Connecticut

C

Coastline

The state’s shoreline, when all the bays and inlets are taken into account, has a total length of 995 km (618 mi). The coastline is deeply indented by long estuaries and rocky inlets, and there are many sandy beaches and stretches of tidal marsh. There are several good harbors along the coast, the most important of which is at New Haven. A few small islands lie offshore in Long Island Sound.

D

Climate

Connecticut has long, hot summers and cold winters. The climate does not vary greatly from place to place, although the northwest corner generally experiences more severe winters.

D

1

Temperature

The southwestern coastal area is generally slightly warmer than the rest of the state in summer, and the Taconics are the coldest area in winter. Average July temperatures range from 20° to 22° C (68° to 72° F), but actual daytime temperatures can rise into the lower 30°s C (lower 90°s F). Average January temperatures range from about -4 ° C (about 24 ° F) in the Taconics to about -1 ° C (about 30 ° F) in the southeast.

D

2

Precipitation

Precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) is evenly distributed throughout the year. Most places receive about 1,000 to 1,300 mm (about 40 to 50 in) a year. Severe droughts are uncommon. Thunderstorms and hailstorms are likely to occur in summer. In winter, snowfall is heavy, especially in the northwest.

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D

3

Growing Season

The growing season, which is the period between the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall, is about 150 days long in most of the state and about 190 days long in more protected sections along the coast. Destructive frosts seldom occur later than the end of April along the coast or later than mid-May farther inland. Frosts usually occur again in the first week of October.

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