mosquitoes, and the insect population is very happy.

Here's a look at the wet weather forecast for this week from the National Weather Service: