February 2026: Cold and Snowy

By Russell Russ

The strong winter of 2025-26 continued through February. Deep freeze conditions are defined by periods when the daily high temperature does not exceed 32 degrees for 10 consecutive days. Norfolk was under those conditions for 18 consecutive days between Jan. 23 and Feb. 9. A high of 33 degrees on Feb. 15 broke the string, then it was back to below freezing for highs through Feb. 14. While the first half of the month featured cold temperatures, snowfall was minimal. The second half of the month saw temperatures moderate to more normal February temperatures. The second half of February was also when the snowfall totals greatly increased. Overall, it was a cold and snowy very winter-like month. Old Man Winter came back to town in early December this year, and as of the end of February, he was not going anywhere.

The month’s low temperature of minus 10 degrees was observed on Feb. 8 and the high of 40 was observed on Feb. 17 and 27. As of Feb. 15, the monthly mean temperature for the month was 14.2 degrees. At that moment, it was ranked as Norfolk’s fifth coldest February on record. By the end of the month, after temperatures moderated a little, the monthly mean was 20.3 degrees, 1.9 degrees below normal. Not high ranking for cold. There were four days with lows in the single digits and four days with lows below zero. The minus 10 degrees on February 8 was the coldest temperature this winter, but it was far from a record. The warmest February since 1932 was in 2002 with 30.7 degrees. The coldest February, and coldest of any month, was in 1934 with 9.0 degrees. The second coldest of any month was a fairly recent February 2015 with 10.9 degrees. Total precipitation recorded for the month was 2.41 inches, 1.22 inches below normal. As one would expect of this winter, most of the precipitation was wintry in form and mostly snow. There were only two days with rain and freezing rain. This caused some slick conditions, but no major tree or powerline damage. The record for most February total precipitation was in 1981 with 11.66 inches. The least was in 1987 with 0.67 inches. The 2026 yearly precipitation deficit now stands at 2.49 inches. February’s monthly snowfall total of 22.7 inches was 2.4 inches above normal. The first two-thirds of the month saw less than four inches of snowfall, but snowfall was abundant after Feb. 20. Several days with snowfall, including the blizzard warning storm of

Feb. 22-23 brought the month’s totals up to more normal levels. Norfolk picked up 14.2 inches during the blizzard. Eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island and Cape Cod received much more snow, over three feet in some locations over there. This storm was originally forecasted to totally miss everyone and go out to sea. Thanks to a snowy January and late push by February, depths of snow on the ground at the weather station ranged from 10 inches to 23 inches during the month. A snow lover’s delight. A snow core taken on Feb. 23 resulted in a melted down liquid equivalent of 4.7 inches of water—all sitting on the ground in the form of snow. The record for most February snowfall is 52.4 inches from 1969, and the least is 4.8 inches from 1998.

The 2026 calendar-year snowfall total through February was 52.1 inches, 11.3 inches above normal. Last year it was 23.5 inches, 17.3 inches below normal. The snowfall total for this winter season (October through February) was 71.8 inches, 6.7 inches above normal. Last winter it was 38.4 inches, 26.7 inches below normal. If you were hoping for a snowy winter this year, you got one.

Winter softened its firm grip in early March. The frequent snowfalls we have seen since December turned to rain and freezing rain during March. March snowfall was minimal. Through two-thirds of the month, temperatures increased, although there were a few cold mornings. Record highs were recorded on March 10 (71) and March 11 (68). But as often happens in March, it flipped back to colder conditions. March is a fickle weather month. But this winter had a good run, didn’t it? Weather observations are recorded by the Great Mountain Forest at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW.