This nationwide agriculture weather report is designed for field decisions. It does not use live sensor feeds or real-time forecast models. For location-specific decisions, verify details with your local National Weather Service office and state extension. Use this report as a planning framework for the next seven days.

Given the time of year, the most consequential on-farm checks from the past day are:

  • Freeze line and soil surface: Inspect for crusting, shallow frost heave, and overnight refreeze of thawed topsoil in the northern tier and interior high elevations.
  • Moisture on row middles and unpaved lanes: Any showers or melting snow can create rut risk; delay heavy traffic until midday if surfaces refreeze overnight.
  • Winds and residue: Evaluate shelterbelts and anchored cover; gusty post-frontal winds can redeposit residue and expose soil.
  • Cold stress on livestock: Check windbreaks, bedding, and waterers for icing; adjust energy rations after cold snaps.
  • Stored grain: With large day–night temperature swings, monitor headspace condensation and aeration to prevent caking and hotspots.
  • Irrigation/frost protection systems: In frost-prone fruit/vegetable areas, confirm standby readiness and fuel levels.

Typical late-December to early-January patterns include fast-moving storm tracks along the jet stream, 1–2 frontal passages for most regions, and large day–night temperature swings where skies clear. Plan around:

  • Two windows for field access in many areas: a drier, cooler period immediately after a front, and a milder, breezier period ahead of the next one.
  • At least one round of mountain snow in the West and periodic rain on windward coasts; interior valleys may see fog where skies clear and winds lighten.
  • Brief but sometimes sharp cold shots north of I‑70; occasional near-freeze risk reaching interior Southeast and the southern High Plains if a stronger continental air mass spills south.
  • Wind-driven hazards: elevated wildfire risk on downslope-windy days in the southern High Plains; blowing snow issues where fresh accumulation coincides with gusts.

Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID)

Pattern: Repeated Pacific disturbances favor periods of valley rain and mountain snow, with short cool, showery breaks between waves.

  • Fieldwork: Short, opportunistic windows in west-side lowlands; monitor saturated soils and avoid compaction.
  • Snowpack: Productive accumulation above passes; good news for irrigation storage, but watch transport disruptions.
  • Livestock: Wind-driven chill near fronts; ensure well-drained pads and wind shelter.
  • Tree fruit and specialty crops: Dormancy remains established; prune during drier interludes and avoid wound exposure just before wet spells.
  • Fog risk: Interior valleys (e.g., Willamette, Columbia Basin) may see radiation fog on calmer nights between systems.

California Central Valley and Coastal Farming

Pattern: Intermittent storm chances with cool, damp intervals; valley fog when skies clear.

  • Field access: Expect limited but usable windows for orchard/vineyard work on clearer, breezy days; delay ground traffic if soils are near plastic limit.
  • Frost: Patchy radiation frost possible in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys during calm, clear nights; maintain frost protection readiness in citrus and tender nursery stock.
  • Water: Sierra snowpack likely to net gains with any colder waves; monitor foothill runoff and small stream responses.

Southwest Deserts (AZ, NM low deserts, Imperial Valley)

Pattern: Predominantly dry with cool nights and mild afternoons; a passing disturbance could bring brief clouds or light showers mainly north and east.

  • Frost: Interior desert valleys face episodic near-freeze nights; deploy row covers and schedule irrigations to mitigate radiational cooling.
  • Produce quality: Manage dew and post-dawn wetness to limit foliar disease; prioritize harvest late morning after leaf dry-down.
  • Winds: Breezy pre- and post-frontal periods may warrant sand-fence checks and newly seeded bed protection.

Rockies and Intermountain (MT, WY, CO, UT)

Pattern: Periodic light to moderate snow with colder shots; sunny but cold breaks between systems.

  • Livestock: Plan for wind-exposed chill and drifting where snow coincides with gusts; keep access to unfrozen water.
  • Winter wheat: Maintains/verifies dormancy; snow cover is beneficial—monitor for exposed crowns on windswept ridges.
  • Transport: Expect occasional pass chain requirements; time feed and supply runs to the quieter interludes.

Northern Plains (ND, SD, eastern MT, northern NE, MN west)

Pattern: Seasonally cold with one or two chances for light snow; stronger fronts can bring a sharp, brief temperature drop and gusty northwest winds.

  • Livestock: Cold stress spikes behind fronts; bed deep, adjust energy rations, and shield from wind.
  • Grain management: Aerate only during brief windows when outside air is cold and dry; avoid pulling in moist air during milder spells.
  • Roads and yards: Watch for black ice following light snow or melting/refreeze cycles.

