February 2026 Observations & Discussions

[Black Hole]

1 hour ago, Hoosier said:

I start to mentally shift away from hoping to maintain snowcover to just hoping for good storm(s) as we approach the end of February and beyond.  And that's where I am at 41.5N.

Considering how abysmal this year was until about 2 weeks ago I certainly would like another round or two of action. We can still score big snows even down here well into March, so I'd like to see that before I move on for the year. 

[MI Storm]

1 hour ago, SE Nebraska wx said:

Nah. **** them. Im struggling to get over 6 inches yet again while I watch the south get crushed yet againOh and February is looking like a complete train wreck out here. Warm and dry. Yippie. 

 

So glad this awful winter is about over. 

Looks tame there. Much rather be in your spot then I-95 for the coming month or so. Nina’s often tend to stink over there after about 2/10 or so. Though this one is weakening. Looks like a cutter pattern later in Feb 

[MI Storm]

Late Feb feels like it could be borderline temp wise but stormy. Especially for I-80 and north. -PNA rising NAO / AO scream cutters. 

[Hoosier]

41 minutes ago, Stacsh said:

This is correct.   After the last two weeks.  I’m hoping for at least sunny days and then a big storm to track.   I’m snow covered out.  

Typically I'm not somebody who wants winter to carry on and on well into March/April, but I'll never turn down a big snowstorm.  An exception is if some kind of record is in play.  I wanted 2013-14 to go on as long as possible just to see where I would end up in terms of total snowfall.  And it ended up being a number that I had never personally experienced.  

[gimmesnow]

I'm hoping for a late spring, I'm planning on a Vermont/NH/Maine snowboard trip at the end of March.

[Thunder98]

Insanley low dew points along the FL east coast! Very cold temps for FL standards!

 

 

[Stacsh]

56 minutes ago, Thunder98 said:

Insanley low dew points along the FL east coast! Very cold temps for FL standards!

 

 

My parents are snowbirds.   They don’t love the heat but they sure are laughing at people and think this is great down in Bradenton.   They’ll be back in the seventies in a few days.  They like a cool day in Florida occasionally.  

[jaster220]

4 hours ago, Stacsh said:

This is correct.   After the last two weeks.  I’m hoping for at least sunny days and then a big storm to track.   I’m snow covered out.  

This pattern hasn't support that unfortunately - I expect more clipper dustings and LES but no real storms. GFS always has a 300+ hr storm that finds a way to avoid me up here. 

[Hawkeye]

0.4" here this afternoon from a short burst of nice flakes.  It's nothing but dustings.

[Hoosier]

54 minutes ago, jaster220 said:

This pattern hasn't support that unfortunately - I expect more clipper dustings and LES but no real storms. GFS always has a 300+ hr storm that finds a way to avoid me up here. 

Need this.  I wasn't here for it but Highland and Schererville both border me, so pretty good sense of how much fell here.

[Clinton]

1 minute ago, Hoosier said:

Need this

Biggest snowstorm ever for mby.  Dropped 26 inches of snow and blizzard conditions.   I doubt I ever see anything like it again.

[Black Hole]

That was the biggest of all time for  Tulsa with 14.1" from one storm. Some spots not too far away were over 20" I think. There was another big one not long after. 

[OttumwaSnomow]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye said:

0.4" here this afternoon from a short burst of nice flakes.  It's nothing but dustings.

0.6" here same. Dusting after dusting.

[Hoosier]

1 hour ago, Black Hole said:

That was the biggest of all time for  Tulsa with 14.1" from one storm. Some spots not too far away were over 20" I think. There was another big one not long after. 

You talking about the system a few days later?  It was 2/5/2011 for me but may have been the day before for your area.  That was one of the biggest short range model busts that I can recall.  The storm literally shifted hundreds of miles north in the 1-2 days prior... very rare to see a shift of that magnitude that close in.  I think it was a cutoff low but whatever the case, it was down in Mexico for a while and I think there was a lack of data going into the models.  I think the Euro may have been the first or one of the first to pick up on the north trend but everything was playing catchup.

