Long Island's winter this year colder than average but not a record-breaker

While this winter is shaping up to be colder than an average one for Long Island, it's far from being a record-breaker and, so far, hasn't produced a record snowfall.

According to the National Weather Service, the normal monthly daily average temperature for February, with data recorded in Islip, is 32.2 degrees.

While records date only to 1963, the coldest February recorded on Long Island was an average of 21.6 degrees in 2015. The average temperature so far this February: 24 degrees.

The coldest February in Manhattan’s Central Park, where weather service records date to 1869, was in 1934 when the average daily temperature was 19.9 degrees. That year also marked the coldest February ever for New York State, according to weather service records.

"It's not a record-breaking cold winter season, but it's certainly been colder than normal," weather service meteorologist Jay Engle said Monday. "It's been below normal when it comes to temperature — and we have had a lack of above-normal days, very few days above normal."

Engle said a big reason for the big chill is a polar jet stream that has been displaced to the south for extended periods this winter.

December saw several days of 50-degree-plus temperatures: 59 degrees on Dec. 19, and 51 on Dec. 18. And January saw three days of 51-degree weather — Jan. 9, 10 and 14 — as well as a 50-degree day on Jan. 8. But, those have been few and far between.

Long Islanders have seen a number of frigid days, as well, especially when factoring in the wind chill. Like zero degrees on Jan. 31 and 4 degrees Feb. 8.

Still, that is a far cry from the record minus-14 recorded Feb. 13, 1967, in Islip.

The record snowfall for a winter season on Long Island is 71 inches, recorded in the winter of 1978.

This winter we have had 28.8 inches of snow, according to the weather service.

"That's closer to normal this season," Engle said. "But, the season's not over yet, so you never know."

The highest December total for snowfall in Islip was 25.3 inches, recorded in December 2009. This December, we had 12.5 inches.

The highest January total for snowfall in Islip was 34.4 inches, recorded in 2011. This January, we had 14.9 inches.

The highest February total for snowfall in Islip was 31.4 inches in 2013. This February: 1.4 inches of snow has fallen to date.

The three highest snowfall days recorded in Islip were 16.7 inches on Feb. 8, 2013, and Feb. 12, 2006, and 16.5 inches on Feb. 6, 1978.

The normal monthly average for February in Islip? It's about 5.5 inches of snow, the weather service said. 

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.