February 2026 Yields "Persistent and Record-Breaking Warmth"

Without your donation, some stories vanish. Support Decorah News. DECORAH — February 2026 in Decorah was marked by persistent and often record-breaking warmth during the first half of the month. The average temperature for February was 28.6 degrees, 8.3 degrees above the historical average. It was the 14th warmest February in 133 years of recordkeeping. The month's coldest temperature, 1 degree, was recorded Feb. 1 before temperatures climbed well above normal. The 15-day period from Feb. 3-17 was the warmest such stretch on record, with an average temperature of 32.3 degrees. The seven-day period from Feb. 12-18 also set a record for those dates, averaging 42.1 degrees. A high of 63 degrees on Feb. 16 broke the previous record set in 1951, and the 62-degree high on Feb. 17 tied the record for that date. The sustained warmth resulted in 984 heating degree days, 236.7 fewer than the February average. Precipitation and snowfall Despite above-average temperatures for much of the month, February brought significant precipitation. Total precipitation was 1.15 inches, 0.20 inches above normal. Measurable precipitation occurred on four days, one fewer than average, but included a major winter storm Feb. 20 that produced 0.99 inches of liquid water equivalent, including 9.5 inches of snow, in a 24-hour period. Monthly snowfall totaled 13.2 inches, nearly double the historical average of 7.6 inches. The Feb. 20 storm accounted for the greatest 24-hour snowfall of the month. Overall, February ranked as the 46th wettest in 132 years of recordkeeping. Twelve-month recap February capped an unusually warm 12-month period for Decorah. Eleven of the past 12 months recorded above-average temperatures. The only exception was December 2025, which was 0.2 degrees below normal. Precipitation has also trended above average, with seven of the past 12 months wetter than normal. Over the past year, precipitation totals are 12.95 inches above average, driven in part by heavy rainfall last summer and continued moisture in early 2026. Be the first to know! Sign up for the free newsletter and unlock exclusive updates, breaking news, and tips from around the community.