Grading Winter 2025-26

[WxWatcher007]

Last year I fired up the annual thread on March 8. After a continuous period of snow cover for the last seven weeks and two days, my CT pack finally gave up the ghost yesterday on our first 70 degree day since October 19. 

With respect to those still tracking wintry chances (myself included), it's time to fire up the thread. 

This was my first year since returning to CT in 2018 with the following: 

1) A normal snowfall winter
2) Over 50" of snowfall 
3) Several below zero low days
4) DJF all below normal avg temperature
5) Maximum snow depth over 12" for an extended period
6) Maximum snow depth of over 18"
7) No major cutters in DJF
8) NYD snow
9) Two 12"+ Events
10) An entire winter month with snow cover

I also spent most of my first winter up at my new place in Saranac Lake. We're in striking distance of 150" on the season there, with continuous snow cover since November 27 and measurable snow falling on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Maximum low of -20.2 and nearly 36 hours of below zero temperatures during a cold blast. 

Don't need to do much thinking about this winter.

In CT it is an A. The combination of cold, snow, high end events, and snow cover is some of the best I've seen, even going back to my childhood in CT. Some potential left on the table, but we didn't get porked too badly. 

In SLK I mean my God. If we can do better than 2025-26...A+

The Big Dogs

CT

 

SLK

 

 

[Sey-Mour Snow]

Snowfall wise for me A-.  Overall winter A+ pack, cold, no rain, plenty of snow . 

[mreaves]

I'm thinking B- or maybe a B.  It was a consistent winter but I'm still 10"-15" below normal for snow.  We did get just about wiped out a week or so before Christmas. It never got down to completely bare ground but set back the start of snowmobile season.  The cold was consistent, somewhat low grade.  We didn't have any truly low minimums but had a lot of low maximums. If we could have held out with winter for another week or so, the grade might be a bit higher.

[SJonesWX]

I give this winter an A-. great pack year, although it was a little less great in the end of Dec and first half of Jan. my pack maxed out at around 2’, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Obviously there was plenty of cold around. as of today I am just over average at 74”. Was nice to get out on the local snowmobile trails for a change.

[vortex95]

16 minutes ago, SJonesWX said:

I give this winter an A-. great pack year, although it was a little less great in the end of Dec and first half of Jan. my pack maxed out at around 2’, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Obviously there was plenty of cold around. as of today I am just over average at 74”. Was nice to get out on the local snowmobile trails for a change.

CoastalWx probably gives it a "C" b/c "all that cold and all we could get is two lousy 20"+ storms in Weymouth!!"    And he was so "done" w/ NNE getting it all so early!

[H2Otown_WX]

I think if we're done it gets a B or B+. The snowpack was impressive due to the consistent cold and even the cold in absolutes was pretty good at times with highs under 20F several times including the January storm having temps in the single digits with heavy snow. I just don't think it deserves an A when I only got slightly above climo for snowfall. I would take a winter like '02-'03 and '04-'05 over this one just on account of them having significantly more snow but I can see how areas south of me would give it an A since they did so much better in the storm a couple weeks ago. This winter reminded me a lot of 2000-01 but with better results for eastern NE and NYC. Both had a few huge storms without much in between.

[SouthCoastMA]

Its an A

maxed ~30-32" depth on 2/23

[Ginx snewx]

A- easy A- snow 78 cold -4 snow cover 41 days over 10 inches snow cover. 2 KUs and 1 -8 inch unexpected.  Solid year March fail drops to A-. 

[weatherwiz]

Really no complaints. Locally the blizzard was disappointing but I was expecting that here given location (though the screw job was a bit worse than I was expecting). But it was a solid winter. 

The only thing I will hate about the winter is our dog's condition and mental health plummeted. Around January he refused to go outside anymore and really became more depressed. We really wish we had done the wheel chair early last summer instead of late in the fall because he was so excited using it. But then the cold/snow/ice came and that was it. Unfortunately to the point (plus with kidney failure which came out of nowhere) we have to put him down in 3 weeks. I'll always wonder if the cold/ice/snow played a big roll in this or if just an unfortunate coincidence. 

But several snow events here, most small, one big one in January then a few moderate events. The scenes outside after the snows...beautiful. So no complaints here

[8611Blizz]

PASS

[JACKASS]

5 hours ago, vortex95 said:

CoastalWx probably gives it a "C" b/c "all that cold and all we could get is two lousy 20"+ storms in Weymouth!!"    And he was so "done" w/ NNE getting it all so early!

How exactly did @CoastalWxhurt you?

[vortex95]

1 hour ago, JACKASS said:

How exactly did @CoastalWxhurt you?

