February has provided a concentrated dose of winter across Minnesota.
In the Twin Cities, a series of snowbursts has built up a total that's above normal for the entire month already; we've had 10.9 inches of snow when 7.8 is the month-long norm. New snow of 4.8 inches would put this month among the 10 snowiest Februarys on record in the Twin Cities; that much is possible Thursday into Friday.
In western Minnesota, a major snowfall last week on top of an already deep snow cover has put communities on alert for possible spring flooding, after months of drought.
February is also running 2.5 degrees colder than normal in Twin Cities. Of the past 20 months, only one — last October — has finished colder than normal.
BILL MCAULIFFE