Central and Southern Plains (KS, OK, TX Panhandle/West TX, central NE)

Pattern: Variable with a dry, breezy day or two common behind fronts; limited but meaningful precipitation possible if a stronger wave tracks across the southern tier.

  • Winter wheat: Dormancy intact north; southern fields fluctuate—watch for desiccation on windy, dry, mild days and consider grazing pressure adjustments.
  • Fire weather: Elevated risk on downsloping, warm, dry afternoons—secure equipment spark arrestors and manage residue strips.
  • Cattle: Temperature swings require waterer checks and windbreak maintenance; dust control may be needed on drier days.

Midwest/Corn Belt (IA, IL, IN, OH, WI, MI, MN south, MO north)

Pattern: One or two frontal passages; light snow or wintry mix possible, with lake-effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes after colder pushes.

  • Fieldwork: Short windows on colder, drier days; avoid compaction in thawed surface layers during milder periods.
  • Stored corn/soy: Continue routine core-and-probe checks; target aeration when outside air is both cold and low humidity.
  • Livestock: Manage ice hazards in lots and paths; wind chill is the prime stressor immediately post-front.

Delta and Mid-South (AR, LA, MS, western TN/KY, MO Bootheel)

Pattern: Periodic Gulf-fed showers with a frontal passage; a cooler, drier break follows before moisture returns late in the period.

  • Field access: Rut risk remains where soils are saturated; prioritize maintenance, herbicide planning, and infrastructure work in drier windows.
  • Small grains/cover: Expect steady cool-season growth; monitor for foliar disease under extended leaf wetness and plan fungicide timings as needed.
  • Freeze: Brief near-freeze risk possible north of the Gulf Coast interior after stronger fronts.

Southeast (AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, southern VA)

Pattern: A front brings showers and a quick cool-down; several clear, cool nights may follow inland with daytime rebounds.

  • Frost/Freeze: Interior lows can dip to near freezing on the clearest nights—protect winter vegetables, strawberries, and nursery stock.
  • Diseases: Shorter leaf-wetness durations after frontal passage help suppress foliar pressure; scout before resuming overhead irrigation.
  • Citrus: Keep cold protection on standby; windborne chill may warrant irrigation or microsprinklers in marginal events.

Northeast (PA, NY, New England)

Pattern: Mixed precipitation episodes with snow inland/higher terrain and rain or mix near the coast; colder, drier air follows fronts with lake-effect snow bands east of Lakes Erie and Ontario.

  • Orchards/vines: Dormant pruning fits best into the colder, dry windows; avoid pruning immediately ahead of soaking rains.
  • Livestock and dairy: Manage slurry and yard icing; prioritize traction on slopes and ramps.
  • Transport: Time bulk feed and milk hauling around lake-effect bursts and secondary road icing.
  • Field access windows: Most regions get 1–2 workable stretches clustered right after frontal passages; western lowlands and the Delta have the narrowest windows, High Plains and interior West the widest.
  • Freeze monitoring: High risk in the northern tier and interior West; moderate risk reaching interior Southeast and southern Plains after stronger fronts; low risk on immediate Gulf and South Florida coasts.
  • Precipitation focus: Highest frequency along the Pacific Northwest coast and interior mountains; intermittent along the Gulf-to-Atlantic storm track; light/spotty on the southern High Plains unless a stronger southern stream wave materializes.
  • Wind hazards: Likely around each frontal passage, especially northern Plains, High Plains, and ridge-top West; plan livestock shelter and secure lightweight covers.
  • Schedule heavy field traffic for post-frontal, colder, drier days to minimize rutting.
  • Stage frost protection and row covers now in frost-prone fruit/vegetable zones; verify fuel and pump readiness.
  • Update livestock cold-stress plans; ensure dry bedding, wind breaks, and unfrozen water access.
  • Check grain aeration only during favorable cold-dry outside air windows to prevent moisture loading.
  • Inspect drainage and road approaches before wet systems; pre-place gravel or mats where rutting is likely.
  • Prepare for intermittent transport delays over western passes and in lake-effect belts; pre-position feed and inputs accordingly.

Before committing equipment or labor, confirm the timing and intensity of your next front or storm with:

  • Your local National Weather Service office (zone forecast, hourly graph, wind chill and freeze headlines).
  • River and snowpack portals for flood and water supply awareness in the West.
  • State extension advisories for crop- and livestock-specific guidance.