February Banter 2026

[The Dude]

1 hour ago, Scarlet Pimpernel said:

On a lighter note in here...took these shots yesterday.  Yes, I went out in those conditions to do a little photography!!  First one is of a nearly completely frozen Rock Creek here in suburban MD (Rock Creek Trail, near Bethesda/Silver Spring).  Second one is a tree at the entrance of the Georgetown Prep school, I have always liked that tree, it's very stately-looking (black and white image)...

Great shots!  I know that tree well, and agree that it is very stately looking.

[stormtracker]

18 minutes ago, hosj III said:

in a technical sense you're right, because a newcomer that acted like Ji would probably get banned

Probably not.  They'd just stay and make terrible posts and get mocked as they currently do, so....

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

12 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Great shots!  I know that tree well, and agree that it is very stately looking.

Many thanks!  I live not that far from there so I've passed that school along Rockville Pike and have seen that tree many times.  Always wanted to get some shots of it over the years...and finally a couple of years ago I made a point to do so.  Have gotten a few photos of it since then, mainly in winter (the sparseness of the branches and how it stands out are more stunning, I think, with no leaves).  Interesting side-note about that:  I think sometime a year or so ago that one large branch at the bottom got cut off due to a bad storm.  It actually used to extend farther out to the left side.  Here's what I got (if I may) from almost exactly 3 years ago (Feb. 2023)...I actually like this shot that I took of the tree the most, using a creamy sort of black/white.  It was taken later in the day (plus no snow on the ground then, grrr!), and it has that larger branch extending to the left.  I like how it just stands out more, like a silhouette.

[The Dude]

1 minute ago, Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Many thanks!  I live not that far from there so I've passed that school along Rockville Pike and have seen that tree many times.  Always wanted to get some shots of it over the years...and finally a couple of years ago I made a point to do so.  Have gotten a few photos of it since then, mainly in winter (the sparseness of the branches and how it stands out are more stunning, I think, with no leaves).  Interesting side-note about that:  I think sometime a year or so ago that one large branch at the bottom got cut off due to a bad storm.  It actually extended farther out to the left side.  Here's what I got (if I may) from almost exactly 3 years ago (Feb. 2023)...I actually like this shot that I took of the tree the most, using a creamy sort of black/white.  It was taken later in the day (plus no snow on the ground then, grrr!), and it has that larger branch extending to the left.  I like how it just stands out more, like a silhouette.

I fully agree it looks best without the leaves.  The silhouette it offers without any other significant trees around gives a very stark and almost haunted vibe.  I live about a mile away and can't tell you how many times I've driven past and wanted to take a picture.  I need to follow your inspiration and actually do so sometime.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Just now, The Dude said:

I fully agree it looks best without the leaves.  The silhouette it offers without any other significant trees around gives a very stark and almost haunted vibe.  I live about a mile away and can't tell you how many times I've driven past and wanted to take a picture.  I need to follow your inspiration and actually do so sometime.

Yeah...and that tree just stands out by itself too.  I will say, it was not the easiest to get a shot of.  I had to work hard the first time I tried to avoid getting the brick wall along the side, the road, power lines, distant buildings farther up the Pike, and the driveway into the school in the shot.  And still capture the entire tree (wide angle lens definitely needed!).  I just wanted that tree with the background smaller trees and a bit of the grass in the foreground.  Once I found a spot, it was easier to do the next times I went to get a photo.  I'll offer this advice, if I may (such as it is!)...there's a telephone pole across from the tree (other side of the driveway entrance).  I've found that standing propped up against that enabled me to avoid the other distracting elements I mentioned above.

[Terpeast]

Taking it to banter. This winter we’ve had lots of cold and almost no torching. But that made for a frustrating season for tracking storms because we’ve been too dry. Apart from the major winter storm, we’ve had both a sheer lack of minor events and big misses to the south.

Last winter was more fun in terms of tracking because we had plenty to track between early Jan and mid Feb (although we didn’t get the happy ending we wanted then). This year we didn’t have as many events to track, and when we did, it was frustrating when we were willing something to happen the way we wanted and got a close miss instead. 

[CAPE]

10 minutes ago, Terpeast said:

Taking it to banter. This winter we’ve had lots of cold and almost no torching. But that made for a frustrating season for tracking storms because we’ve been too dry. Apart from the major winter storm, we’ve had both a sheer lack of minor events and big misses to the south.

