Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm wind.
Tomorrow
Showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 54. East wind 5 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tomorrow Night
Showers likely, mainly after 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a steady temperature around 51. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
First Sunset of 2023
Tonight’s pastel colored skies marked the start of 2023 and another year of South Beach scenes like this. Photo by Nancy Lally for WestportLocal.com
A Photographic Review of 2022
A snapshot of our community in the past 365 days. A lot has changed within the year, and yet, a lot has not. Click to enlarge each photo. January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
New Year’s Day Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 6 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Increasing clouds, with a low around 36. Light west wind.
Tomorrow
Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Calm wind.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind.
Tomorrow
Showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tomorrow Night
Showers, mainly before 1am. Low around 43. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Fire Chief: Battery from Vacuum Causes Garbage Truck Fire
The Westport Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire in a garbage truck on Fairview Drive. The fire department responded with two engines and the Shift Commander. Units arrived and found the garbage truck operator had dumped the garbage from the truck and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. Upon further investigation, the cause of the fire was found to be the lithium batteries for a battery-operated vacuum cleaner. The garbage truck operator heard an explosion and saw smoke from the truck's rear. The operator was able to dump the garbage to extinguish the small fire.
Improper disposal of lithium batteries can cause fires. Lithium batteries are unlikely to catch fire if handled and disposed of properly, but they can, through faults inside the battery or from external damage. And when they do catch fire, the consequences can be severe.
Smart Safety Tips for Devices with Lithium-Ion Batteries
These batteries are in cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric cars, and scooters. Lithium batteries store a lot of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. Unfortunately, like any product, a small number of these batteries are defective. As a result, they can overheat, catch fire, or explode.
Be Smart if using any devices powered by lithium batteries:
When purchasing devices, ensure the equipment has the Underwriters Laboratories Mark. The UL mark shows that the product has been safety tested.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for charging and storage.
Do not charge a device under your pillow, bed, or couch.
Always use the manufacturer's cord, and power adapter explicitly made for the device.
Keep batteries/devices at room temperature. Do not place it in direct sunlight.
Store batteries away from anything flammable.
If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, leaking, or odd noises from a device, discontinue use immediately. If safe, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 9-1-1.
Lithium Battery Disposal
Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash.
Recycling is always the best option.
Take them to a battery recycling location or contact your community for disposal instructions.
Do not put discarded batteries in piles.
Westport residents may recycle these types of batteries at the transfer station; Recycling Center is located at 300 Sherwood Island Connector. Form more infomration https://www.westportct.gov/government/departments-a-z/public-works-department/recycling
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 45. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Light southwest wind.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Light southwest wind.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Light west wind.
Governor Selects Paul Robertson as Chair for the Social Equity Council
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is selecting Paul O. Robertson, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), to serve as chair of the state’s Social Equity Council when the leadership position becomes vacant at the beginning of next year.
Deputy Commissioner Robertson will succeed Andréa Comer, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), as council chair. Deputy Commissioner Comer plans to depart her job at DCP and her membership on the council to become chief of staff for Treasurer-elect Erick Russell when he takes the oath of office on January 4, 2023. State statutes require the governor to select one of the council’s members to serve as its chair.
Since joining DECD, Deputy Commissioner Robertson has worked closely with Deputy Commissioner Comer and the members of the council to lay the groundwork for an equitable cannabis entrepreneurship ecosystem. Deputy Commissioner Robertson will serve on the council as the designee of the DECD commissioner.
“Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis program is at a pivotal time right now, and I appreciate the steps the Social Equity Council has taken to date to ensure that it is rolled out in an equitable manner as we envisioned when we enacted this law,” Governor Lamont said. “Paul will bring relevant experience and strong existing relationships with council members to his role as chair, and I thank him for agreeing to take on this leadership position.”
“I am grateful to Governor Lamont for entrusting me with this important role and I look forward to serving the state in this new capacity,” Deputy Commissioner Robertson said. “Deputy Commissioner Comer has done a tremendous job leading the Social Equity Council to this point, and I plan to continue to work alongside its members and our partner agencies to ensure the adult-use cannabis market grows equitably.”
The Social Equity Council was created in 2021 by the enactment of a state law legalizing and safely regulating the adult-use of cannabis in Connecticut. It was developed to ensure the adult-use cannabis program is grown equitably and to bring funds from the program back to the communities hit hardest by the “war on drugs.”
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. West winds around 5 mph.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.