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On Monday night, a brief but severe thunderstorm moved across northern Fairfield County, dropping about two-tenths of an inch of rain in the Danbury area in a few minutes.
The brief storm was caused by a cold front coming from Western New York and Pennsylvania that rapidly lost atmospheric support as it moved into the area, said Gary Lessor, assistant to the director of meteorological studies and the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.
Summer thunderstorms are generally caused by cold fronts and troughs of low pressure moving through an area, he said. As the atmosphere condenses, it can lead to precipitation and thunderstorms like the ones we've been having over the past few weeks. The thunderstorms can be scattered, depending on the situation, and can range from light rain with flashes of lightning to hail and tornadoes.
"The more atmospheric conditions you have battling at one time, the more severe the storm will be," Lessor said.
Thunderstorms should continue in Fairfield County for the next few days, Lessor said, with about a 45 percent chance of heavy wind and even hail on Tuesday. There is about a 20 percent chance of rain on Wednesday, and then the skies should remain clear until Sunday, with more thunderstorms next Monday or Tuesday.
Lessor said Wednesday will be partly sunny, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s and moderate humidity. Thursday will be partly sunny and slightly less humid, with a slight chance of rain. Friday is expected to be partly sunny and pleasant. Saturday will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the upper 80s, and Sunday will be humid, with some showers possible late in the day.
"As we go through the next two weeks, the precipitation average will be above normal," Lessor said. The area will get 2 and 2.5 inches of rain, when it would normally be about 1.5 inches, he said. Temperatures will be close to seasonal levels, with no extended heat waves expected.
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