He didn't.  Just  his uber weenie status and working w/ him for 10 years warrants a lot of "digs"! 

[DavisStraight]

4 hours ago, weatherwiz said:

Really no complaints. Locally the blizzard was disappointing but I was expecting that here given location (though the screw job was a bit worse than I was expecting). But it was a solid winter. 

The only thing I will hate about the winter is our dog's condition and mental health plummeted. Around January he refused to go outside anymore and really became more depressed. We really wish we had done the wheel chair early last summer instead of late in the fall because he was so excited using it. But then the cold/snow/ice came and that was it. Unfortunately to the point (plus with kidney failure which came out of nowhere) we have to put him down in 3 weeks. I'll always wonder if the cold/ice/snow played a big roll in this or if just an unfortunate coincidence. 

But several snow events here, most small, one big one in January then a few moderate events. The scenes outside after the snows...beautiful. So no complaints here

Sorry Pauly, been through that a few times and its not easy. Love bomb him until the day and remember the good times.

[512high]

28 minutes ago, DavisStraight said:

Sorry Pauly, been through that a few times and its not easy. Love bomb him until the day and remember the good times.

As a dog lover/owner I very sorry to hear this. You don’t want anymore pain or suffering, you are their voice if you will. Hang in there

[The 4 Seasons]

We'll see how the rest of Mar and Apr goes but it can't be lower than A- currently for many a reason. There's really no other winter i can think of overall better than this except for 95-96 and 10-11. Another 1-2 Mar/Apr adv or warning events and ill bump it up. 

Also no major busts, which is rare for any winter season. Most of our good or great ones had a couple.

It's a lot like 2000-2001 with better snow pack.

9 hours ago, H2Otown_WX said:

I think if we're done it gets a B or B+. The snowpack was impressive due to the consistent cold and even the cold in absolutes was pretty good at times with highs under 20F several times including the January storm having temps in the single digits with heavy snow. I just don't think it deserves an A when I only got slightly above climo for snowfall. I would take a winter like '02-'03 and '04-'05 over this one just on account of them having significantly more snow but I can see how areas south of me would give it an A since they did so much better in the storm a couple weeks ago. This winter reminded me a lot of 2000-01 but with better results for eastern NE and NYC. Both had a few huge storms without much in between.

Strictly snowfall amounts yeah, but 04-05 was seriously back loaded. Probably 50-60% of our snow occurred from late feb to late mar that season. Each one melted right after it happened. And the "blizzard" sucked balls for most of CT..hours of light to mod snow that slowly piled up with no blizzard conditions.

02-03 was great but had many many teases and near busts like Dec 2002 christmas blizzard, Jan 2003. Also couldn't touch this season with snow pack. And we ended the season on a major Apr 7th bust. 02-03 was like 95-96 lite with wall to wall snow from Nov to Apr. 

Both those seasons were good-great but had plenty of problems, i think this winter is better overall, just my opinion. 

[tamarack]

Thru February it's B for temps and C+ for snow.  We're slightly BN for snowfall season-to-date but the Jan fluff bomb rates the plus.  A slight ding for the Feb blizzard when 2-4" forecast verified at 0.2".  We were never in the game for the real event.

[Chrisrotary12]

B-

Very forgettable.

[MegaMike]

'A' for me in Wrentham, MA.

If we got significant snow one month earlier, or if it was a little snowier, it'd be an A+. It was a little dry when I prefer snow the most. 

Otherwise, can't complain about two 18"+ snowstorms w/lots of cold.

[SJonesWX]

45 minutes ago, Chrisrotary12 said:

B-

Very forgettable.

must have been a big difference between Nashua and MHT, because I wouldn't call this winter forgettable. completely subjective and open to interpretation, of course.

what did you end up with on the season?

[512high]

2 minutes ago, SJonesWX said:

must have been a big difference between Nashua and MHT, because I wouldn't call this winter forgettable. completely subjective and open to interpretation, of course.

what did you end up with on the season?

Nashua sitting @ 69.75" based on my measurements....

[Chrisrotary12]

1 hour ago, SJonesWX said:

must have been a big difference between Nashua and MHT, because I wouldn't call this winter forgettable. completely subjective and open to interpretation, of course.

what did you end up with on the season?

The most memorable thing about it has been the prolonged pack. Aside from the 20” storm, we’ve had maybe 1 other warning event… @512high can keep me honest. 

[H2Otown_WX]

17 hours ago, The 4 Seasons said:

We'll see how the rest of Mar and Apr goes but it can't be lower than A- currently for many a reason. There's really no other winter i can think of overall better than this except for 95-96 and 10-11. Another 1-2 Mar/Apr adv or warning events and ill bump it up. 

