February 2024 Observations and Discussion

[Andie]

3pm-  94*.  
Humidity- 21%

Residents- Gobsmacked. 
It’s really warm out there. 
So strange. We’ll hit 95*.

[hawkstwelve]

Officially hit the 70 degree mark. We will have a midnight high tomorrow before we drop into the single digits tomorrow night with wind chill values in the negative teens. Highs on Wednesday are only expected to top out in the low 30s. Most models then show us quickly warming back up with another shot at 70 over the weekend.

Temperature whiplash to the extreme.

[Bryan1117]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye said:

Much of Iowa has surged into the mid to upper 70s.  

All-time February record high of 80 here today in Omaha… feels like May outside, historic warmth for February.

[Hoosier]

High of 71 at ORD, breaking the record high by 7 degrees.

Tomorrow, Chicago will record back to back 70+ degree highs in February for the first time on record.  There were 2 days of 70 back in February 2017, but they were interrupted by a high of 69.

[WinterSquall23]

Never thought we have a severe weather threat in our area for hail in February, let alone a 2 inch hail risk. 

[Tom]

1 hour ago, Hoosier said:

High of 71 at ORD, breaking the record high by 7 degrees.

Tomorrow, Chicago will record back to back 70+ degree highs in February for the first time on record.  There were 2 days of 70 back in February 2017, but they were interrupted by a high of 69.

April ‘17 was real cold iirc…Easter weekend snow in Nebraska 

[Andie]

95 today….95.  Crazy.  
Tomorrow we’ll hit 88.  Certainly more sensible for late February.

edit:    I have baby lizards hatched out. They’re 2 “ long. That means they’re about a month early.  
What a crazy winter!

[Hoosier]

If you're in Chicago and you're under 100 years old, you may live through something that you've never seen before on Tuesday-Wednesday.

What is it?  A high of 75+ with measurable snow on the following day.  This has only been recorded 2 times:  

4/2/1903:  High 77 ; 4/3/1903:  2.6" snow

5/7/1923:  High 77 ; 5/8/1923:  0.5" snow

[Bryan1117]

2 hours ago, Hoosier said:

High of 71 at ORD, breaking the record high by 7 degrees.

Tomorrow, Chicago will record back to back 70+ degree highs in February for the first time on record.  There were 2 days of 70 back in February 2017, but they were interrupted by a high of 69.

Any chance of challenging the all-time record high for February in Chicago? Still can’t believe we hit 80 here in Eastern Nebraska today, something I never imagined I would experience here this time of year. February heat wave for the Midwest.

 

[Hoosier]

6 minutes ago, Bryan1117 said:

Any chance of challenging the all-time record high for February in Chicago? Still can’t believe we hit 80 here in Eastern Nebraska today, something I never imagined I would experience here this time of year. February heat wave for the Midwest.

 

Yes, all-time February record high for Chicago is 75.  Definitely in play.

[Black Hole]

It was 84F here in Tulsa today. Tomorrow could be anywhere from about 85-90F depending on cloud cover. Then...it'll be near freezing 12 hours later! 

[OttumwaSnomow]

On December  14th 2008 I witnessed  a rare event here. I saw 67 degrees at about 12:30 pm.  (Officially  61 10 miles north)  the front passed  followed  by light rain, some sleet, then snow after dark. The temp plummeted  to 0 the morning  of the 15th. 67 degree fall in 17 hours. I think tomorrow  may rival that memorable  day!  May depend  on exact  time front gets to me here and cloud cover. While not as cold this time compared to 2008,  if we push 80 degrees  it will definitely  be historic!!! A glimmer of excitement  in a very boring winter!

[hawkstwelve]

Record-breaking heat for four local area sites.

 

[Clinton]

Yesterday as expected set record highs.

Kansas City reached 77° today, breaking the long-standing record of 76° set all the way back in 1896. Kansas City is likely to finish the month as the 3rd warmest February on record, behind Feb 1930 and Feb 1954.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph reached 80° today, shattering the record of 73° set in 1988. It is only the 2nd time in recorded history that St. Joseph reached 80° or above, with 83° on 2/24/1930 being the other (period of record began 3/1/1908).

