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>

[michsnowfreak]

On 2/18/2026 at 4:40 PM, Malacka11 said:

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

Theres nothing here. But the snow literally just melted. And if theres anything popping up in the wild after a winter dominated by well below avg temps...something smells funny. But near the heat of a home its not uncommon to see crocuses by mid to late Feb. 

[Brian D]

February 20

1981: Due to the long spell of warm weather in the 60s, a farmer near Le Center is plowing some alfalfa ground.

For Friday, February 20, 2026
1805 - The Potomac River was opened after being closed by ice for a period of two months. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)
1898 - Eastern Wisconsin experienced their biggest snowstorm of record. Racine received thirty inches, and drifts around Milwaukee measured fifteen feet high. (David Ludlum)
1953 - A snowstorm in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota produced drifts ten feet high which derailed trains. (David Ludlum)
1987 - A storm system over Arizona spread heavy snow from the Southern Rockies into the Southern Plains Region. Thunderstorms in central Texas produced golf ball size hail about the same time north central Texas was being blanketed with up to 8 inches of snow, closing many schools. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - Snow and strong northerly winds ushered arctic air into the Great Lakes Region. The temperature at Sault Ste Marie MI plunged from 30 degrees at 5 AM to one below zero by 3 PM, with a wind chill reading of 40 degrees below zero. Five cities in Florida reported record high temperatures for the date. The afternoon high of 90 degrees at Lakeland was just a degree shy of their February record. (The National Weather Summary)
1989 - Thunderstorms developing during the early afternoon produced severe weather from eastern Texas to Alabama and northwest Florida. Thunderstorms spawned a dozen tornadoes during the afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms also produced 90 mph winds around Vicksburg MS, and 100 mph winds around Jackson MS. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1990 - Heavy snow spread into southwestern Kansas and the panhandle region of Oklahoma and Texas. Heavier snowfall totals included 12 inches at Boise City OK, 11 inches at Liberal KS, and 10 inches at Spearman TX. Blowing and drifting snow closed roads in the Oklahoma panhandle. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

[Brian D]

February 21

1965: Strong winds occur, reaching speeds of up to 45 mph in the Twin Cities.

For Saturday, February 21, 2026
1918 - A spectacular chinook wind at Granville, ND, caused the temperature to spurt from a morning low of 33 degrees below zero to an afternoon high of 50 degrees above zero. (David Ludlum)
1935 - Frequent dust storms occurred in eastern Colorado during the month, forcing schools to close and people to stay indoors. A fatality occurred on this date when two section cars collided on the railroad near Arriba CO, due to poor visibility. (The Weather Channel)
1936 - The temperature at Langdon, ND, climbed above zero for the first time in six weeks. Readings never got above freezing during all three winter months. (David Ludlum)
1971 - An outbreak of tornadoes hit northeastern Louisiana and northern and central Mississippi. The tornadoes claimed 121 lives, including 110 in Mississippi. Three tornadoes accounted for 118 of the deaths. There are 1600 persons injured, 900 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, and total damage was 19 million dollars. (David Ludlum)
1971 - Elk City, OK, was buried under 36 inches of snow to establish a 24 hour snowfall record for the state. (David Ludlum)
1987 - Low pressure over central California produced gale force winds along the coast, and produced thunderstorms which pelted Stockton, Oakland and San Jose with small hail. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - A storm tracking across southern Canada produced high winds in the north central U.S., with gusted to 90 mph reported at Boulder CO. The high winds snapped trees and power lines, and ripped shingles off roofs. The Kentucky Fried Chicken Bucket was blown off their store in Havre MT. An eighteen foot fiberglass bear was blown off its stand along a store front in west Cody WY, and sailed east into downtown Cody before the owners were able to transport their wandering bear back home in a horse trailer. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1989 - Thunderstorms developing during the morning hours spread severe weather across Georgia and the Carolinas. Strong thunderstorm winds caused one death and thirteen injuries in North Carolina, and another four injuries in South Carolina. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1990 - Overnight thunderstorms produced heavy rain in central Texas. Rainfall totals ranged up to 2.80 inches at Camp Verde, with 2.20 inches reported at Leakey. Thunderstorms early in the day produced high winds in southern Texas, with wind gusts to 60 mph reported at Alice. Daytime thunderstorms in eastern Texas drenched Rosenberg with four inches of rain. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

[Brian D]

Was just looking at solar data. Sun looks to be going blank already in the cycle. Seems a little early for that. It will not last long, but interesting, nonetheless. 

https://solarham.com/

[Chicago916]

Seems like the GFS was the best at medium lead time for this Noreaster? Seems like it's caught on more often than EURO on those storms lately. 

[A-L-E-K]

Euro got smoked 

[Baum]

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

Euro got smoked 

Yup. 

[A-L-E-K]

Shameful performance really

[DocATL]

Seems like the GFS was the best at medium lead time for this Noreaster? Seems like it's caught on more often than EURO on those storms lately. 

Yes,it’s done well this season. It did a pretty good job with the southern snow several weeks ago. Pretty sure we poo poo’d it the whole time.

It’s led the way with this remarkable east coast pattern.

[cmillzz]

All of the models have sucked lately tbh, especially past day 5.

[McHenrySnow]

29 minutes ago, DocATL said:

Yes,it’s done well this season. It did a pretty good job with the southern snow several weeks ago. Pretty sure we poo poo’d it the whole time.

It’s led the way with this remarkable east coast pattern.

It shit the bed with the prior storm, which the Euro nailed. It's hard to trust any model these days tbh.