[Black Hole]

6 minutes ago, Hoosier said:

You talking about the system a few days later?  It was 2/5/2011 for me but may have been the day before for your area.  That was one of the biggest short range model busts that I can recall.  The storm literally shifted hundreds of miles north in the 1-2 days prior... very rare to see a shift of that magnitude that close in.  I think it was a cutoff low but whatever the case, it was down in Mexico for a while and I think there was a lack of data going into the models.  I think the Euro may have been the first or one of the first to pick up on the north trend but everything was playing catchup.

The one I was talking about was Jan 31 to Feb 1. But there was 3 other snow events in Feb 

[Hoosier]

5 minutes ago, Black Hole said:

The one I was talking about was Jan 31 to Feb 1. But there was 3 other snow events in Feb 

When you said "there was another big one not long after", I was wondering if you were talking about the storm that came a few days after Feb 1.

[Madtown]

t storms n shorts in mid Feb is the euro from what I see?

[westMJim]

There is light snow falling at the current time, I have just under one inch of new snowfall. There is now 8” of snow on the ground here. The temperature has been going up all night and is now at 20 here in my yard. The low last night before midnight was 8 after midnight it was 10. The week looks to be a rather boring week with mild temperatures. The big weather news today is will the Ground Hog see his shadow?

KEY MESSAGES  

LIGHT SNOW MOVING THROUGH THE AREA TODAY  

MAINLY DRY MID WEEK WITH TEMPERATURES NEARING NORMALS

SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY

TURNING COLDER AGAIN NEXT WEEKEND  

 

Some January 2026 stats. The mean temperature at Grand Rapids was 20.2° The highest temperature for the month was 60 on the 9th and the lowest was -19 on the 24th There was 3.76” of total precipitation and 39.4” of snowfall. All in all after a warm start it became a cold and snowy month.

The official H/L yesterday at Grand Rapids was 24/-8 there was no rain or snowfall. There was 9” of snow on the ground. For today the average H/L is 31/18 the record high of 50 was in 2020 the coldest high of 2 was in 1996 the record low of -9 was in 1971 the warmest low of 33 was on several years the last time was in 2020. The wettest was 1.55” in 2016 the most snowfall of 11.1” was in 2011. The most on the ground was 19” in 2014

Some weather history for February 2nd 1996 An Arctic outbreak that lasted from late January through early February produced nearly 400 hundred record lows, 15 all-time low readings, and over 50 new record lows. Four states recorded their all-time record low temperatures, including Tower, Minnesota, on this date with a reading of 60 degrees below zero, canceling Tower's annual Icebox Days festival because it is too cold. Locations that reported their all-time record low or tied included: Cresco, IA: -36°, Osage, IA: -34°, Charles City, IA tied their record low with -32° and Lancaster, WI tied their all-time record low with -31°. International Falls, MN, and Glasgow, MT set records for February with -45° and -38°, respectively. The temperature at Embarrass, MN, plummeted to -53°. Rochester, MN, dipped to -34° for its coldest temperature in 45 years. Green Bay, WI only reached -16° for the high temperature for the day, their coldest.

 

[Tom]

It's Groundhog Day today and Punxstawney Phil saw his shadow today and there will be 6 more weeks of Winter.  Today brings me back to some good memories of Historic winter storms back in Chicago.  Thanks for the reminder @Hoosier!!!  

Meantime, it felt like Spring Break yesterday afternoon hanging out with my friends at my buddy's rooftop pool.   PHX Torched to 85F surpassing the old record of 83F (2003).  My goodness, I can't believe we got that warm and its going to continue the rest of the week as the Rex Block is Rockin' the Heat out west.  Nothing but 80's and sunshine...not gonna lie guys, but I'm already in Spring Break mode!!  I will, however, welcome some more bigger storms to roll on through the 4 corners eventually.

[jaster220]

Dumping pixies good here - might overachieve. Certainly, more organized than models were looking recently. Will this repeat Thurs/Fri? Never bet against the Clippers this season, lol.

