Winter 2025/26 Banter Thread

[Harry Perry]

48 minutes ago, DocATL said:

You guys…

https://x.com/snewengweather/status/2026098368804487556?s=46


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Damn, Rhode Island just rewrote the record books. 

[DocATL]

https://x.com/nilwxreports/status/2026093985731674556?s=46


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[Powerball]

NYC really sucks at snowfall measurements. There hasn't been an update since yesterday afternoon from any of the sites (including Central Park).

But oddly enough, there was additional measurable precipitation at Central Park specifically after the previous 1pm snowfall total, so there was almost certainly more snowfall that accumulated beyond the official 19.7" as well...

 

[Brian D]

February 24

1835: The temperature at Ft. Snelling falls 26 degrees in only three hours.

For Tuesday, February 24, 2026
1852 - The Susquehanna River ice bridge at Havre de Grace, MD, commenced to break up after forty days of use. A total of 1738 loaded freight cars were hauled along rails laid on the ice. (David Ludlum)
1936 - Vermont and New Hampshire received brown snow due to dust from storms in the Great Plains Region. A muddy rain fell across parts of northern New York State. (24th-25th) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
1987 - A massive winter storm began to overspread the western U.S. In southern California, Big Bear was blanketed with 17 inches of snow, and Lake Hughes reported four inches of snow in just one hour. Snow pellets whitened coastal areas of Orange County and San Diego County, with three inches at Huntington Beach. The storm also produced thunderstorms with hail and waterspouts. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - Strong winds produced snow squalls in the Great Lakes Region which created "white-out" conditions in eastern Upper Michigan. Squalls produced up to 14 inches of snow in Geauga County of northeastern Ohio. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1989 - A total of thirty-three cities in the eastern U.S. reported new record low temperatures for the date, and an Atlantic coast storm spread heavy snow from Georgia to southern New England. Snowfall totals in New Jersey ranged up to 24 inches in May County, with 19 inches reported at Atlantic City. Totals in North Carolina ranged up to 18 inches in Gates County, and winds along the coast of North Carolina gusted to 70 mph at Duck Pier. Strong winds gusting to 52 mph created blizzard conditions at Chatham MA. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1990 - Strong northerly winds prevailed from Illinois to the Southern and Central Appalachians. Winds gusted to 68 mph at Sewickley Heights PA. High winds caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow across northern and central Indiana through the day. Wind gusts to 47 mph and 6 to 8 inches of snow created white-out conditions around South Bend IN. Traffic accidents resulted in two deaths and 130 injuries. Sixty-five persons were injured in one accident along Interstate 69 in Huntington County. Wind gusts to 60 mph and 4 to 8 inches of snow created blizzard conditions in eastern and northern Ohio. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2004 - Heavy snows blanket wide areas of northern New Mexico, closing schools and highways. he mountains east of Santa Fe receive 20 inches. Sandia Park, east of Albuquerque, measures 11 inches. 8 inches falls at Los Alamos.

[SchaumburgStormer]

11 hours ago, DocATL said:

You guys…

https://x.com/snewengweather/status/2026098368804487556?s=46


.

This sounds like fun, but as I work in commercial property insurance, all I can thin k about are collapsed roofs and trees on houses due to the weight.  

 

But 10/10 would love to see something like that, or a Buffalo lake effect firehouse in person before I kick the bucket. 

[King James]

Another day of crazy winds

[Powerball]

6 hours ago, SchaumburgStormer said:

This sounds like fun, but as I work in commercial property insurance, all I can thin k about are collapsed roofs and trees on houses due to the weight.  

 

But 10/10 would love to see something like that, or a Buffalo lake effect firehouse in person before I kick the bucket. 

 

 

[A-L-E-K]

Nice

 

 

 

[Chicago Storm]

On 2/23/2026 at 5:48 PM, cmillzz said:

I feel like that one underperformed slightly regarding snow amounts, even for the LOT CWA. IIRC the wind was ripping apart the dendrites and lowering ratios, so was falling like pixie dust. But then again, wouldn’t have been the same without the big wind, so did meet overall expectations. 

compared to some of the snow maps, sure. but most guidance hit well.

i remember when the euro had that thing locked in from a week+ out, and only lost briefly it for a run or two several days out.

[Chicago Storm]

On 2/23/2026 at 4:27 PM, DocATL said:

What an epic amazing storm. We may not see this again until next year.

gonna be a helluva lot longer than that.

[DocATL]

gonna be a helluva lot longer than that.

You never know, we’ve had a frozen Texas, half a foot in Pensacola, and 3 feet+ in the northeast in consecutive years. Something crazy is coming next year.