 

More record highs today and I could reach 80 degrees this afternoon before cold and some snow move in tonight.  Weather whiplash!

[Timmy Supercell]

Both the 1st and 2nd rounds of the storms have expanded outlooks on SPC. I just might get a decent one after all in my area. But the Slight Risk still stops just to my NW. 

[Timmy Supercell]

12 hours ago, WinterSquall23 said:

Never thought we have a severe weather threat in our area for hail in February, let alone a 2 inch hail risk. 

In the last area I lived in, there were practically no winter time thunderstorms except for one time a squall line hit town in Jan 2016. There was still snow pack on grass and thought it was very strange! Anything is possible

[Andie]

Our official 94* yesterday broke a 100+year record. I saw 95 at my house about 35 miles west of DFWs official station. 

Today an improvement - at 88*
Come on rain!!

[Timmy Supercell]

54 degrees, spring birds chirping, and this coming on radar. Gonna be a great day! 

[westMJim]

The official H/L yesterday was 62/30 (the high in MBY was only 58) there was 89% of possible sunshine. There was no rain/snow. For today the average H/L is 37/22 the record high of 67 was set in 1976 the record low of -12 was set in 1994. The most snow fall of 2.5” fell in 1897 there was 2.0” of snowfall in 2014. 2014 also had the most on the ground with 20” Last year had the most rainfall for the date and the H/L was 34/23 note no snowfall was recorded.

So far this February has a mean temperature of 34.6 at Grand Rapids the warmest February at GR is 34.7. At Lansing the mean so far is 34.5 and the record is 34.5 and at Muskegon the mean is 36.0 and the old record is 35.3 all records were set in 2017. For February the snowfall at GR is 5.6” and for the season 40.1”

The temperature was in the 50’s for most of the overnight hours but it has now fallen to 45 here in MBY. The latest reading at GRR was 52. If it stays above 37 until midnight there will be a new record warm minimum for this date. The current record of 37 was set in 2018.

[westMJim]

Some southern lower Michigan weather history

1976: Temperatures soar to the upper 60s during a spell of spring-like weather during the last week of February. Record highs include 62 degrees at Muskegon and 67 at Lansing.

 2023, a winter storm brought a quick burst of heavy snow – exceeding an inch per hour – across Midland, Bay, and Huron Counties which ended up with snowfall totals of 4 to 8 inches.

 1994, the overnight temperature dropped to a frigid -14 degrees in Flint.

Around the USA

1986, It was 99 degrees in Palm Springs, California, the highest temperature on record for February. Palm Springs also reached 99 degrees on February 26, 1986.

[Niko]

Crazy wild weather day shaping up for late tanite into Wednesday. From thunderstorms to light snow accumulation predicted by Wednesday afternoon. Temps crashing tomorrow morning from the 50s and 60s into the teens w/ snow. Winds will be howling as well.

Severe weather has occurred in February a couple of times in S MI. I googled it and ironically, it even spawn out tornadoes as well, so yes, it can happen in February.

Cant wait for La Lina to get cranking. Next winter should be much snowier and colder.

[Beltrami Island]

Quite the unusual weather here the last 24 hours and next 12, just to stay in line with this wacky winter.

Woke up to 2" fresh snow yesterday, then a high of 53 in the afternoon melted it all.  Even my wife asked, did we move to Denver?  

Now its dumping snow with temps dropping below zero tonight.   NWS says 5-9 inches accumulation today, but back to near 50 by Friday.  

I have this feeling, the rest of the cold season is going to be a yoyo bouncing between really warm and snowy days.  With the rainstorm earlier this month and the Christmas rain it might turn out the cold season will statistically be categorized as wet and snowy imby. But, without looking at temps, the nature of this winter is totally lost.    