Also no major busts, which is rare for any winter season. Most of our good or great ones had a couple.

It's a lot like 2000-2001 with better snow pack.

Strictly snowfall amounts yeah, but 04-05 was seriously back loaded. Probably 50-60% of our snow occurred from late feb to late mar that season. Each one melted right after it happened. And the "blizzard" sucked balls for most of CT..hours of light to mod snow that slowly piled up with no blizzard conditions.

02-03 was great but had many many teases and near busts like Dec 2002 christmas blizzard, Jan 2003. Also couldn't touch this season with snow pack. And we ended the season on a major Apr 7th bust. 02-03 was like 95-96 lite with wall to wall snow from Nov to Apr. 

Both those seasons were good-great but had plenty of problems, i think this winter is better overall, just my opinion. 

Yeah maybe you're right, '04-'05 blow torched at the beginning. It is hard to find another winter with the cold consistency of this one. I think one more big one or not having such a long wait for the first big storm would have sent it to elite territory. I don't like that most of the region didn't get a sig event til late Jan. I know 14-15 did that too but obviously this was not that. Idk, I'd take 10-11 over this one just because it was so prolific for about 5 or 6 weeks. I feel like snowfall wise this one was a bit boring in comparison even if we did end up with a great pack. What made Jan '03 a bust? I'm not remembering that. 03 and 05 had great Marches whereas it appears this one will not. I guess most don't care about that though.

[SJonesWX]

2 hours ago, 512high said:

Nashua sitting @ 69.75" based on my measurements....

so that’s like 2” less than here

1 hour ago, Chrisrotary12 said:

The most memorable thing about it has been the prolonged pack. Aside from the 20” storm, we’ve had maybe 1 other warning event… @512high can keep me honest. 

that’s fair, no real biggies but sustained pack for sure. But 69” is above average for you, isn’t it?

[The 4 Seasons]

1 hour ago, H2Otown_WX said:

Yeah maybe you're right, '04-'05 blow torched at the beginning. It is hard to find another winter with the cold consistency of this one. I think one more big one or not having such a long wait for the first big storm would have sent it to elite territory. I don't like that most of the region didn't get a sig event til late Jan. I know 14-15 did that too but obviously this was not that. Idk, I'd take 10-11 over this one just because it was so prolific for about 5 or 6 weeks. I feel like snowfall wise this one was a bit boring in comparison even if we did end up with a great pack. What made Jan '03 a bust? I'm not remembering that. 03 and 05 had great Marches whereas it appears this one will not. I guess most don't care about that though.

But when we are grading the winter its just for our area or town no? Who cares about the rest of the region E MA/N MA/RI etc...respectfully. I'm sure they'd say the same thing when grading their local area. So with that said, we did get a sig event in December 6-10" is a big deal and overall December was well above average with 12-16" around our areas. 

I think you meant Jan 05. Jan 2005 wasn't a bust per-se but it was a garbage blizzard overall for most of CT. If that happened today, people who consider the Blizzard of 2026 meh or a let down, would be absolutely be bridge jumping if that repeated. Leading up to the storm most models were dumping 2-3" of qpf over CT and most forecasts were for historic territory with 15-30" at the time. What happened was a long duration, light to moderate snowfall with zero verified blizzard conditions for CT, maybe GON? I dont think we ever got above moderate for snowfall. BDR reported -SN to SN the whole time. I remember the deepest drift i could find was about 18" with mostly ~8" in non drift areas. I dont know where the snow went or what happened but reports are all 12-16 around here. Either way, that was still way under what was expected. Same thing with Dec 2003, which was worse Check out the radar here its a joke compared to 2026. 

https://www.jdjweatherconsulting.com/jan-22-23-2005

https://www.jdjweatherconsulting.com/dec-5-7-2003

[512high]

2 hours ago, Chrisrotary12 said:

The most memorable thing about it has been the prolonged pack. Aside from the 20” storm, we’ve had maybe 1 other warning event… @512high can keep me honest. 

Chris, Dec. 2nd. was 6",Jan. 19th was 5.75", Jan. 25 was 20.5" and Feb. 23rd was 6" rest of storms, 1.5" or lower, 3.5" etc etc.

[512high]

1 hour ago, SJonesWX said:

so that’s like 2” less than here

that’s fair, no real biggies but sustained pack for sure. But 69” is above average for you, isn’t it?

Yes  above average! city "average"  55-60", some say 50-55, I spoke with a retiree from our water dept who use to do measuring for many many year always said 55-60".

[JACKASS]

My furnace gives this winter a "F---".

My fuel company begs to differ.

[WeatherGeek2025]

 for the whole country