[michsnowfreak]

2 hours ago, DocATL said:

You never know, we’ve had a frozen Texas, half a foot in Pensacola, and 3 feet+ in the northeast in consecutive years. Something crazy is coming next year.

The Northeast has been in a multi year snow drought. They've not had 3+ feet in consecutive years. 

Plus, even if they get a noreaster next year, one with those amounts (even though confined to the immediate coast) seem unlikely. 

[DocATL]

The Northeast has been in a multi year snow drought. They've not had 3+ feet in consecutive years. 
Plus, even if they get a noreaster next year, one with those amounts (even though confined to the immediate coast) seem unlikely. 

No I mean there have been wild winter weather events each year. It may be them, it may be Seattle…who knows.


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[Brian D]

So I get hit with a blizzard with 20-40" storm totals, and then the NE gets hit with the same. Ma Nature n Old Man Winter hookin up on a waterbed  

[Brian D]

February 25

1934: A late season cold snap produces a bitterly cold low of -46 at Big Falls.

For Wednesday, February 25, 2026
1922 - The temperature at Los Angeles, CA, soared to 92 degrees to establish a record for the month of February. (David Ludlum)
1977 - Dust reduced visibilities from eastern Virginia through the southeastern states to Florida between the 24th and the 28th. The dust originated in the western Great Plains on the 22nd and 23rd, with wind gusts above 100 mph reported at Guadalupe Pass TX, at White Sands NM, in Sherman County KS, and in eastern Colorado. (The Weather Channel)
1987 - Low pressure in Nevada produced snow from the southwestern U.S. to the Dakotas. Snowfall totals in Arizona ranged up to 82 inches at Alpine. Flagstaff AZ reported 23 inches of snow in 24 hours. Other heavier snowfall totals included 20 inches at Daggett NV, 24 inches at Brian Head UT, 24 inches at Red Lodge MT, and 26 inches at Angel Fire NM. Snow at Los Alamos NM pushed their snowfall total for the winter past their previous record of 123.5 inches. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - Overnight snow squalls in the Lower Great Lakes Region buried Pulaski NY under 17 inches of snow. Sunny and mild weather prevailed across the rest of the nation. Havre MT reported a record high of 66 degrees. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1989 - Thirteen cities in Florida reported record low temperatures for the date, including Jacksonville with a reading of 24 degrees. Severe cold in Florida claimed three lives, and resulted in 250 to 300 million dollars crop damage. Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in the central U.S. Dodge City KS reported record high of 80 degrees. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1990 - Snow spread across the northeastern U.S. Massachusetts was blanketed with 8 to 15 inches of snow, 5 to 10 inches was reported in Rhode Island, and totals in Connecticut ranged up to 10.5 inches at New Canaan. In central New York State, snow and high winds resulted in a number of chain-reaction multiple accidents, and a total of 108 persons were injured. Snow and high winds created white-out conditions along Interstate 87 in Saratoga County NY. Subzero cold was reported from Minnesota through Michigan to northern New England. Duluth MN reported a record low of 26 degrees below zero. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2009 - Two Alaskan communities set their all-time records for highest windspeed. St. Paul registers a wind of 91 mph, and on St George Island the wind reaches 94 mph.

[hawkeye_wx]

15 hours ago, DocATL said:

You never know, we’ve had a frozen Texas, half a foot in Pensacola, and 3 feet+ in the northeast in consecutive years. Something crazy is coming next year.

I'm still waiting for the 1000-year storm that drops 12" in my yard.  That would be peak crazy.

[Chinook]

On 2/24/2026 at 1:45 PM, Powerball said:

NYC really sucks at snowfall measurements. There hasn't been an update since yesterday afternoon from any of the sites (including Central Park).

But oddly enough, there was additional measurable precipitation at Central Park specifically after the previous 1pm snowfall total, so there was almost certainly more snowfall that accumulated beyond the official 19.7" as well...

 

Maybe the NY Jets front office is in charge of snow measurement.

[Chinook]

This is directly from the SPC. They are going to use this new, potentially confusing, system for the SPC outlooks in about a week. Hopefully it's not terribly confusing. The chance for EF2+ tornadoes goes way with the hatching groups. The values are 7% of tornadoes are EF2+ at "no hatching," increasing to a value of 40% at CIG-3. 

There are two levels for hail. That's slightly confusing.

Probability values of 75% and 90% for wind probability outlooks have been added.

I am going to call these, little dashies, northwest-leaning lines, and hatching. (I made that up.)

[Brian D]

February 26

1996: A bolt of lightning from a snowstorm causes an explosion at a fireworks storage site in Milaca. One employee was injured and several homes in the area were damaged. An eight foot crater was all that remained where the storage site had been.