[chescowxman]

While yesterday was mild it was nowhere close to record levels. Today will again be almost 17 degrees above normal but again nowhere close to the records for today. Showers move in tonight and tomorrow before a share cold front crosses the area tomorrow night .

County wide records for the day: High 74 Honey Brook (1997) / Low 1 above at both Devault and West Chester (1963) / Rain 2.39" Devault (1958) / Snow 4.0" Phoenixville (1935)

[Andie]

11 hours ago, Black Hole said:

It was 84F here in Tulsa today. Tomorrow could be anywhere from about 85-90F depending on cloud cover. Then...it'll be near freezing 12 hours later! 

Sounds very Tx/Okla.  Shorts and sandals one minute, Sweaters the next.  
I never count on Spring till Easter.  March 31st. 

[Timmy Supercell]

[Andie]

Anyone wanting to watch an eagle nest expecting 3 (2are usual) eggs tune in below. 
Hatching expected the last day Feb/First day Mar.  

FriendsofBigBearValley.org.  
 

[Minny_Weather]

Dry air splitting the moisture in half, around my house, as scheduled!

This winter is obnoxious lol

[westMJim]

New record high for the date at Grand Rapids and Lansing 68 Holland 70.  I now have a reading of 70 here in MBY.

[Timmy Supercell]

Some areas have just been upgraded to Enhanced! 

[WinterSquall23]

Currently 64. Perfect deck weather Cat likes it too. Feels like Mid May. 

[Niko]

It is an incredible 68F right now and I am pretty confident that temps do get to at least 70F here in myby or maybe even higher than that. Just amazingly warm outside. I stepped outside and if feels like May. What a crazy winter weatherwise.

[Timmy Supercell]

I hope these between storms don't wreck later activity. Getting another isolated t'storm right now shaking the house. It's barely low 60's out, and was forecast to be 70+.

[westMJim]

Several new record highs for both February and meteorological winter. The 2PM temperature of 72 at Grand Rapids and Lansing have set new record highs for February and meteorological winter. The reading of 66 at Muskegon set a new record for the date but is just shy of the record for February. Will see how that plays out the rest of the day. Here in MBY I now have a reading of 74.

[tStacsh]

1 hour ago, westMJim said:

New record high for the date at Grand Rapids and Lansing 68 Holland 70.  I now have a reading of 70 here in MBY.

I'm up to 72 at my house officially.   My car got up to 75 briefly before holding steady at 74 on my ride to work after lunch.  I turned my AC on because I still had my windbreaker on in my car and the window didn't help.   Dewpoint at 56.    Could be an icy spot or two in the morning with snow showers lol

[hawkstwelve]

Cold front made it's way through earlier this morning, quickly dropping the temperature almost 10 degrees in an hour. Currently sitting at 13 with a strong north wind making it feel pretty dang cold, especially after the 70 reading yesterday. Moderate to occasionally heavy snowfall for the past hour and a half with visibility quickly dropping due to the blowing snow.

What a difference one day makes!

[Niko]

An incredible 72F here in SMI (Macomb area). Hard to believe it will snow tomorrow.

[Hoosier]

Impressive CAPE values around here for this time of year.  These would be good a month from now, let alone at the end of February.  SPC also added a hatched 10% tornado area just south of Chicago on the 20z outlook and recent runs of the HRRR have been breaking out some convection south of Chicago into northern IN.

[CentralNebWeather]

3:30 pm, 19 degrees, wind chill of 6, snowing sideways with winds gusting over 40 mph. Hi abbreviated winter. 

[Hoosier]

Might fall just short of the all-time February high for Chicago.  High so far has been 74.  Probably just a little too much cloudiness this afternoon will prevent it from happening.

[tStacsh]

Not sure the official high, but I got to 74.   Possible severe weather tonight and a now Winter weather advisory has been  issued lol.  Flash freeze in the morning. up to an inch of snow with winds gusting to 30-40 mph tomorrow.     60's return this weekend.  Now that's some crazy up and downs.