January 2026 Obeservations & Discussions

[Grizzcoat]

It's pretty amazing that the only major climate reporting site in Upper Midwest/PLains that had an above avg temp for JAN  was Grand Forks - (+.1) -- and where does one draw the lines?  Certainly E and SE of GFK  was below normal. Even the heat island of major cities (MSP, ORD, MWK, etc did so.  Total reversal of the first half  torch that even DSM,OMA,MCI  made it below normal. Not by much- but in the end = below normal. And that it was done will little to no snow on the ground= more impressive. 

FTR-  first time DSM has ended in the top 10  least snowiest JAN- with a below avg temp in JAN - since JAN 1988. 37 years.  Hard to do. Especially in this age with ASOS (automation) and UHI. 

[jaster220]

On 1/31/2026 at 7:57 PM, Stacsh said:

Need a huge December for records to be broken or approached.  

Perhaps there in LES country, but Battle Creek over to Detroit set their record season in 13-14 with a decent December and the bulk coming on JFM's back. Especially January. A season like 51-52 was focused perfectly thru Chicago/GR/Harrison and is the storm track that's been MIA these last 2 winters. With the talk of 78-79 style winter I was hopeful but that was just talk and not true pattern observation.