U.S. agriculture is in peak winter mode, with dormancy across northern fields, winter wheat care and livestock weather risks in the Plains, cool-season specialty crop management on the West Coast, and active cool-season production in the Southeast and Florida. The overview below summarizes key weather factors affecting major agricultural regions over roughly the past day and what to monitor during the next seven days. Local conditions vary widely; for field-level decisions and observed totals, consult regional National Weather Service offices and state mesonets.

Regional snapshot: recent conditions and immediate implications

Late-January climatology typically features fast-moving cold fronts across the central and eastern U.S., intermittent Pacific systems in the West, and pockets of saturated soils from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic. In the past day, producers have most commonly contended with the following:

• Northern tier (Northern Plains, Upper Midwest): Seasonably cold temperatures with periodic light snow or flurries; frozen soils limiting field traffic but supporting winter livestock operations when winds are manageable.
• Central and Southern Plains: Variable temperatures; winter wheat stands sensitive to freeze–thaw cycles. Breezy conditions can elevate evapotranspiration briefly even in winter; blowing dust risk rises when fronts cross dry rangeland.
• Western states: On-and-off coastal/valley rain and mountain snow episodes in typical winter storm tracks; interior basins prone to nighttime inversions, valley fog, and occasional hard freezes affecting citrus, leafy greens, and nursery stock.
• Delta and Southeast: Periodic Gulf moisture bringing showers and areas of dense morning fog; soils locally saturated where heavier rains recently occurred; cool, damp conditions can slow forage growth and raise disease pressure in winter vegetables.
• Mid-Atlantic and Northeast: Mixed rain/snow events common; freeze–thaw cycles lead to muddy lots and compaction concerns; orchard blocks remain dormant but susceptible to limb breakage with wet snow loads.

Seven-day outlook: what to expect and plan for

The coming week will likely feature two to three frontal passages across the central and eastern U.S., with windows of calmer, colder air in between. In the West, one or more Pacific impulses are possible, bringing additional mountain snow and periods of rain to favored coastal and valley zones. Use the guidance below as planning cues; always align with local forecasts for timing.

Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID)

• Precipitation: Periodic waves of coastal/valley rain and mountain snow are likely. Snowpack building continues in the Cascades and Northern Rockies, aiding water supply but complicating transport.
• Temperatures: Cool to seasonably cold; valley inversions possible during quieter stretches.
• Agricultural impacts: Fieldwork windows narrow between systems; protect overwintering nursery stock from cold snaps; monitor saturated soils on low-lying ground.

California (Central Valley, coastal zones, specialty crop regions)

• Precipitation: Intermittent storms possible with rain in valleys and snow in the Sierra. Dry breaks may feature dense tule fog.
• Temperatures: Cool days, cold nights; pockets of frost/freezes in interior valleys on clear nights.
• Agricultural impacts: Manage citrus and tender specialty crops for frost risk; maintain drainage in orchards and vineyards where soils are near field capacity; monitor disease pressure in leafy greens during damp spells.

Southwest and Four Corners (AZ, NM, southern UT/CO)

• Precipitation: Scattered light-to-moderate events possible with passing Pacific energy; higher-elevation snow.
• Temperatures: Seasonable to cool; freeze risk in desert valleys on the clearest nights.
• Agricultural impacts: Protect winter vegetables from radiational freezes; schedule irrigations around cold nights to reduce crop stress; expect occasional wind with frontal passages.

Northern Plains (MT, ND, SD, northern WY)

• Precipitation: Light snow episodes with clipper-type systems; blowing/drifting possible on open ground when winds increase.
• Temperatures: Cold to very cold at times, with wind chill considerations for livestock.
• Agricultural impacts: Provide windbreaks and ample water access for livestock during cold snaps; winter wheat remains mostly dormant—snow cover is beneficial for protection where present.

Central Plains (NE, KS, eastern CO)

• Precipitation: Limited moisture overall, but a passing front could bring light wintry mix or brief snow; timing varies by corridor.
• Temperatures: Wide day-to-day swings with fronts; hard freezes likely on clearer nights.
• Agricultural impacts: Winter wheat at risk of desiccation where topsoil is dry and winds increase; monitor for heaving in fields with repeated freeze–thaw cycles.

