February 2026 OBS & Discussion

[NyWxGuy]

6 minutes ago, EastonSN+ said:

Most snowfall since 20/21 (21 to date for CPK).

At this point would grade as a C- however we have until mid March to hopefully pad the stats.

C-? Since average is 29-30” for CPK, and average is like a B, then I would say this is like a C+ winter. And only because we haven’t reached average snowfall yet. With the cold we’ve had and all the ice, that’s been an A. Coldest winter since 2015 I believe. But yeah in the snow department I’d say B- because we’re still a little below average. 
 

personally, cold notwithstanding, my grading scale is 

F: 10” or less. (Ratter winters) 
D: 11-14”

C-: 15-18”

C: 19-22”

C+: 23-25”

B-: 26-28”

B: 29-32”

B+: 33-36”

A-:37-40”

A: 41-44”

A+:45” or higher 

 

[weatherpruf]

9 minutes ago, NyWxGuy said:

C-? Since average is 29-30” for CPK, and average is like a B, then I would say this is like a C+ winter. And only because we haven’t reached average snowfall yet. With the cold we’ve had and all the ice, that’s been an A. Coldest winter since 2015 I believe. But yeah in the snow department I’d say B- because we’re still a little below average. 
 

personally, cold notwithstanding, my grading scale is 

F: 10” or less. (Ratter winters) 
D: 11-14”

C-: 15-18”

C: 19-22”

C+: 23-25”

B-: 26-28”

B: 29-32”

B+: 33-36”

A-:37-40”

A: 41-44”

A+:45” or higher 

 

some of us are about average or a little over.

[LoboLeader1]

Reached a high of 34 here today, after a morning low of 17. 

[Stormlover74]

13 minutes ago, NyWxGuy said:

C-? Since average is 29-30” for CPK, and average is like a B, then I would say this is like a C+ winter. And only because we haven’t reached average snowfall yet. With the cold we’ve had and all the ice, that’s been an A. Coldest winter since 2015 I believe. But yeah in the snow department I’d say B- because we’re still a little below average. 
 

personally, cold notwithstanding, my grading scale is 

F: 10” or less. (Ratter winters) 
D: 11-14”

C-: 15-18”

C: 19-22”

C+: 23-25”

B-: 26-28”

B: 29-32”

B+: 33-36”

A-:37-40”

A: 41-44”

A+:45” or higher 

 

The cold and snowpack definitely adds at least a full grade for me. Solid B right now even if doesn't snow anymore...i'm sitting at around 27"

[donsutherland1]

Central Park's cumulative snow depth through today is 107". Winter 2025-2026 is only the second winter since Winter 2014-2015 to exceed 100" cumulative snow depth with Winter 2020-2021 being the other.

A strong surge of Arctic air will arrive for the weekend, likely accompanied by some snow flurries or snow showers. Some areas could pick up a heavier snow squall. Much of the region could see a coating to an inch of snow early tomorrow morning. The eastern half of Suffolk County could see a 1"-3" snowfall, as some Atlantic moisture from a developing offshore storm could enhance snowfall in that area. 

The temperature will hold steady or fall slowly throughout the day. Sunday will likely be the coldest day this winter. Temperatures on Sunday will likely top out in the teens in New York City following a low in the single digits. Monday will start very cold, but the afternoon will be less harsh as readings climb into the lower and middle 20s.

The persistent and often severely cold pattern will likely break near February 10th. However, exceptional warmth appears unlikely through at least mid-February, even as milder readings overspread the region.

The ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly was +0.1°C and the Region 3.4 anomaly was -0.4°C for the week centered around January 28. For the past six weeks, the ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly has averaged -0.38°C and the ENSO Region 3.4 anomaly has averaged -0.57°C. La Niña conditions will likely continue into at least late winter.

The SOI was +10.18 today. 

The preliminary Arctic Oscillation (AO) was -2.923 today. 

 

[Stormlover74]

Lol

[ForestHillWx]

Snowing in western Morris County now. 

[RedSky]

GFS is south where you want it this early. Had to say it.

 

[lee59]

I would give this winter at least a B even an A. Snowfall has been above average so far and it has not gone away. Temperatures below normal and a prolonged very cold stretch. It also started early.

[SACRUS]

10 minutes ago, RedSky said:

GFS is south where you want it this early. Had to say it.

 

Its evil Twin GFS AI AIGFS has much more QPF for that period

 

[Freezing Drizzle]

1 hour ago, MANDA said:

What a memorable storm that was and will always be.  Not my favorite but in the top 10.  In some ways it is my favorite because of the times we were living in.  No internet. All you had was tv and radio to get info from.  As a kid interested in the weather it was a special time.  NOAA weather radio with live warm bodies doing the hourly roundup!  Still have Accuweather recordings from 1010 WINS.

Yep.
Alan Kasper, Craig Allen, et al.

[NorthShoreWx]

Feb 6, 6PM obs (1978):

METAR KISP 062256Z 04530KT 1/10SM +SN BLSN M02/M03 A2944 RMK SLP970

 

[donsutherland1]

Here's how Winter 2025-2026 fares in terms of cold and snowfall through February 5th for all winters beginning in 2000-01. Should February wind up snowy, Winter 2025-2026 will solidify its place among 21st century winters.

[Blizzwalker]

2 hours ago, eduggs said:

It's been below average cold for a solid 3 weeks right through the heart of winter. The mix event on January 25 was a lot of fun, but this period will be remembered for its cold not for its snow.

A reminder that perceptions of winter are location dependent. Even within this sub -forum.  Some of us didn't have a mix, we had a 16 inch snowstorm, followed by unusual cold which lent staying power to the pack. Some of us NW forum members will remember it as a snowy, wintery period...I've had to repeatedly knock 3 foot icicles off my roof line. 

