Total precipitation for our station this past week was 0.43 inches with 0.4 inches of snowfall. For the month of February we’ve had 0.57 inches of total precipitation and 1.6 inches of snowfall. YTD we’ve had 1.01 inches of total precipitation and 5.3 inches of total snowfall. Snowpack depth this morning is 4.0 inches with a snow water equivalent (melted value) of 1.07 inches. There are patches of open ground due to recent snowmelt but there are also many areas with significant snow cover still. Temperatures have ranged from a high of 51°F last Sunday to a low of 6°F this Sunday. This past week was characterized by extreme temperature fluctuations with record-breaking warmth for mid-February early in the week and transitioning to much colder temps from a cold front beginning Friday into the weekend. Agriculture remained in its dormant winter phase. Local farmers in Anoka County focused on winter planning while the mid-week thaw prompted some early discussions regarding soil moisture. The return of sub-freezing temperatures has kept the ground firmly frozen, preventing any early field activity or the false spring budding of perennial crops. Local fields have spotty snow cover with trails clear in higher sunny areas but with a few inches of snow in lower shaded areas. Marshes and ponds remain frozen over but flooding on some local trails may become an issue in the spring due to poor drainage and debris buildup. Vegetation is currently dormant. The bright red stems of Red Osier Dogwood are highly visible against the remaining snow patches. During the mid-week thaw (Feb 16–18), some local maple trees may have seen a brief initial run of sap, though the weekend's hard freeze has likely halted this until the next sustained warming period. Winter tracking activity has been high in local parks like the Wargo Nature Center. Tracks for white-tailed deer, red fox, and coyotes are common in the light snow, which can be seen on nearby trails in the Cedar Creek Conservation Area. Raccoons and skunks, which typically emerge during the first major thaw, were reported as active early in the week but have returned to their dens for the current cold snap. Bird activity is a highlight this week with Great Horned Owls currently beginning to incubate eggs, and their hooting is frequently heard at dawn and dusk. Northern invader species, including Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings, have been spotted in open fields near Oak Grove. Resident birds like Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees have begun their spring-like calls ("fee-bee") during the sunny, warmer days. Recreation shifted with the weather. Early in the week, ice conditions on local lakes like Lake George became slushy, but the weekend freeze has stabilized the ice for ice fishing and adaptive snowshoeing events held on Sunday. Anoka County Parks continue to host winter tracking and cross-country skiing, though trail grooming has been limited due to the lack of significant new snowfall. There are no snowmobilers in our area due to the lack of snow depth in many areas and on trails. There are no current reports of water shortages. However, Anoka County continues to monitor long-term contaminants like manganese and PFAS in regional groundwater. A public hearing regarding Anoka County Ditch 55 is scheduled for the coming week to discuss maintenance and its impact on local water management and drainage. Fire risk in Anoka County remains low but caution is advised for any debris burning as the lack of deep snow cover increases the risk of grass fires in dormant fields. Energy consumption peaked toward the end of the week as residents adjusted thermostats for the cold snap with an interim rate increase expected in 2026 with natural gas prices also to rise this year. Compared to February 2025, which was consistently colder than average with significant snowfall, February 2026 has been marked by more volatile temperature swings, including record mid-month warmth followed by a sharp, late-month cold surge. We are ending the week with highs in the mid teens and lows just above zero degrees, an overcast sky in the morning turning to most clear in the evening with no precipitation, good air quality, and breezy winds of about 15 to 20 mph from the northwest. Our area continues to remain mildly dry with a need for more precipitation.