February 2026 OBS & Discussion

[NorthShoreWx]

1 hour ago, Freezing Drizzle said:

The brutally cold season of 1976-1977 only yielded some 25 inches in the NYC area. (24.5" in CPK.)
Yes, the snowfalls lasted. lol

Heavy ice formation in the waterways. Area ferry services were suspended. 

Averages by month, Central Park:
November 1976 41.7 F (The coldest November since 1917 surely "primed" the cold waters.)
December 1976 - 29.9 F (Number 9 since records kept.)
January 1977 - 22.1 F (Number 2 since records kept.)
February 1977 - 33.5 F

October 1976 too.  That was the last time Central Park got down to the 20s in October.

[LoboLeader1]

Last night Orlando FLA saw temps fall to 27°F, while Juneau was @ 33°F, parts of southeastern U.S. was colder than parts of Southeast Alaska. 

[nycsnow]

Another consistent trend on the models specifically euro is dry though the end of their runs. Euro aifs is 0.2 qpf 

[Freezing Drizzle]

1 hour ago, NorthShoreWx said:

October 1976 too.  That was the last time Central Park got down to the 20s in October.

Yes! 52.9 F that October.  Hasn't averaged below that since. Number 10 since records kept. 
Good catch.

@NorthShoreWx

[MJO812]

All the models show some milder weather as we head into February . A nice thaw. Hopefully it doesn't last long .

[donsutherland1]

Some photos of the Hudson River this morning.

Note: I edited out the intrusive light posts from the Henry Hudson Parkway on the photo looking toward the George Washington Bridge.

[MANDA]

3 minutes ago, MJO812 said:

All the models show some milder weather as we head into February . A nice thaw. Hopefully it doesn't last long .

Pattern looks to become much more progressive with less amplification and reverting back to more northern stream dominated  Cold up in Canada is far less frigid and less widespread over western Canada than it was.  Lowest temperature at this hour up in the Yukon Province is -1, most of the NWT is in the single digits above and below zero. Still cold and solid and deep snow cover up stream so we should get some benefit from that from that for a while.  After next weekends cold shot the worst of the worst in terms of cold is likely over for the winter.  I wouldn't bet against below normal precipitation for the first two weeks of February.

[jm1220]

13 minutes ago, MANDA said:

Pattern looks to become much more progressive with less amplification and reverting back to more northern stream dominated  Cold up in Canada is far less frigid and less widespread over western Canada than it was.  Lowest temperature at this hour up in the Yukon Province is -1, most of the NWT is in the single digits above and below zero. Still cold and solid and deep snow cover up stream so we should get some benefit from that from that for a while.  After next weekends cold shot the worst of the worst in terms of cold is likely over for the winter.  I wouldn't bet against below normal precipitation for the first two weeks of February.

Our chance at getting something major is likely when the cold relaxes. Pattern will be too suppressed until then. It doesn’t prevent us from getting a few inch clipper if we’re lucky. But we risk again when the cold relaxes that we go back to SWFE and cutter. 

[eduggs]

The GEFS, GEPS, EPS, ICON-EPS, EPS, GFSAI, ECMWF-AIFS and EPS-AIFS are all very dry out through 10 days. That has been the theme of this winter apart from last weekend.

[NEG NAO]

[eduggs]

Cold, windy, dry.