Winter 2025/26 Banter Thread

[TheClimateChanger]

 

Really impressive stuff here. Some notable high temperature rankings from the Midwest.

Rockford, IL: 41.8F (3rd)

Dubuque, IA: 41.4F (4th)

Moline, IL: 46.5F (4th)

Rochester, MN: 37.5F (4th)

Cedar Rapids, IA: 45.5F (2nd)

Des Moines, IA: 50.0F (2nd)

Sioux City, IA: 53.9F (1st)

Omaha, NE: 55.8F (1st)

Minneapolis, MN: 37.8F (6th)

Saint Cloud, MN: 35.1F (7th)

Green Bay, WI: 34.1F (9th)

Even warmer over the Plains! Giving the great torch of February 2017 a run for its money on the national means.

[Malacka11]

My dear mother just sent me this picture. Absolutely bonkers imo 

[McHenrySnow]

26 minutes ago, Malacka11 said:

My dear mother just sent me this picture. Absolutely bonkers imo 

Definitely too early, even for crocuses, which are typically the first spring flower to bloom. I see what appears to be a step in the background, I assume they are close to a structure?

I definitely have some popping up, I noticed on Monday, but they're next to my house on the south-facing side, so not terribly surprised. 

[Malacka11]

27 minutes ago, McHenrySnow said:

Definitely too early, even for crocuses, which are typically the first spring flower to bloom. I see what appears to be a step in the background, I assume they are close to a structure?

I definitely have some popping up, I noticed on Monday, but they're next to my house on the south-facing side, so not terribly surprised. 

Those are actually really interesting points, thanks. I believe that's straight up the foundation of the house and (for anything it's worth) I think the sump pump discharge goes right below there too. And definitely facing south-ish as well.  The more you know

[Brian D]

February 19

1928: A dust storm moves across Minnesota, causing lights to be turned on in the daytime in the Twin Cities.

For Thursday, February 19, 2026
1884 - Severe thunderstorms spawned sixty tornadoes in the southeastern U.S., killing more than 420 persons and causing three million dollars damage. Georgia and the Carolinas hardest were hit in the tornado outbreak. (David Ludlum)
1888 - A tornado struck Mount Vernon IL. The tornado killed sixteen persons along its 62 mile path. (David Ludlum)
1954 - High winds across the southern half of the Great Plains, gusting to 85 mph, caused the worst duststorms since the 1930s. Graders were needed in places to clear fence high dirt drifts. (The Weather Channel)
1987 - A winter storm over the southern and central Rockies produced 28 inches of snow at Echo Lake CO, and two feet of snow at Gascon NM and Los Alamos NM. Mora County NM was declared a disaster area following the storm. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - Showers and thunderstorms in the southeastern U.S. drenched Valdosta GA with more than five inches of rain, and the 24 hour rainfall total of 7.10 inches at Apalachicola FL more than doubled their previous 24 hour record for February. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1989 - An upper level weather disturbance brought heavy snow to parts of Nebraska, with six inches reported at Loup City and Surprise. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1990 - A moist Pacific storm worked its way into New Mexico and southern Colorado. Up to 36 inches of snow blanketed the Wolf Creek and Red Mountain passes of southwest Colorado, and up to 15 inches of snow was reported around Trinidad. In New Mexico, the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains were blanketed with 9 to 28 inches of snow, and 50 to 60 mph wind gusts were reported from Taos to Albuquerque. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2011 - Strong winds reaching as high as 40 mph with gusts to 53 mph topple the 48 year old National Christmas tree. The 42 foot tall Colorado blue spruce sat just south of the White House on the Ellipse. It was transplanted there from York, Pennsylvania in 1978. <a href="http://islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/diaryfeb.htm">The Weather Doctor</a>