[jaster220]

2 minutes ago, Tom said:

It's Groundhog Day today and Punxstawney Phil saw his shadow today and there will be 6 more weeks of Winter.  Today brings me back to some good memories of Historic winter storms back in Chicago.  Thanks for the reminder @Hoosier!!!  

Meantime, it felt like Spring Break yesterday afternoon hanging out with my friends at my buddy's rooftop pool.   PHX Torched to 85F surpassing the old record of 83F (2003).  My goodness, I can't believe we got that warm and its going to continue the rest of the week as the Rex Block is Rockin' the Heat out west.  Nothing but 80's and sunshine...not gonna lie guys, but I'm already in Spring Break mode!!  I will, however, welcome some more bigger storms to roll on through the 4 corners eventually.

6 more weeks for his back yard, prolly quite a bit longer up here in the Northland. Elsewhere was posted "holiday forecast maps" going forward (some dude has a secret Farmer's Almanac type of formula) and it looks abysmal if you want an early spring. Every holiday thru Mother's Day showing storminess and CO Lows coming through. Kinda confirms you and @Black Hole's take on where/how this winter finishes - uggh. And your post just rubbed it in harder  (Thx).

[Black Hole]

10 hours ago, Hoosier said:

When you said "there was another big one not long after", I was wondering if you were talking about the storm that came a few days after Feb 1.

Gotcha. Here is a write up of the one I was thinking of. Feb 8-9th. 27" in 24 hours not too far to my east, wild!
https://www.weather.gov/tsa/weather-event_2011feb9

[Tom]

13 minutes ago, jaster220 said:

6 more weeks for his back yard, prolly quite a bit longer up here in the Northland. Elsewhere was posted "holiday forecast maps" going forward (some dude has a secret Farmer's Almanac type of formula) and it looks abysmal if you want an early spring. Every holiday thru Mother's Day showing storminess and CO Lows coming through. Kinda confirms you and @Black Hole's take on where/how this winter finishes - uggh. And your post just rubbed it in harder  (Thx).

My bad!  Come on by anytime if you ever feel like leaving for a little break.  More than welcome!

[jaster220]

13 hours ago, Hoosier said:

Need this.  I wasn't here for it but Highland and Schererville both border me, so pretty good sense of how much fell here.

For sure we need one like THAT! Thx for sharing. I wish I would've kept more NWS snow maps from the Big Dogs I got in Marshall. Not sure why I failed to do so tbh? Looks like Harrison did well with GHD-1 too:

[Tom]

4 hours ago, Madtown said:

t storms n shorts in mid Feb is the euro from what I see?

That storm may come knockin' on your door...#Blitz potential (my call 17-21st for a Big Dog)...

[MMike]

KC just enjoyed (if you like cold and snow) a beautiful winter stretch with very cold temps and some snow. We had 16 out of the last 18 days below average on temps (many days way below average) and around 4-7 inches of snow around KC. Ponds and lakes are frozen, matter of fact, I saw some folks ice fishing over the weekend. Ice must be thick enough. Still have a pretty good snow pack but temps this week should knock out most of it. 

Hoping for a few more good chances of snow before we head into spring. Plenty of winter left, let's see who gets lucky. 

[tStacsh]

Another Inch of snow overnight.  Rough ride into work this morning with the cold roads.   Good news is 20's all week with little to no precip in the forecast until Friday.  Even that is looking like a very light event now.   Then maybe rain next week?    Too far off to tell yet.  

[chescowxman]

One of our mildest morning lows in over 10 days here in Chester County with all stations remaining in the low to mid-teens. Today and tomorrow look like our mildest days over the next week. High temperatures today will be in the upper 20’s, and some spots tomorrow have a chance to reach freezing or above for the first time in 11 days. We turn colder again to close out the work week and will turn significantly colder again by the weekend with temperatures remaining in the teens for highs. We have a couple of minor snow chances this week - the first on Tuesday night and another on Friday.

