January 2026 General Discussion

[Chinook]

-40C at 500mb is cold! It's also nearly bottom-tier for ILX (Lincoln, IL) upper-air observations for all time

 

[KeenerWx]

Near normal snowfall. Near normal days of measurable snow. Below normal days with snow depth exceeding 1”. 
 

Pro: Reeling in the late month storm. Not the most exciting but was nice to have 24+ hours of snow globe. 
 

Con: First half of the month was exceptionally dull. 
 

C-

[cyclone77]

For January 1.6" of snow here, just 0.49" of precip.  Final monthly grade F+.

[RogueWaves]

On 1/28/2026 at 9:31 AM, michsnowfreak said:

I was telling a story about the King winter of 2013-14 to someone, and it reminded me that it was the only time in my life i was ever scared of snow, albeit briefly. It was mid-late Feb and the snow depth approached 2 feet with huge drifts. I was in a hilly, drift-prone area not far from DTW, so of course, I wanted to play around and see how high some of the drifts are. When walking in deep snow, its best to KNOW your area, which I did not. So there I am, with my 40" snow stick getting a kick out of sticking it all the way in without hitting bottom (first time id ever done that), then I fell into chest deep snow. Those drifts are hardpacked. I couldnt move my arms to get out. After brief panic i started wiggling fingers to loosen the snow and as it loosened, i was eventually able to tunnel enough snow to get out of the drift. Absolutely wild. I walk in extremely deep snow every year up north, but never had an experience of falling into packed powder to my chest.

There will be harsh winters (this has happily turned into one), but there will never be another 2013-14.

Sure there will be, in another 122 yrs 

[KeenerWx]

4 hours ago, RogueWaves said:

Sure there will be, in another 122 yrs 

 ‘13-‘14 taught me that I have a limit with enjoying winter. Something I never would have thought possible up to that point. I “burnt out” after that season. Coincidently moved to Texas in early ‘14 summer. Not because of the weather, but certainly didn’t miss MW/GL winter the couple years I was there. 

[A-L-E-K]

B/B+ so far, nice seasonal total, but too much cad and no big dog

[Cary67]

RFD had 4.7"   ORD 11.1" Jan.totals

Average January ORD monthly totals 11.1"

Difference mostly LES. MBY somewhere between those so would give the month a C-. Mostly swiped by dusters and flakes in the air from distant LES. Trough position too far east with us sitting on backside. If pattern resets ideally trough digs back further west if not could be repeat of January.

[OrdIowPitMsp]

January 2026 at MSP:

Average temp 13.7F  (2.5F below average)

12 lows below zero (2 at zero)

2 daily highs below zero. 

4.1” of snow - 28 days of at least 1” snowcover at the airport. (Mby had continuous snowcover) 

[RogueWaves]

16 hours ago, KeenerWx said:

 ‘13-‘14 taught me that I have a limit with enjoying winter. Something I never would have thought possible up to that point. I “burnt out” after that season. Coincidently moved to Texas in early ‘14 summer. Not because of the weather, but certainly didn’t miss MW/GL winter the couple years I was there. 

Back-to-back 200+ inch seasons in NWMI while dealing with a major illness did the same to me. Took a couple milder winters to recover, lol. I'm older now so beginning to lean heavily towards go big or go home winters. Endless cold, slop, and sub 8" snows the past two winters are not helping matters. 

[Jackstraw]

1/31/26 OH Valley deep freeze snowpack. We're still 10in deep of frigidity here lol. Coldest stretch since that snowless hell year 10 or so years ago. Once again, snow makes it justified. Pretty much entire forum covered so for all the the me me me mby complaining that is a plus thats gonna move this year to an B/B+ so far for me even though we're still shy of average snow wise. I'll take it following 5 D/F years in a row. Need some extra credit as we move through the next 6 weeks with a nice March "icing" to cover the mid to late Feb mud fest thats coming