Hi,
I think the issue is in your Settings.php. Your CUtags.php?sce=dump shows $WX['date'] = '2/16/2012';
while your Settings.php has $SITE['WDdateMDY'] = false; // for weather software date format of month/day/year. =false for day/month/year
which expects the date to be in day/month/year format.
Change it to $SITE['WDdateMDY'] = true; // for weather software date format of month/day/year. =false for day/month/year
to match what Cumulus is putting in the $WX['date'] field (which is in month/day/year format)
The 1970 date just indicates an invalid date was used in processing.
Best regards,
Ken