Fort Collins, Colorado – New long-range federal climate guidance suggests February 2026 could bring above-normal snowfall across northern Colorado, increasing the likelihood of prolonged winter weather impacts across the region.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC), northern Colorado is included in a broad corridor of elevated snowfall probabilities extending from the central Rockies into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The outlook points to a higher chance of more frequent or longer-duration snow events compared to typical February conditions.
Northern Colorado, including the Front Range, foothills, and adjacent eastern plains, shows a stronger signal for increased snowfall potential than southern portions of the state. This includes communities along the Interstate 25 corridor as well as higher elevations where snowpack accumulation is closely monitored for water supply and avalanche planning.
CPC monthly outlooks do not provide specific snowfall totals or storm timing. Instead, they assess how total snowfall during the month may compare to long-term averages. For February 2026, the guidance suggests cumulative snowfall or the number of snow events could exceed normal levels across northern Colorado.
Temperature outlooks for February indicate near-normal to slightly below-normal conditions across parts of northern Colorado. This temperature profile supports snow rather than rain or mixed precipitation during most systems, particularly during stronger Arctic intrusions and upslope snow events.
Neighboring regions including Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, and eastern Utah are also included in the above-normal snowfall zone, reinforcing confidence in a larger-scale winter pattern rather than isolated storms.
Commuters, students, mountain travelers, and freight operators across northern Colorado are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as February approaches, when outlooks are refined and confidence increases closer to the season.
