By Brad Spakowitz
Correspondent
Unlike the day-after-day drudgery of January’s frigid air, February mixed things up once in a while, delivering a bit of a temperature roller coaster ride.
It was all but a memory the following day, as a renewed round of bitter cold air returned as a major winter storm slipped by just to the south, the first of several such storms just barely missing the region during the month.
About a week later (Feb. 11) we awoke to 1-2 inches of slush, much of it melting before noon, compliments of a morning high temperature of 40 degrees, but those comfortable temperatures quickly tumbled.
The return of cold air made for a frigid start to the opening weekend of sturgeon spearing (Feb. 12), with high temperatures only in the lower teens and wind chills in the sub-zero range.
Arguably the most significant weather event of the month was the afternoon and early evening of Feb. 18, as intense snow bursts along with wind gusts to 50 mph made for near whiteout conditions and slippery roads.
Though snow squall warnings were issued, many outdoorsmen and motorists were caught off guard on their late day commute.
This same system resulted in a nearly 40-vehicle crash near Wausau that afternoon, and 10 people were injured.
Just days later (Feb. 20) we were treated with a breezy, but warm afternoon high of 50 degrees, the warmest day since Dec. 16.
The warmth this time brought an approaching storm that mostly impacted northern Wisconsin the following day.
While that part of the state received up to 8 inches of snow, Greater Green Bay saw a light mix of freezing drizzle, sleet and snow – just enough to make for tricky travel and treacherous sidewalks.
Our next snow fell Feb. 24-25, most of it coming in off Lake Michigan on harsh northeast winds.
Portions of eastern Brown County had a couple of inches, while western parts of the county had one inch or less.
Lakeshore residents were clobbered though: 10 inches fell at Point Beach State Forest (Manitowoc County), 9.5 inches in Algoma (Kewaunee County) and 7.3 inches in Two Rivers (Manitowoc County).
Though snow fell on 15 days in February, the monthly total came in at only 5.6 inches, 6.4 inches less than average (12.0 inches).
Total precipitation (rain, melted ice and snow) measured only .43 inches, tying for the 17th driest February (1957).
February’s average monthly temperature was 20.2 degrees, 1.3 degrees colder than the norm.
Looking ahead
We are now into March, a month with many noticeable and exciting changes.
The upward trend of “normal” temperatures that began in late January continues and accelerates, bringing the average high to 47 degrees by the end of the month, with an average low of 30.
Astoundingly, March can also bring some summer preview temperatures, the historical weather archives reveal record highs of 70 degrees or better on 19 days, three of which are in the 80s.
Despite the warmer temperatures, March can still bring snow, 8.1 inches on the average over the past 30 years.
The biggest and most noticeable change this month is daylight, and for two reasons: Daylight gain is rapid, more than three minutes a day; And the start of Daylight Saving (move clocks ahead one hour) at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 13.
By the end of the month, sunrise occurs at 6:34 a.m., with sunset at 7:18 p.m., bringing the monthly daylight gain to one hour and 33 minutes.
March also marks the beginning of meteorological spring (March, April, May), with the astronomical spring start (Vernal Equinox) at 10:33 a.m., Sunday, March 20.