February 2026 OBS & Discussion

[the_other_guy]

30 minutes ago, weatherpruf said:

haven't needed one since 1982....

You win the thread

[Rjay]

46 minutes ago, sussexcountyobs said:

Tip for no frozen pipes. At least faucets. Leave cabinets underneath cracked open to let heat in. Let the faucet drip. It doesn't have to be much. 1 drip every 3-4 seconds.

 

I always do all of that.  My issue is everything is outside in a room with shitty insulation so I'm going to take care of that. 

[doncat]

20.1° mean temp here past 3 weeks.

[Rjay]

10 minutes ago, doncat said:

20.1° mean temp here past 3 weeks.

How many colder 3 week periods do you have in your personal records?

[doncat]

17 minutes ago, Rjay said:

How many colder 3 week periods do you have in your personal records?

Unfortunately I don't have records for various time ranges...if you use calendar months then a 20° mean would put it near my coldest on station record ... Of course that would be for 30 days .

[wthrmn654]

I've heard temperatures in Tennesse can be wild but jeez, my sister's stations all over the place with 70s tomorrow she said...

 

[wthrmn654]

Record low maximums were set at all area stations, some going way way back. 

[psv88]

20 here today 

[NyWxGuy]

Saw Flushing Bay completely frozen over. Little Neck bay too. Haven’t seen it like that since January 2018. Most bays along north and south shore are completely frozen. Been a while since there’s been that much ice out on the sound and south shore. There was some last year, 2025, during our cold late Jan- early Feb period. Same with late Jan- early Feb 2019. But haven’t seen it to this extent since 2018 and 2015

[wthrmn654]

Got to 16 today.  Not bad. 

[psv88]

Back door season is going to be absolutely brutal. Delayed spring north of Philly 

[psv88]

Ice skating allowed at Hempstead lake state park. Next at Belmont lake state park.

Hempstead Lake State Park OKs ice skating at pond, a first in decades
https://www.newsday.com/news/weather/hempstead-lake-state-park-skating-szrixdvj

[SACRUS]

00z keying in on 2/15-2/16

track key 

QPF robust


ICON:



GFS:




GFS AI AIGFS





GGEM

[ForestHillWx]

Back down to 5; winds are howling again tonight. 

[golfer67]

2 hours ago, psv88 said:

Back door season is going to be absolutely brutal. Delayed spring north of Philly 

Please please don't say this (see my username)

[JustinRP37]

5 hours ago, golfer67 said:

Please please don't say this (see my username)

I’m a skier and also love getting outside once spring gets going. However, I honestly think April is the worst month of the year. Mist, grey, warm to cold and back again, mud, and flies… better to go out to Arizona to golf in April. 

[jm1220]

8 this morning (like the 5th or 6th time this winter). Hopefully the last single digit morning. 

[bluewave]

For Newark, NJ this  was the coldest 16 day period for average temperatures since 2017-2018. This was the coldest 16 day period at Islip since the late 1970s but 5.3° warmer. At White Plains,NY this was the coldest 16 day period since 2017-2018. For Sussex NJ, it was also the coldest 16 day run since 2015. The coldest on record there was  1967-1968 and 1979.
 

