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Weather Overview for Mianus

Mianus is a neighbourhood of the town of Greenwich in southern Connecticut, resting quite close to the border between Connecticut and New York. The Mianus River, from which the area takes its name, runs through the neighbourhood, and is dammed to separate it from the saltwater estuary where the river meets the Cos Cob Harbour.

The smallish lake above the dam is known as Mianus Pond, and there are two nature parks located along the river: Mianus River Gorge Preserve and Mianus River Nature Park. The former is a private reserve, which offers hiking trails suited for light to moderate hiking, while the latter is a combination of municipal and state owned parks that offer hiking, fishing, and mountain biking.

Mianus, like the rest of Connecticut, enjoys a temperate climate with all four seasons. Winters and summers are mild, with the coastal areas generally experiencing cooler summers and warmer winters than the inland areas. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.

Unlike the more popular ski areas in Northern Connecticut, and the high priced resorts located to the south in the Hamptons, Mianus offers a quieter, more offbeat holiday experience. It is also close enough to New York City that the hustle and bustle of the urban life is a short drive away. With the Mianus River Gorge Preserve and Mianus River Natural Park nearby, there are plenty of outdoorsy activities with which to pack your days.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes do make landfall in Connecticut from time to time. Most hurricanes will have lost much of their energy by the time they get to the state, having to travel over the colder waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. While most hurricanes make landfall at category 1, at least one category 3 storm has occurred. On 21 September, 1938, the Great New England Hurricane landed in Connecticut. It had sustained winds of 185 km/h at landfall. The hurricane packed storm surges of ten to twelve feet and heavy rain, and 600 people died as a result. It also caused $308 million in damages.

Nor'easters

Nor'easters are particular storms that can take on hurricane-like characteristics, although they thrive on cold water, whereas hurricanes need warm water. This kind of storm gets its name from the direction of its winds. They may form over the North Atlantic Ocean or in the Gulf of Mexico. They consist of an area of low pressure with a rotational centre that lies just off the East Coast, and the winds at the forefront of the storm blow onto land from the northeast. Connecticut gets its fair share of nor'easters; some strengthened by absorbing energy from hurricanes travelling up the Atlantic coast. This is what happened on 29 October 2012, when a nor'easter collided with the oncoming juggernaut of what was left of Hurricane Sandy. Greenwich sustained damages from the storm surge, torrential rains, and high winds. 4,000 homes near the coast had to be evacuated due to flooding, and 15,867 residents lost power to their homes. Twenty roads needed to be closed due to downed power lines and storm debris. The hiking trails at Mianus River Gorge Preserve suffered damage, forcing the park into early closure. The park normally remains open through the month of November.

Spring

Spring is mild with a slow warming trend in progress throughout the period. Averages during this time of year tend to be between 8C and 20C for highs, and 0C and 11C for lows. Rainfall totals vary between 80 mm and 110 mm, and rainy days average from 11 to 14 days out of each month. If you enjoy fishing, spring brings great fishing to Mianus River Nature Park. The Mianus River Gorge Preserve also opens for visitors at this time.

Summer

Mianus, during the summer, is warm, with high temperatures of between 24C and 27C during the day. Nighttime temperatures are mild, with lows averaging between 15C and 19C. It rains slightly less during this time, with at most 100 mm falling, and no more than 12 rainy days per month. The warmer days are excellent for hiking and mountain biking. The fishing, however, isn't as good during the summer as it is in the spring.

Autumn

Autumn is a lovely time of year to visit with all the foliage changing colours. Temperatures vary from 23C in September to 12C in November. Night-time temperatures drop to 14C in September and 4C in November. Since rainfall is fairly evenly distributed annually, the amount per month doesn't change much. About 110 mm falls in September and 90mm falls in November. There are about 10 days of rain per month throughout the period. While Mianus River Nature Park stays open all year, Mianus River Gorge Preserve closes at the end of November. Fishing becomes excellent once again during this season.

Winter

Winter temperatures are colder, but again, since Mianus is located in a temperate climate zone, they stay relatively mild. High temperatures range from between 5C and 7C, whilst at night they can drop as low as -5C. No more than 80 mm of rain falls in the winter, and no more than 10 days out of the month are rainy. That said, winter tends to be the time when nor'easters are more prevalent, and this tendency persists into early spring as well.

Winter activities include hiking and mountain biking at the Mianus River Nature Park, and fishing remains excellent as well.

Mianus is an attractive spot to visit on holiday if you enjoy getting out in nature. The two natural parks, Mianus River Gorge Preserve and Mianus River Nature Park make excellent places for daytime hikes, mountain biking excursions, and of course, trout fishing.

New York City is a short drive away if you get a craving for city life. Since the climate is relatively mild, there is no best time of year to plan a visit, the only exception being if you are going strictly for the fishing. If that is the case then you might consider forgoing a summer visit, and plan your holiday for winter, spring, or autumn.