January 2025 Overview – Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Temperature

The average January temperature for the Midwest was 19.8°F, which was 2.6°F below the 1991-2020 normal (Figure 1). Temperatures were near to just slightly below normal across the upper Midwest and as much as 7°F below normal across the lower Midwest (Figure 2). Statewide average temperatures ranged from 0.2°F below normal in Minnesota to 5.9°F below normal in Ohio (Figure 1). Repeated blasts of Arctic air affected the region in January. The most significant and widespread cold air outbreak occurred January 20-22, closing schools and businesses across the region. Low temperatures reached -20 to -40°F across Minnesota and Wisconsin, and temperatures dipped below 0°F across the lower Midwest (Figure 3). Strong winds associated with this cold snap drove wind chill temperatures across the lower Midwest down to -10 to -20°F. A late-month thaw ensued, and temperatures warmed 10 to 25°F above normal in the closing days of the month (Figure 4). Maximum temperatures reached the mid to upper 50s as far north as southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin (Figure 5). Rochester, Minnesota, measured its second warmest January day on record when the temperature reached 56°F on January 30. In Decorah, Iowa, the temperature reached over 60°F on both January 30 and 31, becoming the only consecutive +60°F days in January ever recorded at that station (records date back to 1893).

Precipitation

January precipitation totaled 1.20 inches for the Midwest, which was 0.74 inches below normal, or 62 percent of normal (Figure 1). Precipitation was near to slightly above normal across the far lower Midwest, while most of the central and upper Midwest had half or less the normal amount of expected precipitation (Figure 6). Statewide precipitation totals ranged from 0.26 inches above normal in Kentucky to 1.56 inches below normal in Ohio (Figure 1). Final rankings indicate that Wisconsin had its 3rd driest January on record. La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, all had their driest January on record, and Green Bay had its second driest. Dubuque, Iowa, with over 150 years of observations, also recorded its driest January.

Winter Weather

Above-normal snowfall was observed across the lower Midwest and in lake-affected areas in Michigan, while the central and upper Midwest had below-normal snowfall (Figure 7). A major winter storm traversed the lower Midwest January 5-7, dropping 7-12 inches of snow from Kansas City, Missouri, eastward through southern Ohio and 0.25-0.75 inches of freezing rain to the south-central Midwest (Figure 8). Widespread power outages were reported across southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky. Another snow-producing storm dropped 2-6 inches of snow across the southern and eastern Midwest January 10-11 (Figure 9). Meanwhile, much of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were experiencing a snow drought, with January snowfall totals ranging from 5 to 15 inches below normal (Figure 7).