Minimum 16-Day Mean Avg Temperature 
for NEWARK LIBERTY INTL AP, NJ Since 1951
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	15.0	1979-02-05 through 1979-02-20	0
2	15.4	1979-02-04 through 1979-02-19	0
3	15.6	1979-02-06 through 1979-02-21	0
4	15.8	1961-01-19 through 1961-02-03	0
5	15.9	1979-02-03 through 1979-02-18	0
6	16.4	1982-01-08 through 1982-01-23	0
7	16.5	1961-01-20 through 1961-02-04	0
8	16.5	1982-01-10 through 1982-01-25	0
9	16.7	1982-01-09 through 1982-01-24	0
10	16.8	1961-01-18 through 1961-02-02	0
11	16.9	1981-01-03 through 1981-01-18	0
-	16.9	1979-02-07 through 1979-02-22	0
12	17.0	1982-01-07 through 1982-01-22	0
13	17.1	1979-02-02 through 1979-02-17	0
14	17.3	1980-12-31 through 1981-01-15	0
15	17.3	1981-01-02 through 1981-01-17	0
-	17.3	1961-01-21 through 1961-02-05	0
16	17.5	1982-01-11 through 1982-01-26	0
17	17.6	1980-12-30 through 1981-01-14	0
18	17.7	1981-01-01 through 1981-01-16	0
19	17.9	1979-02-08 through 1979-02-23	0
20	18.1	1979-02-01 through 1979-02-16	0
21	18.2	1981-01-04 through 1981-01-19	0
-	18.2	1977-01-16 through 1977-01-31	0
22	18.4	1977-01-08 through 1977-01-23	0
-	18.4	1961-01-22 through 1961-02-06	0
23	18.4	1982-01-12 through 1982-01-27	0
-	18.4	1961-01-17 through 1961-02-01	0
24	18.4	1982-01-06 through 1982-01-21	0
-	18.4	1977-01-09 through 1977-01-24	0
25	18.6	1977-01-17 through 1977-02-01	0
26	18.6	1980-12-29 through 1981-01-13	0
-	18.6	1977-01-11 through 1977-01-26	0
27	18.8	1977-01-07 through 1977-01-22	0
28	18.8	1977-01-15 through 1977-01-30	0
29	18.9	1979-02-09 through 1979-02-24	0
-	18.9	1977-01-10 through 1977-01-25	0
30	19.0	1977-01-12 through 1977-01-27	0
31	19.2	1979-01-31 through 1979-02-15	0
32	19.3	1977-01-14 through 1977-01-29	0
-	19.3	1977-01-06 through 1977-01-21	0
33	19.4	1967-12-29 through 1968-01-13	0
34	19.4	1982-01-05 through 1982-01-20	0
35	19.5	1961-01-16 through 1961-01-31	0
36	19.5	1961-01-23 through 1961-02-07	0
37	19.6	1977-01-05 through 1977-01-20	0
38	19.6	1968-01-01 through 1968-01-16	0
39	19.6	1982-01-13 through 1982-01-28	0
40	19.7	2017-12-26 through 2018-01-10	0
41	19.7	2017-12-25 through 2018-01-09	0
-	19.7	1985-01-08 through 1985-01-23	0
42	19.8	2015-02-13 through 2015-02-28	0
-	19.8	1967-12-30 through 1968-01-14	0
43	19.8	2004-01-14 through 2004-01-29	0
44	19.8	1977-01-13 through 1977-01-28	0
45	19.8	2004-01-10 through 2004-01-25	0
-	19.8	1968-01-02 through 1968-01-17	0
46	19.9	2005-01-17 through 2005-02-01	0
-	19.9	2005-01-16 through 2005-01-31	0
47	19.9	1985-01-09 through 1985-01-24	0
48	20.0	2005-01-15 through 2005-01-30	0
-	20.0	1980-12-28 through 1981-01-12	0
-	20.0	1970-01-08 through 1970-01-23	0
49	20.0	1977-01-18 through 1977-02-02	0
-	20.0	1977-01-04 through 1977-01-19	0
50	20.0	1981-01-05 through 1981-01-20	0
51	20.1	2026-01-24 through 2026-02-08	0
-	20.1	2017-12-24 through 2018-01-08	0
-	20.1	1967-12-31 through 1968-01-15	0
52	20.1	2015-02-12 through 2015-02-27	0
-	20.1	1967-12-28 through 1968-01-12	0

 

Minimum 16-Day Mean Avg Temperature 
for ISLIP-LI MACARTHUR AP, NY
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	12.7	1979-02-05 through 1979-02-20	0
2	13.2	1979-02-04 through 1979-02-19	0
3	13.3	1979-02-06 through 1979-02-21	0
4	13.8	1979-02-03 through 1979-02-18	0
5	14.6	1979-02-07 through 1979-02-22	0
6	15.0	1979-02-02 through 1979-02-17	0
7	15.8	1979-02-08 through 1979-02-23	0
8	16.0	1967-12-29 through 1968-01-13	0
9	16.2	1979-02-01 through 1979-02-16	0
10	16.4	1967-12-30 through 1968-01-14	0
11	16.6	1968-01-01 through 1968-01-16	0
12	16.7	1968-01-02 through 1968-01-17	0
13	16.8	1967-12-31 through 1968-01-15	0
14	16.9	1967-12-28 through 1968-01-12	0
15	16.9	1979-02-09 through 1979-02-24	0
16	17.4	1979-01-31 through 1979-02-15	0
17	17.5	1967-12-27 through 1968-01-11	0
18	17.7	1968-01-03 through 1968-01-18	0
19	18.0	2026-01-24 through 2026-02-08	0
20	18.2	1981-01-03 through 1981-01-18	0

 

