Monday, February 23, 2026

February 23rd Blizzard

 This is more like a retrospective at this point. 

We became aware of a potential bomb situation around the 16th, or a week before. ICON and GFS hinting at blizzards. 





Ukie and GFS had same idea, which was strange


AFIS and GEM not so much

There was some flipping and flopping with all the models but the GFS which held steady with a bomb of a storm tucked off the coast. Euro remained out to sea or a graze


On the 17th, the GFS had a 967 low over the benchmark
WPC though had it east of the BM like the Euro, but they'd correct
Euro edged further west with time
GFS on the other hand was more steady and edged a touch east last few runs

Snow started early morning on the 22nd with light snow through the day with no accumulation. Once the sun lowered, the snow began to stick and around 6pm the main batch of precip arrived. By 7pm it was snowing moderately then became heavy with 1-1.5" rates between 8pm and 12 with total of 7" by midnight. By morning 13" had fallen with an additional two falling during the course of the day of the 23rd. 15" total on the deck, with other areas to our west and east benefiting from banding a bit more. 

This was the RAP forecast from 15z the 22nd

And the 500mb from spc meso page 

Some radar pictures and satellite

NWS slide decks


Some snow maps from 48 hrs before.

























February 23rd Blizzard

 This is more like a retrospective at this point.  We became aware of a potential bomb situation around the 16th, or a week before. ICON and...