In certain economic undertakings a knowledge of the frequency of 

 climatic events is required before decisions involving risks are implemented. 

 Tables, listed in Appendix C present the monthly and annual greatest, least 

 and mean numbers of days of occurrence of maximum temperatures equal to or 

 below 32 and 45°F and equal to or above 80 and 90°F and minima equal to or 

 below if5, 36, 32, 24, 16 and 0°F. 



The observed variations clearly demonstrate the difference in 

 climate between northern Long Island and southern Connecticut; between 

 interior sections and coastal areas; and between western and eastern parts 

 of the region. In summer, temperatures of 90°F or higher occur most frequent- 

 ly over inland areas of southern Connecticut and in western portions of the 

 region and least frequently along the eastern perimeter of Long Island Sound. 

 These temperatures also occur less frequently along the coastal section and 

 more often on northern Long Island than in southern Connecticut. In winter 

 temperatures below 16°F are 2 to 3 times more likely in southern Connecticut 

 than northern Long Island and occur frequently at short distances from the 

 coast in Connecticut. For example, the average annual frequency of days with 

 maximum temperatures of 90°F or higher is 9 at Riverhead, Long Island, 16 at 

 LaGuardia Field, New York, but at New Haven, Connecticut, it is 3 and at 

 Scarsdale, New York, 22. Days with minimum temperatures of 16°F or lower 

 usually occur 15 times a year at Riverhead, 11 at LaGuardia, 22 at New Haven, 

 2k at Scarsdale and 30 to 36 in the interior of southern Connecticut. 



Design data for heating and air conditioning were tabulated for 

 four stations. The data included: the dry and wet bulb temperatures that 

 are exceeded 10, 5, 2-j and 1 percent of the time, the number of hours that 

 dry bulb temperatures of 93, 80, 73 and 67°F and wet bulb and dew point 

 temperatures of 80, 73 and 67°F are equaled or exceeded through the warm 

 season; and the temperatures which are reached or surpassed 97.5 and 99 per- 

 cent of the time during the cold season. Monthly and seasonal cooling and 

 heating degree-day data for 14 stations are also contained in tables listed 

 in Appendix C. 



Freeze statistics are employed in agriculture to choose areas 

 suitable for special cropping, to design planting schedules and to make long- 

 range management decisions. The longest average annual freeze-free season, 

 190-205 days, along the shore areas of Connecticut and Long Island is similar to 

 the freeze-free period in northern Alabama and Georgia. A sharp gradient-- 

 40 days within 10 mi les--general ly exists between coastal and interior valley 

 stations in Connecticut. Tables giving the 95, 90, 75, 50, 25, 10 and 5 

 percent probability dates for the last occurrence of 32, 2k and 16°F or 

 lower temperatures in spring and the first occurrence date of the same tem- 

 peratures in the fall have been prepared for this study. 



The Sound produces a longer growing season along its shores even 

 though the cooler ocean waters in early spring retard the start of the grow- 

 ing season. As the Sound begins to act as a heat source in fall, the length 

 of the season is significantly extended along the shores of both Long Island 

 and western Connecticut. The largest reduction in heat available for growing 

 occurs in eastern coastal areas of Connecticut where cold water lowers the 

 daily mean temperatures during most of the growing season. 