Minimum 16-Day Mean Avg Temperature 
for WESTCHESTER CO AP, NY
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	9.3	1979-02-05 through 1979-02-20	0
2	9.7	1979-02-04 through 1979-02-19	0
3	10.3	1979-02-06 through 1979-02-21	0
-	10.3	1979-02-03 through 1979-02-18	0
4	10.7	1961-01-19 through 1961-02-03	0
5	11.3	1961-01-20 through 1961-02-04	0
6	11.4	1979-02-02 through 1979-02-17	0
7	11.8	1961-01-18 through 1961-02-02	0
8	11.9	1979-02-07 through 1979-02-22	0
9	11.9	1961-01-21 through 1961-02-05	0
10	12.5	1979-02-01 through 1979-02-16	0
11	12.7	1982-01-08 through 1982-01-23	0
12	12.8	1982-01-10 through 1982-01-25	0
13	12.8	1982-01-09 through 1982-01-24	0
14	12.9	1961-01-22 through 1961-02-06	0
15	13.2	1979-02-08 through 1979-02-23	0
16	13.3	1982-01-07 through 1982-01-22	0
17	13.5	1961-01-17 through 1961-02-01	0
18	13.6	1982-01-11 through 1982-01-26	0
19	13.6	1979-01-31 through 1979-02-15	0
20	13.9	1961-01-23 through 1961-02-07	0
21	14.3	1982-01-12 through 1982-01-27	0
22	14.4	1979-02-09 through 1979-02-24	0
23	14.6	1982-01-06 through 1982-01-21	0
24	14.7	1961-01-24 through 1961-02-08	0
25	14.8	1961-01-16 through 1961-01-31	0
26	14.9	1979-01-30 through 1979-02-14	0
27	15.2	1982-01-13 through 1982-01-28	0
-	15.2	1977-01-16 through 1977-01-31	0
28	15.4	1977-01-08 through 1977-01-23	0
29	15.5	1977-01-09 through 1977-01-24	0
30	15.6	1977-01-15 through 1977-01-30	0
31	15.6	1977-01-17 through 1977-02-01	0
32	15.7	2015-02-13 through 2015-02-28	0
33	15.8	1977-01-11 through 1977-01-26	0
34	15.8	1961-01-15 through 1961-01-30	0
35	16.0	1977-01-10 through 1977-01-25	0
36	16.1	2015-02-14 through 2015-03-01	0
-	16.1	1977-01-07 through 1977-01-22	0
-	16.1	1961-01-25 through 1961-02-09	0
37	16.2	1977-01-12 through 1977-01-27	0
38	16.2	1977-01-14 through 1977-01-29	0
39	16.3	2005-01-17 through 2005-02-01	0
40	16.3	2015-02-12 through 2015-02-27	0
41	16.3	2005-01-16 through 2005-01-31	0
-	16.3	2005-01-15 through 2005-01-30	0
42	16.4	1982-01-14 through 1982-01-29	0
-	16.4	1968-01-02 through 1968-01-17	0
-	16.4	1967-12-30 through 1968-01-14	0
43	16.4	1979-02-10 through 1979-02-25	0
44	16.4	1977-01-06 through 1977-01-21	0
45	16.5	1977-01-05 through 1977-01-20	0
46	16.6	2015-02-11 through 2015-02-26	0
47	16.7	1977-01-04 through 1977-01-19	0
48	16.8	2017-12-26 through 2018-01-10	0
-	16.8	2004-01-10 through 2004-01-25	0
-	16.8	1994-01-06 through 1994-01-21	0
49	16.8	2005-01-18 through 2005-02-02	0
50	16.8	1977-01-13 through 1977-01-28	0
51	16.9	2015-02-15 through 2015-03-02	0
-	16.9	2004-01-14 through 2004-01-29	0
-	16.9	1982-01-15 through 1982-01-30	0
-	16.9	1977-01-18 through 1977-02-02	0
52	16.9	2004-01-09 through 2004-01-24	0
-	16.9	1979-01-29 through 1979-02-13	0
53	16.9	2017-12-25 through 2018-01-09	0
54	17.0	1968-01-01 through 1968-01-16	0
-	17.0	1967-12-31 through 1968-01-15	0
55	17.0	1967-12-29 through 1968-01-13	0
56	17.0	1994-01-07 through 1994-01-22	0
-	17.0	1968-01-03 through 1968-01-18	0
57	17.1	1977-01-03 through 1977-01-18	0
58	17.1	2017-12-24 through 2018-01-08	0
59	17.1	1994-01-08 through 1994-01-23	0
60	17.2	2026-01-24 through 2026-02-08	0
61	17.2	2015-02-10 through 2015-02-25	0
-	17.2	2005-01-14 through 2005-01-29	0

 