 

1971: Extremely low pressure moves across Minnesota. The Twin Cities had a barometer reading of 28.77 inches and Duluth beat that with 28.75. Freezing rain and snow hit northern Minnesota, dumping up to 18 inches of snow in some areas. Areas around Virginia, MN were without power for 5 days.

 

1896: A balmy high of 60 degrees is reported at Maple Plain. The warm weather hampered the annual ice cutting on Lake Independence to store for summer use.

For Thursday, February 26, 2026
1910 - Parts of Washington State were in the midst of a storm which produced 129 inches of snow at Laconia between the 24th and the 26th, a single storm record for the state. A series of storms, which began on the 23rd, led to a deadly avalanche on the first of March. By late on the 28th, the snow had changed to rain, setting the stage for disaster. (The Weather Channel)
1972 - The Buffalo Creek disaster occurred in the Buffalo Creek Hollow of Logan County in West Virginia. A coal slag dam on the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek burst sending a fifty foot wall of water down a narrow valley killing 125 persons and causing 51 million dollars damage. Three days of rain atop a six inches snow cover prompted the dam break. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
1987 - A slow moving storm in the southwestern U.S. spread heavy snow from the southern and central Rockies into the Central High Plains Region. Totals in Colorado ranged up to 62 inches at Purgatory. Colorado Springs CO reported a February record of 14.8 inches of snow in 24 hours. Lander WY received four inches in one hour, 13 inches in seven hours, and a record storm total of 26 inches. High winds created near blizzard conditions at Colorado Springs. Fairplay CO reported 43 inches of snow, with drifts ten feet high. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - Eight cities in the central and western U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date, including Lamoni IA with a reading of 67 degrees. Temperatures in North Dakota were as warm as those in Florida. (The National Weather Summary)
1989 - An upper level weather disturbance brought snow to parts of the central U.S. which just one day earlier were enjoying temperatures in the 60s. Snowfall totals in Missouri ranged up to nine inches at Rolla. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1990 - Unseasonably cold weather followed in the wake of the winter storm in the northeastern U.S. Ten cities reported record low temperatures for the date, including Syracuse NY with a reading of 10 degrees below zero. Freezing temperatures in southeastern Virginia caused considerable damage to plants and fruit trees. The barometric pressure reading of 30.88 inches at Wilmington NC was February record for that location. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2004 - A major snowstorm dumps up to 20 inches of snow in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Charlotte's third largest snowstorm on record accumulates 11.6 inches at the airport.

[DocATL]

So uhh…winter grades? Or we still waiting?

[Chicago Storm]

So uhh…winter grades? Or we still waiting?

it’s still february.

[A-L-E-K]

B- and trending down imo

[Malacka11]

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

B- and trending down imo

Ngl I'm kind of surprised how high you're giving 

[Chicago916]

Not understanding the copium about this winter. It sucked. Quantitatively sure it will still be near average. But taking it all in this Winter was terrible from a snow enthusiast perspective. Most snow came early, frequent CAD, and not many opportunities for meaningful storms. Cherry on top too was the South getting impactful snow again and the Northeast getting hit hard late season. Seasonal and long range forecasts all indicate some warm air moving in and after that sure there's opportunities for cool weather, but too little too late and that opportunity will likely disappear at shorter range. C- winter. 

[DocATL]

Ngl I'm kind of surprised how high you're giving 

February probably biased us a bit but in SW burbs we missed out on a couple lake enhanced snows. With the upcoming miss in mind, I may downgrade to a C+. If we don’t hit our seasonal average, I’ll knock off the +.

[DocATL]

Not understanding the copium about this winter. It sucked. Quantitatively sure it will still be near average. But taking it all in this Winter was terrible from a snow enthusiast perspective. Most snow came early, frequent CAD, and not many opportunities for meaningful storms. Cherry on top too was the South getting impactful snow again and the Northeast getting hit hard late season. Seasonal and long range forecasts all indicate some warm air moving in and after that sure there's opportunities for cool weather, but too little too late and that opportunity will likely disappear at shorter range. C- winter. 

Preach.

[Chicago Storm]

lol

[DocATL]

lol

I know…we’re a tough bunch to deal with. First to admit it.

[roardog]

2 minutes ago, DocATL said:

I know…we’re a tough bunch to deal with. First to admit it.

Nah. There's just a lot of unrealistic expectations on this board for where people live. lol

[A-L-E-K]

21 minutes ago, Malacka11 said:

Ngl I'm kind of surprised how high you're giving 

decent early season lake enhanced event and suspect still at or above average imby

but winter not technically over and we're gonna finish lower unless we get a big dog which looks increasingly unlikely