Scottsbluff, Nebraska – New long-range federal climate guidance suggests February 2026 could bring above-normal snowfall across the Nebraska Panhandle, increasing the likelihood of prolonged winter weather impacts in western parts of the state.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC), western Nebraska, including the Panhandle region, is included in a broad corridor of elevated snowfall probabilities extending from the central Rockies into the Plains and Upper Midwest. The outlook points to a higher chance of more frequent or longer-duration snow events compared to typical February conditions.
The Nebraska Panhandle, including communities near the Wyoming and South Dakota borders, shows a stronger signal for increased snowfall potential than central and eastern Nebraska. This pattern aligns with favored winter storm tracks that often impact the High Plains during active winter regimes.
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 the Panhandle.
Temperature outlooks for February indicate near-normal to below-normal conditions across western Nebraska. This temperature profile supports snow rather than rain or mixed precipitation during most systems, particularly during strong cold fronts and upslope snow events.
Neighboring regions including Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, and Kansas are also included in the above-normal snowfall zone, reinforcing confidence in a broader regional winter pattern rather than isolated systems.
Motorists, agricultural operators, and freight carriers across the Nebraska Panhandle are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as February approaches, when outlooks are refined and confidence increases closer to the season.
