News

How does Ithaca’s 2025-26 winter rank historically?

How does Ithaca’s 2025-26 winter rank historically?

Photo: Saga Communications/607 News Now


ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — The winter of 2025-26 in Ithaca is almost over, and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University is looking at data.

Snow outside the Cayuga Media Group building in Dec. 2025. Photo by Joe Salzone, 607 News Now.

Climatologist Jessica Spaccio tells 607 News Now that based on their records, which dates back to 1892, temperatures we experienced in December, January, and February were not historically remarkable.

Spaccio says this winter was the 21st coldest on record. You may recall a stretch of arctic-like temperatures in January. Spaccio tells us that almost set a new record.

The longest streak of temps below 20 was 11 days in 1979. March 20 is the first day of spring.

FULL INTERVIEW: Cornell climatologist Jessica Spaccio on 607 This Morning

Recent Headlines

2 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Ryan Coogler aware of potential Oscar history ahead but focused on ‘Sinners’ team before ceremony

Ryan Coogler understands what Sunday night could mean for Oscar history. He's just not dwelling on it. Instead, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker is looking forward to spending one more night with his "Sinners" collaborators who helped bring the film to life.

2 days ago in National, Trending

US forecasts blizzard, polar vortex, heat dome and atmospheric river all at once

Days of downpours have begun in Hawaii. The Southwest will soon bake with day after day of record 100-degree-plus (38 Celsius-plus) heat. Two storms will dump snow by the foot over northern Great Lakes states. And the dreaded polar vortex will again invade the Midwest and East with soul-crushing Arctic chill. This forecast of extremes comes as weather whiplash has already hit much of the East.

2 days ago in Olympics, Sports

Paralympians ski in shorts and T-shirts, and some ask: Shouldn’t these Games be earlier?

At this month's Milan Cortina Paralympics, some athletes competed in shorts, T-shirts and tank tops. One skier lamented "tropical" conditions and a snowboarder complained that soft, slow snow put him at a disadvantage. And some worried about their safety.