Last winter was more fun in terms of tracking because we had plenty to track between early Jan and mid Feb (although we didn’t get the happy ending we wanted then). This year we didn’t have as many events to track, and when we did, it was frustrating when we were willing something to happen the way we wanted and got a close miss instead. 

Also had snow otg for 2 weeks(more melting than this winter tho) and 2 significant all snow events here- both in the 6-9" range. Think I ended up right about average for here (18") or a bit under. This winter has been much colder and and still a bit under 12" at this point. Just gimmie one 6" snow event even if its gone 12 hours later.

[MN Transplant]

If we're done, I'm still giving this winter somewhere in the B range.  Yes, we'd finish below normal snowfall, but the last two weeks have been the most impressive stretch of pure winter in my 21 years in the DC area. 

[snowfan]

23 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

If we're done, I'm still giving this winter somewhere in the B range.  Yes, we'd finish below normal snowfall, but the last two weeks have been the most impressive stretch of pure winter in my 21 years in the DC area. 

4-8" depth mostly area wide for 2 straight weeks is fairly rare around here. That alone probably puts this one in B range.

[CAPE]

I just had a blast outside with the gas leaf blower blowing gumballs off the glacier and into the woods. Easy work now rather than waiting for the snow to go. They glide right across easily. Was fun as fuck actually. Stayed on top the whole time. Like being someplace else in the world when out there. Took a few measurements and pretty much everywhere there is still 5 inches of stuff otg, some places a bit more. Even with the cold, pure snow would not have survived 2 weeks without significant meltage.

[WxUSAF]

36 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

If we're done, I'm still giving this winter somewhere in the B range.  Yes, we'd finish below normal snowfall, but the last two weeks have been the most impressive stretch of pure winter in my 21 years in the DC area. 

Yeah. Not sure on letter grade personally. But it certainly feels like we “had winter”. Gimme a warning level event next weekend, one more modest event later, and keep it generally BN through the end of the month. Then it can be in the 80s all of March.

[Terpeast]

54 minutes ago, WxUSAF said:

Yeah. Not sure on letter grade personally. But it certainly feels like we “had winter”. Gimme a warning level event next weekend, one more modest event later, and keep it generally BN through the end of the month. Then it can be in the 80s all of March.

Agreed. The duration of cold and snow cover making it feel like a real classic winter as long as we just put our phones down and take it all in. I’d give it a B- at least. But based on vibes and tracking, I feel last winter was more fun.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

1 hour ago, WxUSAF said:

Yeah. Not sure on letter grade personally. But it certainly feels like we “had winter”. Gimme a warning level event next weekend, one more modest event later, and keep it generally BN through the end of the month. Then it can be in the 80s all of March.

Well, I can do without 80s in March (though won't be the least bit surprised if we hit that at some point then)!  We go well above 80 (or 90!) plenty of times each year already!  But I'm with you, would be nice to score at least one really good warning-level event this season.  Personally, I'd also like to see a modest March snow as well.  And I'd like to see February into the first part of March remain generally BN.

36 minutes ago, Terpeast said:

Agreed. The duration of cold and snow cover making it feel like a real classic winter as long as we just put our phones down and take it all in. I’d give it a B- at least. But based on vibes and tracking, I feel last winter was more fun.

Agree as well!  I know several in here are bummed that we got a ton of sleet from our one major event (rather than all snow) and feel it's all been a waste somehow.  But I've liked the amazingly consistent cold and snow cover that literally has not diminished in 2 full weeks now due to that cold (and the layer of solid ice on top).  I can literally walk on top of the ice layer and it's as if I'm walking on regular pavement (though more slippery, of course!), without sinking into it.  It's actually rather easy to walk on.

[WxUSAF]

March 15 to April 15 is like literally the only time of the year where I enjoy AN temps lol

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

1 minute ago, WxUSAF said:

March 15 to April 15 is like literally the only time of the year where I enjoy AN temps lol

True!  It's still "civilized" at that time of year if you're warmer than normal!  I still remember Dec. 2015, we had like a +9 departure for the month, ridiculous warmth (though it didn't feel overly uncomfortable at that time of year)...and I was thinking thank God we didn't get a +9 in July!!!