[Grizzcoat]

You know it's a cold blast when Key West breaks a record low and gets within 5F of it's all time coldest FEB Temp-

49F this AM with the old record for 2nd  being 50F in 1980

METAR KEYW 021253Z 07008G16KT 10SM SCT026 SCT037 BKN048 09/05 A3037 RMK AO2 SLP290 T00940050 $

 

9.4C = 49F. In overcast I might add. 

49°F: The last time the temperature dropped below 50°F at the Key West International Airport was on February 20, 2015. 

One of more impressive records from this cold snap you will see as EYW has an rather extensive climo record.  

 

 

[Grizzcoat]

Key West above had a wind chill of 45F

Since the mulligan redo of the chart in Nov 02', it's one of 7 times a metar has recorded a wind chill at EYW per the do over. And 1 of 3 at or below 45F.

Break out the down parkas!!!

 

 

 

[jaster220]

Surprise WWA popped-up outta GRR - not the headline for SNOW but FZRN or drizzle ofc. 

Just measured 1.5" of fresh snow on my driveway (off work today). Their forecast/map was for 0.5-1" so I was right - overachiever here!

 

[Sumweatherdude]

2 hours ago, jaster220 said:

For sure we need one like THAT! Thx for sharing. I wish I would've kept more NWS snow maps from the Big Dogs I got in Marshall. Not sure why I failed to do so tbh? Looks like Harrison did well with GHD-1 too:

I lived in Chicago for this one.  By far my best snowstorm experience.  Not just the amount of snow.  But the ferocity of the storm. I still have some video of it somewhere.  I remember the period between 9 and 10 pm being the most intense.  The next morning.  Notice the swing is he background is touching the snow.  

[Sumweatherdude]

Starts off slow.  Then the monster comes into view. 

[Hoosier]

3 hours ago, Black Hole said:

Gotcha. Here is a write up of the one I was thinking of. Feb 8-9th. 27" in 24 hours not too far to my east, wild!
https://www.weather.gov/tsa/weather-event_2011feb9

Man that's a brutal one for Tulsa.  5.7" there with 2+ feet not too far away.

[mlgamer]

I've always lived somewhere in northeast Kansas and have never seen a 20"+ snowfall and frankly don't ever expect to. It just doesn't do that here. I think my personal best is 15".

[Sumweatherdude]

5 minutes ago, mlgamer said:

I've always lived somewhere in northeast Kansas and have never seen a 20"+ snowfall and frankly don't ever expect to. It just doesn't do that here. I think my personal best is 15".

Back in Feb '13, we did get a couple of storms within about a week of each other that added up to around 20 inches.  That's almost as good.  Two storms to enjoy.  Not sure if Topeka got hit as hard.  

[mlgamer]

25 minutes ago, Sumweatherdude said:

Back in Feb '13, we did get a couple of storms within about a week of each other that added up to around 20 inches.  That's almost as good.  Two storms to enjoy.  Not sure if Topeka got hit as hard.  

I remember that well. Each storm was exactly 6" here for a total of 12".

MBY yard has had several 14" ones while living in either Topeka or KCK and even a 12" storm while in Manhattan. The 15" one I remember was in January 1993 here in Topeka. The official total was like 17.1".

[tStacsh]

Might need to start tracking severe weather soon if these cutters end up being a theme mid-month.  

[mlgamer]

16 hours ago, Clinton said:

Biggest snowstorm ever for mby.  Dropped 26 inches of snow and blizzard conditions.   I doubt I ever see anything like it again.

 

15 hours ago, Black Hole said:

That was the biggest of all time for  Tulsa with 14.1" from one storm. Some spots not too far away were over 20" I think. There was another big one not long after. 

I went back and checked and found that Topeka set a daily record snowfall of 9.1" on Feb 1, 2011.

When we get 9" it just means someone else got way more... 

[westMJim]

26 minutes ago, tStacsh said:

Might need to start tracking severe weather soon if these cutters end up being a theme mid-month.  

 Unfortunately in our area while most of the snow could be gone the parking lot snow piles and the snow along the side of the roads stick around for ever.  And the cold last well into April and no thunderstorms.