[lee59]

I think what makes this a good winter is the prolonged cold, frozen Hudson and ice even in salt water areas like the bays. Also the amount of time with snow on the ground. It also started early.

[Roger Smith]

This winter would be top three futility winters in this region ... we have 5% of normal snowfall to date and both Vancouver and Seattle WA have had no snow at all. They were saying on our local TV news that the last winter with no snow in Vancouver was 1982-83. I recall 1997-98 as being relatively snow free also, but it's rare, there are usually two or three snowfall events on the coast, and my location often has snow almost every day for the core months of winter. Peak snowdepth has averaged 27" here in recent years, this winter it is 4" and now we are down to patches on sheltered lawns and a few icy plow piles. With that temperatures have averaged 2 to 4 F above normal and even bigger anomalies in the past few days. 

[Wannabehippie]

46 minutes ago, ForestHillWx said:

Snowing in western Morris County now. 

Air is fairly dry by me here in Riverdale, NJ. DP 14, RH 54%. Not seeing anything falling at the moment, so it might be evaporating before it hits the ground. Air temp 29.

[Wannabehippie]

2 minutes ago, Roger Smith said:

This winter would be top three futility winters in this region ... we have 5% of normal snowfall to date and both Vancouver and Seattle WA have had no snow at all. They were saying on our local TV news that the last winter with no snow in Vancouver was 1982-83. I recall 1997-98 as being relatively snow free also, but it's rare, there are usually two or three snowfall events on the coast, and my location often has snow almost every day for the core months of winter. Peak snowdepth has averaged 27" here in recent years, this winter it is 4" and now we are down to patches on sheltered lawns and a few icy plow piles. With that temperatures have averaged 2 to 4 F above normal and even bigger anomalies in the past few days. 

That reminds me of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Lots of issues that year with a lack of snow, above normal temps, etc IIRC

 

[sussexcountyobs]

Snow falling. Sticking all surfaces. 22.5F

[jm1220]

36 minutes ago, lee59 said:

I think what makes this a good winter is the prolonged cold, frozen Hudson and ice even in salt water areas like the bays. Also the amount of time with snow on the ground. It also started early.

I’d give it a solid B at this point. I’m closing on my seasonal average, another 5” to go probably. If I’m lucky, 2” overnight into tomorrow to freshen up the ice glacier on the ground. Cold Dec and Jan, and Feb probably below average. I rank snow over cold so I can’t get to an A but a B certainly. If we see a snowy end to Feb and Mar, it goes to an A-. A goes to winters with over 50” snow IMO. 

[sussexcountyobs]

5 minutes ago, jm1220 said:

I’d give it a solid B at this point. I’m closing on my seasonal average, another 5” to go probably. If I’m lucky, 2” overnight into tomorrow to freshen up the ice glacier on the ground. Cold Dec and Jan, and Feb probably below average. I rank snow over cold so I can’t get to an A but a B certainly. If we see a snowy end to Feb and Mar, it goes to an A-. A goes to winters with over 50” snow IMO. 

No ice glacier here. Snow is still powdery under a thin crusty layer from sun hitting it. Still have not reached freezing since I can't remember when?

[MANDA]

1 hour ago, Freezing Drizzle said:

Yep.
Alan Kasper, Craig Allen, et al.

Remember Alan standing out on West 57th street in front of CBS Broadcast Center at the height of the storm doing live shots.  Not where he wanted to be.

[MANDA]

1 hour ago, NorthShoreWx said:

Feb 6, 6PM obs (1978):

METAR KISP 062256Z 04530KT 1/10SM +SN BLSN M02/M03 A2944 RMK SLP970

 

Visibility up a bit.  

[MANDA]

20 minutes ago, sussexcountyobs said:

Snow falling. Sticking all surfaces. 22.5F

mPING lit up pretty good.

 

[deathstar9]

Personally, through early Feb, this is the best winter since 2010-2011.  Lower bound is a B winter even if it ended after 2/15 with just a few small events remaining.  The upper bound is best winter ever - would take more sustained cold and few larger events including a true blockbuster.

[RU848789]

1 hour ago, lee59 said:

I would give this winter at least a B even an A. Snowfall has been above average so far and it has not gone away. Temperatures below normal and a prolonged very cold stretch. It also started early.

At least a B.  It's silly that some are saying we haven't reached average snowfall for an entire winter, when the winter is barely half over - one has to grade on where we are now vs. where we should be now.  The fact that we're well ahead of where we would normally be makes snowfall at least a B and an A- for me, since we got a little more lucky than CPK and have 29.5", which is our average for the winter, already.  

[wthrmn654]

Upton radar back online

[NorthShoreWx]

7pm:

METAR KISP 062356Z 04533G40KT 0SM +SN BLSN VV000 M03/M04 A2940 RMK SLP956

[donsutherland1]

6 minutes ago, RU848789 said:

At least a B.  It's silly that some are saying we haven't reached average snowfall for an entire winter, when the winter is barely half over - one has to grade on where we are now vs. where we should be now.  The fact that we're well ahead of where we would normally be makes snowfall at least a B and an A- for me, since we got a little more lucky than CPK and have 29.5", which is our average for the winter, already.  

I agree. In Central Park, it's a top 5 winter during the 21st century and among the top 25% of winters all-time through February 5th. It has featured a big snowstorm, prolonged cold, prolonged snow cover and several bouts of severe cold. December-January was the coldest since 2010-11. All three winter months will likely finish with below normal temperatures.

[WestBabylonWeather]

I am not complaining about this winter. Sustained cold. Two 6”+ events plus some minor 1” events. Extended snow cover. Sure beats the 5” years. I’ll take it. It’s not often on Long Island we have almost a month of snow cover