Hard to believe that approximately one week ago, temperatures in Omaha were recorded at -10 degrees for a low and 4 degrees for a daytime high. That was February 8th and that date was the continuation of temperatures that averaged well below normal for the start of February.
Amazing how things can go from one extreme to another. It is not uncommon to bring in a taste of mild air briefly into our neck of the woods for February, but looking back to the past week or so, changes have been pretty amazing!
When our warm up began on Friday, February 11th (42 degrees for a high) our snow depth in Omaha started off at 6 inches. Once Tuesday, February 15th arrived, the snow depth in Omaha had been reduced to ZERO as an official observation. That is fast melting and we had yet to hit our 68 degree high for the upcoming Thursday.
Speaking of 68 degrees, that mark fell one degree short of a record high for the Omaha Metro, the previous record was 69 degrees set in 1981! Within the last week, we made it into the 60s for highs two times and the 50s two times as well. Other readings were well into the 40s. Keep in mind that the average high for this time of year is near 38 degrees.
As we approach the upcoming week, the jet stream will trend back farther south dragging colder air with it. That being said, the coldest air will still lock up north of the KETV viewing area bringing bigtime snow amounts to the Dakotas. As for us, we will have moisture to work with, but that precipitation will fall in the form of rain and t’storms come Saturday evening into Sunday AM. Our next minor snow chance may arrive Monday AM with the backside of the system that will pound the Dakotas and Minnesota!
I live in Oklahoma and am a meteorologist. One of our stations here recorded a -31 temperature and then a week later had a temperature of 79. I also wanted to invite you to check out ChaserTV.com for live streaming video of weather events.
Thanks.