A glorious fall day to see the man who forecast it

Waterford - It was a blue-gold, poet's fall afternoon, so why would 50 or so citizens shut themselves inside Waterford Town Hall to sit for 90 minutes on fold-out chairs?

Why, to see Mel "Dr. Mel" Goldstein, the chief meteorologist for WTNH Channel 8 in New Haven- who forecast the gorgeous day to begin with.

The popular weatherman was in town Saturday to talk about and sign copies of his latest book, "Dr. Mel's Connecticut Climate Book," which discusses, analyzes and marvels over the unique weather patterns and episodes indigenous to the Nutmeg State. The event was sponsored by the library, and Mystic bookseller Bank Square Books was on hand selling copies.

"There isn't a place as small as Connecticut that gets such a variety of weather," said Goldstein, whose virus-strength laughter frequently punctuated his remarks. "We get snowstorms, heat waves, floods … It's a storm factory around here. Maybe the tornadoes and hurricanes we get are rare, but they happen. And, by the way, we're overdue for a hurricane."

Goldstein's first book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Weather," was a best-seller when it was published in 1999. He was also named Best in Connecticut On-Air Meteorologist for nine consecutive years in Connecticut magazine.

Goldstein used his new book and the subject of meteorology in general as a connector between a variety of topics, from the Perfect Storm and the politicizing of global warming to his own forecast of the 1979 tornado that devasted Windsor Locks, the remarkable ability of sea gulls to predict weather, and even music.

While claiming not to know answers with any certainty - "this is weather we're talking about," he said - Goldstein tossed a few gentle japes at former Vice President Al Gore, whose documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth" is about the dangers of global warming.

"Has there been a climate change in recent years? No doubt about it," Goldstein said. "But I have a hard time wrapping my arms around the idea that carbon dioxide is completely responsible or that things might now swing back in the other direction. As someone in the trenches every day, sticking my neck out - and where people definitely let me know when I'm wrong - I do believe an operational forecaster is a bit different than someone making theoretical pronouncements."

Goldstein said he has trouble forecasting more than three days in advance, and as such, he views with some skepticism theorists who are predicting what will happen, climate-wise, 100 years from now.

"To that end, I don't care what the former vice president believes or if he took a course in earth science in college. I do think the whole topic has become so politicized that a lot of it is removed from reality," he said.

The audience laughed when Goldstein admitted that, for all his experience, improvements in technology and advances in science, he still steps outside, right before each of his television forecasts, to look up and see what the sky might be telling him.

"People drive by and see me standing on the corner in New Haven, and they laugh and call out, 'Hey, it's Dr. Mel! You're looking at the sky!' And I say, 'You bet I am!'"

A portion of the proceeds from "Dr. Mel's Connecticut Climate Book" are going to support the fight against multiple myeloma, an incurable form of cancer that has afflicted Goldstein for 13 years. He also described with wit and optimism that his much-loved job and wife have been huge in formulating his positive attitude. In 1996, he said, he was told he had three years to live.

"I hope that people who have been diagnosed with an illness that might seem insurmountable realize that, in each day, there is a lot of life left. We have to energize ourselves, we have to work at whatever we love to work at, and above all we have to help others."

Steve Marks-Hamilton of Niantic said he was particularly impressed by Goldstein. He said, "I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's wonderful to see his infectious laugh in person, and he's so inspirational. Plus, what a wealth of knowledge. I wish he'd been my teacher."

North Stonington's Dawn Bock attended to get an autographed book as a Christmas present for someone.

"I didn't know he'd actually be talking or I'd have brought (the gift recipient with me). He loves Dr. Mel. I would have just said it was an early present because this was great."

r.koster@theday.com