January 8-14, 2026

Temperature

The second week of the year brought abnormally warm temperatures to the region. Temperature departures ranged from 8-10°F above normal across the Kentucky Coalfields to nearly 20°F above normal across northern Minnesota (Figure 1). Most of the region was 10-15°F above normal for the week.

Minimum temperatures were most above normal across northern Minnesota, where isolated spots were over 20°F above normal (Figure 2). Elsewhere, minimum temperatures were generally 15-20°F above normal. Across the southernmost locations, minimum temperatures were 5-10°F above normal. In Milan, Minnesota, a station with records dating back to 1893 recorded a minimum temperature of 37 on January 13, which was the warmest minimum temperature in January on record at that station.

Maximum temperatures were generally 10-15°F above normal east of the Mississippi River (Figure 3). West of the Mississippi River, maximum temperatures averaged 15-20°F above normal. In Madison, Wisconsin, the temperature rose above 55°F for two consecutive days, January 8-9, for the first time in January since records began there in 1869.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was below normal across much of the Ohio River Valley (Figure 4). Indiana, Kentucky, southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and Ohio largely observed 25-75 percent of normal precipitation. Meanwhile, precipitation was significantly above normal across Iowa, northern Missouri, northern Michigan, and Wisconsin during the week. In parts of Iowa and Wisconsin, precipitation was over 500 percent of normal. Much of the precipitation fell as rain, with temperatures hovering above freezing throughout the week. Lake effect snow was observed across typical snowbelt locations in Michigan, with areas near Marquette observing nearly 20 inches for the week (Figure 5).

Significant rainfall, especially for January, was reported across Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, a station with records dating back to 1893 observed 2 inches of precipitation on January 9, making it the wettest January day on record at that station. Across the Mississippi River in Guttenberg, Iowa, a station with records dating back to 1937 observed 2 inches of precipitation, making it the wettest January day on record at that station. The Kickapoo River in southwestern Wisconsin rose to minor flood stage at several gauges.

Significant improvements were made in drought conditions between January 6 and January 13. D0 conditions (abnormally dry) decreased from 71 percent coverage to 62 percent coverage, and D1 (moderate drought) decreased from 36 percent coverage to 28 percent coverage (Figure 6). Despite improvement in some categories, D3 (extreme drought) remained unchanged this week.