Southern Plains (OK, TX Panhandle and North Texas)

• Precipitation: One or two light-to-moderate precipitation chances possible; precipitation type depends on frontal timing.
• Temperatures: Variable; brief warmups followed by cold shots behind fronts.
• Agricultural impacts: For wheat–cattle systems, watch for mud and trample risk after any rains; protect newborn livestock from rapid temperature drops and wind.

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

• Precipitation: Periodic systems could bring light-to-moderate snow north and rain/snow mix south; lake-effect snow possible downwind of the Great Lakes.
• Temperatures: Near- to below-normal swings; wind chills can be significant following frontal passages.
• Agricultural impacts: Frozen soils limit compaction risk but muddy interludes follow thaws; livestock stress elevates in breezy cold; maintain access to unfrozen water sources.

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

• Precipitation: One or two rain events likely as Gulf moisture returns intermittently.
• Temperatures: Cool to seasonable; occasional chilly mornings behind fronts.
• Agricultural impacts: Manage drainage in low fields; monitor wheat and cover crops for waterlogging; disease pressure may rise in winter vegetables and small fruits during damp, mild periods.

Southeast (AL, GA, SC, NC, FL Panhandle and Peninsula)

• Precipitation: Scattered showers and patchy dense fog episodes; a stronger late-week system is possible along the Gulf or Atlantic corridor.
• Temperatures: Generally mild days, cool nights; occasional frost pockets inland on clear nights, fewer near coasts.
• Agricultural impacts: Protect tender vegetables and ornamentals from localized frost; foliar disease risk in strawberries and leafy crops increases with humidity and fog; citrus operations should watch for brief radiation frost inland.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

• Precipitation: Mixed rain/snow potential with passing lows; interior and higher elevations favor snow.
• Temperatures: Fluctuating; freeze–thaw cycles continue.
• Agricultural impacts: Orchard blocks remain dormant—prune during dry, non-frigid windows; heavy wet snow can break limbs and damage high tunnels; manage manure and traffic to minimize soil structure damage during thaws.

Risk watchlist for the week ahead

• Freeze and frost: Nighttime radiational freezes are likely in interior valleys of the West and occasionally across the Southeast interior. Prepare frost protection for sensitive crops and maintain irrigation/frost fans where used.
• Heavy rain and localized flooding: Highest odds along favored Gulf Coast to Southeast storm tracks and in parts of California if Pacific systems consolidate. Maintain drainage and monitor low fields.
• Snow and ice: Northern tier, interior Northeast, higher Appalachians, and Western mountains carry periodic risks. Plan for livestock shelter and transport delays.
• Wind: Post-frontal periods may bring strong, dry winds in the Plains and interior West; secure coverings on high tunnels and prevent topsoil loss on bare fields.
• Fog and low stratus: Central Valley of California and the Southeast/Delta frequently experience dense morning fog; anticipate delayed harvest windows and increased disease pressure in humid canopies.

Management checklist

• Winter wheat: Scout for burn-back and heaving after freeze–thaw cycles; ensure residue cover on exposed ridges; consider light grazing timing to avoid plant injury when soils are saturated.
• Livestock: Stage windbreaks and bedding ahead of cold snaps; check water lines for freeze protection; adjust energy rations during multi-day cold and windy periods.
• Specialty crops (West and Southeast): Prepare frost cloths and irrigation for radiational freeze nights; rotate fungicides to manage disease risk during damp, cool spells.
• Equipment and access: Protect gravel approaches and high-traffic lanes from rutting during thaws; schedule deliveries between storms in mountainous and lake-effect zones.
• Water and soil: Use dry interludes to repair drainage; avoid traffic on saturated fields to prevent compaction that can limit spring root development.

What to monitor day by day

• Early week: First frontal passage likely in the central and eastern U.S.; breezy, colder air behind it. In the West, a compact Pacific wave may bring valley rain and mountain snow.
• Midweek: Brief lull with colder mornings—greatest frost risk in interior valleys and the Southeast interior; fog prone in Central Valley and Gulf states.
• Late week into weekend: Another system may organize from the Southern Plains through the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic, with rain south and wintry mix north; additional Pacific energy possible for the West Coast and interior ranges.

Field-scale outcomes this time of year hinge on small shifts in storm track and overnight cloud cover. Align the timing of field operations, frost protection, and livestock moves with your local forecast updates and short-fuse advisories.