Minimum 16-Day Mean Avg Temperature 
for SUSSEX AIRPORT, NJ
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	12.5	2015-02-13 through 2015-02-28	0
2	12.6	2005-01-18 through 2005-02-02	0
3	12.6	2005-01-17 through 2005-02-01	0
4	12.8	2015-02-14 through 2015-03-01	0
5	12.9	2005-01-16 through 2005-01-31	0
6	13.1	2015-02-12 through 2015-02-27	0
7	13.1	2005-01-15 through 2005-01-30	0
8	13.5	2005-01-19 through 2005-02-03	0
9	13.6	2015-02-11 through 2015-02-26	0
10	14.1	2026-01-24 through 2026-02-08	0

Minimum 16-Day Mean Avg Temperature 
for SUSSEX 1 NW, NJ
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	6.2	1967-12-30 through 1968-01-14	0
2	6.5	1961-01-20 through 1961-02-04	0
3	6.7	1979-02-06 through 1979-02-21	0
4	6.8	1961-01-21 through 1961-02-05	0
5	6.9	1968-01-02 through 1968-01-17	0
-	6.9	1967-12-31 through 1968-01-15	0
6	7.1	1979-02-05 through 1979-02-20	0

 

 

 

[CPcantmeasuresnow]

Morning low of -7°. My low for the season.

[jm1220]

9 hours ago, psv88 said:

Ice skating allowed at Hempstead lake state park. Next at Belmont lake state park.

Hempstead Lake State Park OKs ice skating at pond, a first in decades
https://www.newsday.com/news/weather/hempstead-lake-state-park-skating-szrixdvj

Really cool to see all the young kids playing hockey on the ponds.

[hudsonvalley21]

-6 was the low here, currently-4.

[SACRUS]

12 / -1 off a low of 4 here.  Back near - to or above freezing for highs today , a tad warmer Tuesday and Wed many will breach 40 (last time was 1/22).   Brief reinforcing shot of cold Thu/Fri but moderated.  Weekend looking dry with the storm now focused on later Sunday - the 16th.  Track key and most overnight forecasts had mainly a mix to rain but the QPF could be robust.  Way beyond looks near normal.

 

[NEG NAO]

[bluewave]

Wednesday looks our first chance at ending the under 40° day streak at some spots. 
 

 

[ForestHillWx]

Back up to 9 degrees currently. 

[NEG NAO]

Get ready folks !

[donsutherland1]

With a 16-day mean temperature of 19.7°, New York City experienced its coldest 16-day period since January 10-25, 1982 and its first sub-20° 16-day period since January 11-26, 1982.

 

 

[bluewave]

On 2/8/2026 at 8:54 AM, jbenedet said:

And yet didn’t come close to the all time records.
 

To me we've just seen the new rock bottom in temps for this part of the world.

The antecedent significant cold was one ingredient. The second being that this airmass had no mitigating factors on its way to NY.

The only offset was that it originated over a much warmer 70N+…

It’s interesting that the last top 10 coldest temperature for Boston in 2023 was during one of its warmest winters. 
 

Time Series Summary for Boston Area, MA (ThreadEx) - Dec through Feb Lowest Minimum Temperature 
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	1933-1934	-18	0
2	1942-1943	-14	0
-	1917-1918	-14	0
3	1881-1882	-13	0
4	1956-1957	-12	0
-	1883-1884	-12	0
5	1913-1914	-11	0
-	1895-1896	-11	4
-	1875-1876	-11	0
6	2022-2023	-10	0
-	1885-1886	-10	0
-	1884-1885	-10	0
7	2015-2016	-9	0
8	1919-1920	-8	0
-	1902-1903	-8	0
-	1872-1873	-8	0
9	2003-2004	-7	0
-	1980-1981	-7	0
-	1906-1907	-7	0
-	1893-1894	-7	8
10	1923-1924	-6	0
-	1903-1904	-6	0
-	1894-1895	-6	8
-	1887-1888	-6	0
-	1877-1878	-6	0

 

Time Series Summary for Boston Area, MA (ThreadEx) Warmest Winters
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

1	2001-2002	37.8	0
2	2019-2020	37.7	0
3	2015-2016	37.5	0
4	2011-2012	37.1	0
5	2022-2023	36.7	0
6	1932-1933	36.6	0
7	2023-2024	36.4	0
8	2016-2017	35.6	0
9	1990-1991	35.4	0
-	1931-1932	35.4	0
10	1936-1937	35.2	0
-	1912-1913	35.2	0

 

 

[SACRUS]

Records:

Highs:

EWR: 63 (1990)
NYC: 63 (1990)
LGA: 62 (199))
JFK: 60 (1949)


Lows:

EWR: -14 (1934) coldest observed/recorded at EWR since 1930
NYC: -15 (1934)
LGA: 7 (1979)
JFK: 8 (1979)

Historical:

1741: The greatest snowstorm of the hard winter season occurred producing 3 feet near Hartford, CT. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1870 - President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law "to provide for taking meteorological observations at the military stations in the interior of the continent." A petition submitted by Increase A Lapham to Congressman Halbert E Paine in December 1869 began this process.

