Here’s Your January Outlook

Hard to believe another year has flown by, and 2026 is here.

My hope is that this year will bring joy and laughter for all. However, in terms of weather, the country is looking to be divided yet again.

Below we will break down which parts of the country could see below-average temperatures and which will wonder when, or if, winter will ever arrive.

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Temperature Highlights

Cold for Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic: If you are already sick of the cold temperatures that have been impacting parts of the East to end the year, you may need to wait another month for the pattern to shift. Specifically, the entirety of the Northeast and the Great Lakes, as well as parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the Upper Midwest, will likely see the pattern of cold continue into January. Thank the ongoing La Niña for your below-average temperatures. However, La Niña may begin to lessen by the end of the month, and more above average temperatures could return for those in the Northeast.

(MORE: La Niña Is Here To Stay: What It Means For Winter)

Above Average For South and West: For the skiers out there, I feel your pain. Another month of above-average temperatures for the West can make it hard for those who just want to hit the slopes. The greatest area of above-average temperatures is expected across most of the Rockies into parts of Texas, but above-average temperatures are expected for most of the South and West. Now that doesn’t mean there will be no snow, but you may be more likely to see wet, slushy snow, which can be frustrating for skiers and snowboarders. The Southeast could even see some above-average temperatures, but not as drastic as the West.

(MORE: Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.)

Precipitation Highlights

Wet For Rockies And Southwest: The Southwest will be the bullseye for the most above-average expected precipitation across the Lower 48, specifically from Southern California to Colorado. This means that there will likely be more rain and mountain snow, which is bad news for the waterlogged West Coast, as atmospheric rivers soaked the region and brought devastating flooding in December. And this also means that you may end up seeing more wet, slushy snow for the Rockies, as stated earlier.

(MORE: Atmospheric River Recap)

Strip of Above-Average Precip Across the Country: Interestingly, with the latest outlook, a strip of slightly above average precipitation is expected for a stretch from Nebraska to Texas, then east all the way to New Jersey. Some of these areas are dealing with long-standing drought, so there may be some improvements in this region.

Dry North and Southeast: This strip of above-average precipitation is sandwiched between two dry swaths, one across the Northern Tier of the Country and the other in the Southeast.

Would you rather see above-average temperatures to help thaw you out, or do you enjoy when your winters actually feel like winter? Let us know below!

Rob Shackelford is a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools.