January 22-31, 2025

Temperature

Average temperature departures were greatest in the northwest, where northern Iowa and Minnesota observed average temperatures 7-9°F above normal for the week (Figure 1). Meanwhile, most of the rest of the region was near normal, save eastern Kentucky, southeastern Indiana and much of Ohio where average temperatures were 2-4°F below normal.

Minimum temperatures were more consistent, with much of the region averaging 3-6°F below normal (Figure 2). Some parts of Minnesota were above normal by as much as 4-8°F for the week. Mapleton, Iowa had its coldest stretch of minimum temperatures in January since 2018, with 7 consecutive days of temperatures below 0°F, January 19-25. Grand Rapids, Michigan had its coldest minimum temperature in January since 2019 with an observation of -6°F on January 22. In Ironwood, Michigan, the temperature dropped to -27°F for at least two consecutive days—January 21-22—for the first time in January since 2011.

As temperatures warmed from west to east through the period, average maximum temperatures remained generally above normal. In the northwest, maximum temperatures were as much as 10-12°F above normal (Figure 3). In Decorah, Iowa, the temperature reached over 60°F on both January 30 and 31, which was the second and third time in January since records began in 1893, but also the only consecutive 60°F+ days in January ever recorded at that station. In Rochester, Minnesota, the temperature reached 56°F on January 30, which was the second warmest January temperature ever recorded.

Precipitation/Drought

While there was some precipitation this week, it was minimal. Most of the region observed less than 50 percent of normal precipitation, with the exception of the Kansas City area, the Missouri Bootheel, and much of Kentucky, all of which observed above normal precipitation (Figure 4). The Upper Midwest was affected by a system early in the period, January 22-23, which brought significant lake effect totals to the Michigan Snow Belt (Figure 5). Another system took a southerly track through the region from January 30-31, bringing largely rain with it. Some parts of Kentucky and the Missouri Bootheel received over 2 inches of rain from this storm (Figure 6).

Since most of January was cold and dry, drought changes were minimal by the end of the month. D0 conditions (abnormally dry) were expanded in Missouri, albeit slightly. There were slight improvements in D1 (moderate) and D2 (severe) drought over the prior week, most notably in Michigan (Figure 7).