 

1899: One of the most significant cold outbreaks to ever impact the United States occurred early to mid-February. From the 8th-11th, the statewide average temperature across Iowa was 14.6 degrees below zero, making it the coldest four-day stretch on record in the state. On the 8th, Sioux City experienced its coldest day on record, with a daily average temperature of 24 degrees below zero. Then on the 11th, they reached their second-coldest temperature on record with a low of minus 31. Overall the coldest readings were obtained on the morning of the 9th when reported low temperatures included -21 at Keokuk, -23 at Des Moines, -33 at New Hampton, -35 at Le Mars, -38 at Estherville, and -40 at Sibley. The cold across the middle of the country was so extreme and persistent that ice floes down the Mississippi River into the deep south, emerging into the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans on February 17th. This has happened only one other time: February 13, 1784. The temperature dropped to 63 degrees below zero at Norway House, Manitoba, Canada setting the province's low-temperature record.

1933 - The temperature at Moran, WY, located next to Teton National Park, plunged to 63 degrees below zero to establish a state record. The temperature at the Riverside Ranger Station in Montana dipped to 66 below zero to establish a record for the state, and a record for the nation which stood until 1954. (David Ludlum)

1934 - The mercury dipped to 51 degrees below zero at Vanderbilt to establish a record for the state of Michigan. The temperature at Stillwater plunged to 52 degrees below zero to establish a record for the state of New York. (David Ludlum)

1960: The mercury soared to 102° in Rio Grande City, Texas. Just two days later, there was 10 inches of snow at Port Arthur. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1967: Atlantic City, NJ was hit by its 2nd major snowstorm in 3 days as they received 14 inches. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1969: A major winter storm pounded the Northeast. Bedford, MA recorded 25 inches of snow, 20 inches fell at New York City, NY and Portland, ME recorded 22 inches. Drifts would pile up to 20 feet in places. Known as the "Lindsay Storm" because of the political fallout that resulted for New York Mayor John Lindsay. Mayor John Lindsay ran into political misfortune after sections of New York City remained unplowed for a week after the storm. 800 cars were stranded on New York's Tappan-Zee Bridge. Damages totaled over $10 million dollars. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History) Ref. (NWS Ranking for Storms between 1956 and 2011) This is the 32nd Worst Snowstorm

1977: Chicago, Illinois: The Windy City sees its longest recorded stretch of sub-freezing days end at 43. Seventeen days during the run had minimum temperatures below zero °F, the coldest being -19 °F. (Ref. WxDoctor)
 

1987 - A storm off the Atlantic coast produced high winds and heavy snow in the northeastern U.S., with blizzard conditions in eastern Massachusetts. Wind gusted to 80 mph and 23.4 inches of snow produced drifts eight feet high at Cape Cod MA. It was the worst blizzard in thirty years for the Cape Cod area. Winds in some of the mountains and ridges of the Appalachian Region gusted to 100 mph. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - Arctic cold invaded the north central U.S. Alliance NE plunged from 44 degrees to 12 above in just two hours, and Mobridge SD reported a wind chill of 64 degrees below zero. Winds along the eastern slopes of the Rockies gusted to 90 mph at Cheyenne WY, and reached 96 mph at Boulder CO. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - A winter storm continued to bring rain and snow to southern California. Snowfall totals ranged up to 18 inches at Olancha, with three inches at Palmdale. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990 - Thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front erupted over eastern Texas late in the morning, and produced severe weather as they swept across the southeastern states. Early evening thunderstorms spawned a tornado which injured one person at Nat TX, and produced tennis balls size hail which caused more than half a million dollars damage around Shreveport LA. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1994 - A devastating ice storm struck Mississippi, Louisiana, and extreme northwest Alabama. Freezing rain began falling over northern Mississippi during the early morning hours and continued until midday on the 10th. Ice accumulated 3 to 6 inches thick on exposed objects in the affected area. Due to the weight of the ice, power lines, trees, and tree limbs were down. Nearly one million people were without power after the storm, some for a month.

[IrishRob17]

-10 for the low.