Note to readers: This nationwide agricultural weather briefing is written without access to live observation feeds. It synthesizes seasonal patterns and common hazards for mid-January and frames a practical, impact-focused outlook. For precise, local conditions and alerts, consult your National Weather Service office or trusted local ag-meteorology provider.

National Agriculture Weather Roundup: Last 24 Hours

Mid-January typically delivers sharp overnight cooling, periodic storm passages west-to-east, and intermittent fog in major valley floors. Over roughly the last day, producers across many regions contended with the following broad, agriculture-relevant conditions:

  • Cool to cold mornings: Radiational cooling under clear skies likely promoted freezes and hard frosts across interior valleys and the Plains, with livestock cold stress elevated where winds were present.
  • Intermittent precipitation bands: Pacific-facing slopes and adjoining lowlands often see winter systems this time of year; light to occasionally moderate rain/snow was possible in windward coastal/mountain corridors, with a wintry mix risk on the northern tier and parts of the interior Northeast.
  • Valley fog/low clouds: High-probability in California’s Central Valley and portions of the Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valleys during calm, humid nights—reducing visibility for hauling and delaying morning field activities.
  • Gusty intervals on the High Plains: Typical with clipper-type disturbances or pressure gradients, briefly increasing fire weather concerns where fuels are dormant and dry.

Operational implications in the past day likely included delayed harvest or field prep where soils were wet, slower drying in low winter sun angles, and sporadic travel/logistics impacts from fog and mixed precipitation.

7-Day Agriculture Weather Outlook (Impact-Focused)

Expect a seasonally active pattern with one or two broad windows of unsettled weather crossing the country, bookended by shorter, colder, and drier intervals. The guidance below is framed for planning; verify timing and specifics with local forecasts.

West (Pacific Northwest, California, Intermountain West)

  • Precipitation: Periodic Pacific moisture is favored to bring rounds of rain to coastal/valley zones and snow in the Cascades/Sierra and interior ranges. Short dry breaks likely between waves.
  • Temperatures: Near to cooler-than-normal behind fronts; cold nights in interior basins.
  • Field impacts: Slow field drying and episodic mud in lowlands; rangeland recharge continues where rain falls; mountain snowpack accrual supports long-term irrigation but increases avalanche exposure.
  • Central Valley specifics: Fog/stratus risk on calmer nights; scattered light rain possible with frontal passages; plan for late-morning starts and reduced spray windows.

Southwest and Desert Production Areas (AZ, NM, far West TX)

  • Precipitation: Generally limited, with a low-end chance of a passing shower if a trough digs farther south.
  • Temperatures: Cool nights; mild afternoons where clear. Radiational frosts possible in cold pockets.
  • Field impacts: Good harvest/fieldwork windows overall; watch for brief gusty winds with any trough passage affecting sprays and plastic mulch applications.

Northern Rockies and Northern High Plains (MT, WY, western Dakotas)

  • Precipitation: Light snow chances with fast-moving disturbances; blowing/drifting possible on open rangeland if winds align.
  • Temperatures: Periodic cold shots; subfreezing days likely at times.
  • Livestock: Elevated cold stress during windy, subfreezing periods; ensure windbreaks and accessible unfrozen water.

Central/Northern Plains (NE, KS, eastern Dakotas)

  • Precipitation: Low to modest chances overall; a passing system could bring light snow or mixed precip mid- to late-week.
  • Temperatures: Variable with fronts—milder ahead of systems, colder behind.
  • Winter wheat: Dormancy largely maintained; clear, calm nights can produce hard freezes—monitor for heaving where soils thaw/freeze repeatedly.

Southern Plains (OK, TX excluding far West)

  • Precipitation: Spotty shower chances increase if Gulf moisture returns ahead of a late-week or weekend front.
  • Temperatures: Cool mornings; a brief warmup possible pre-frontal.
  • Field impacts: Mostly favorable work windows early; late-week moisture could slow grazing/traffic on heavy soils.

Corn Belt and Upper Midwest (MN, IA, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH)

  • Precipitation: Light snow or mixed precip episodes are plausible with clipper passages; modest lake-effect bands downwind of the Great Lakes in colder air.
  • Temperatures: Fluctuating; short milder spells punctuated by colder shots.
  • Impacts: Slick rural roads likely at times; ethanol and feed logistics may see brief weather-related delays; soils mostly frozen north, partially frozen/soft south.

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

  • Precipitation: One or two rounds of showers possible, with locally heavier pockets where Gulf moisture pools.
  • Temperatures: Cool seasonable; limited freeze risk near the Gulf coast, more frequent inland on clear nights.
  • Impacts: Fieldwork windows uneven; ponding in poorly drained fields possible after heavier showers; foggy mornings may slow hauling.

Southeast (AL, GA, FL, the Carolinas)

  • Precipitation: Periods of showers; a line of heavier rain and gusty storms cannot be ruled out near and south of I-10/I-20 corridors if a front taps Gulf moisture.
  • Temperatures: Near-seasonal overall, with mild, humid pre-frontal periods.
  • Specialty crops: Monitor for leaf wetness and disease pressure in vegetables and strawberries; citrus freeze risk typically hinges on post-frontal clearing—watch for radiational cold snaps in interior northern FL and south GA.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

  • Precipitation: Mixed precipitation episodes are plausible with each passing system; interior snow more likely with colder profiles, rain near the coast.
  • Temperatures: Highly variable with storm tracks; wind chills notable behind fronts.
  • Impacts: Orchard and vineyard operations quiet; livestock and transport logistics face intermittent snow/ice and gusty post-frontal winds.

Day-by-Day Planning Guide (Next 7 Days)

Use locally tailored forecasts to refine timing. This guide outlines the most probable windows and risks at national scale.

  • Days 1–2: Unsettled in parts of the West with rain/snow; cool, dry slices in the central states; patchy fog in major valleys. Light snow/mix chances on the northern tier.
  • Days 3–4: A system likely progresses onto the Plains/Midwest with light to moderate precipitation; breezier and colder west of the front; mild and more humid ahead of it in the South.
  • Days 5–6: Precipitation chances shift into the East and Southeast; drying and colder air settle into the Plains/Upper Midwest; lake-effect potential where winds align.
  • Day 7: Brief quieter interlude for many areas; next Pacific wave may begin approaching the West late.

Operational Tips for Producers

  • Cold protection: Stage covers and irrigation for frost-sensitive specialty crops; provide windbreaks and energy-dense feed for livestock during cold/windy periods.
  • Field access: Use early-week dry windows to move equipment and inputs; avoid compaction on saturated clay-heavy fields after rains.
  • Post-precipitation timing: In cooler months, soils dry slowly; plan additional curing time for hay/straw and delay traffic until topsoil structure recovers.
  • Spray management: Target calmer, drier mornings with adequate inversion mixing; avoid applications ahead of fronts and during fog/low cloud episodes.
  • Logistics: Anticipate fog and mixed-precip disruptions in valley corridors and the northern tier; build slack into hauling schedules.

Always align these national-scale insights with your local forecast package for exact timing, amounts, and any watches or warnings.