Winter 2025-26 Medium/Long Range Discussion

[hawkeye_wx]

4 hours ago, cyclone77 said:

zzzzzz

Not much in the pipeline for Iowa.

[cyclone77]

5 minutes ago, hawkeye_wx said:

Not much in the pipeline for Iowa.

Yeah.  Looks like we'll continue to remain on the sidelines until the 2nd week of Feb.  Have had bare ground here now for almost a month other than a few fleeting DABz.

[Powerball]

On 1/20/2026 at 6:17 PM, buckeye said:

if the trend on that 18z euro continues with more and more of a big phase....Josh might be reeling this one in.

I know you said this somewhat in jest, but it's actually really happening...

[A-L-E-K]

Zzzzz

[DocATL]

Everywhere but here pattern.

[A-L-E-K]

53 minutes ago, DocATL said:

Everywhere but here pattern.

things not much better to our south/west and the co ski resorts are having one of their worst seasons in decades (prayers for thundersnow#s)

def sucks watching the east coast cash in tho

 

[OrdIowPitMsp]

2 hours ago, A-L-E-K said:

things not much better to our south/west and the co ski resorts are having one of their worst seasons in decades (prayers for thundersnow#s)

def sucks watching the east coast cash in tho

 

Was out in Colorado 1/8-1/15, got blessed with 10” of powder on day 1, but it’s historically bad out there. Definitely the worst season on record. People throw out 76/77 but they didn’t have snowmaking to supplement things back then. Fire season will be lit. (Pun intended) 

[roardog]

11 minutes ago, OrdIowPitMsp said:

Was out in Colorado 1/8-1/15, got blessed with 10” of powder on day 1, but it’s historically bad out there. Definitely the worst season on record. People throw out 76/77 but they didn’t have snowmaking to supplement things back then. Fire season will be lit. (Pun intended) 

I think developing El Niño summers(which we might have this summer) tend to have ridging and heat out there too. 

[McHenrySnow]

Got 2.3" total yesterday between the two events. Grass completely covered and perfect when I went to bed and then that wind kicked in. Now I can see grass in my front yard, so we better keep reeling this storm in.

[Cary67]

Seemed to remember endless dry qpf EMCF maps last year. At some point in February figure trough lifts out of the east and we get another wet cutter as ridge out west sloshes east ala mid December.Trough probably redigs in same location at some point later

[DocATL]

things not much better to our south/west and the co ski resorts are having one of their worst seasons in decades (prayers for thundersnow#s)
def sucks watching the east coast cash in tho
 

That’s true. It’s been rough for the mountain west.


.

[A-L-E-K]

16 minutes ago, Cary67 said:

Seemed to remember endless dry qpf EMCF maps last year. At some point in February figure trough lifts out of the east and we get another wet cutter as ridge out west sloshes east ala mid December.Trough probably redigs in same location at some point later

east coast pattern

[frostfern]

3 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

east coast pattern

El niño is coming back.  Not sure this has to do with it but pfffffft.

[A-L-E-K]

we're going manitoba mode

[A-L-E-K]

On 1/9/2026 at 10:21 AM, A-L-E-K said:

nothing worse than an east coast pattern when you're stuck with lake effect vaporware 

worst call of they year x too real classic

 

[A-L-E-K]

not our year lol

atlanta eating our lunch

[Chicago Storm]

7 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

not our year lol

didn't have you turning into beavis on my bingo card.

[A-L-E-K]

1 minute ago, Chicago Storm said:

didn't have you turning into beavis on my bingo card.

beavis is thriving in his element right now

[Chicago Storm]

2 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

beavis is thriving in his element right now

doubtful.

not enough snow-cover.

[A-L-E-K]

i think he digs the dab otg siberia stuff too

[hawkeye_wx]

The Canadian has the storm, too.

[mimillman]

B2b NOLA 8” storms. Chicago kinda sucks 

[DocATL]

1 hour ago, A-L-E-K said:

not our year lol

atlanta eating our lunch

Having lived there for 16 years I can tell you, no one gets more model porn than they do. They either get suppressed or get victimized by the northwest trend. 

[mimillman]

Just need the Feb torch to hold out until the 2H of the month after my UP trip 

[beavis1729]

3 hours ago, Chicago Storm said:

doubtful.

not enough snow-cover.

Correct.

[frostfern]

4 hours ago, A-L-E-K said:

i think he digs the dab otg siberia stuff too

You only need about 3” to cover most grass blades and be in “looks like winter” territory.

[beavis1729]

30 minutes ago, frostfern said:

You only need about 3” to cover most grass blades and be in “looks like winter” territory.

Correct again. 

[DocATL]

GFS taketh and giveth.

[frostfern]

7 hours ago, beavis1729 said:

Correct again. 

So you would be happy with 3 one inch dusters in December followed by two months of arctic CAD and maybe a duster or two to offset sublimation?  Just keep a steady 3 inches with zero melting.  Stay below 15F so no melting on roads or dirty looking snow.

[Jackstraw]

On 1/22/2026 at 7:33 AM, A-L-E-K said:

things not much better to our south/west and the co ski resorts are having one of their worst seasons in decades (prayers for thundersnow#s)

def sucks watching the east coast cash in tho

 

Read an article that the snowpack is 75% below average and if it doesnt improve they may have to shut down the generators an Glen Canyon Dam. Yikes!