This agriculture-focused weather brief summarizes broad, region-by-region conditions observed over the last day during the late-January heart of winter and outlines key weather risks and opportunities farmers and ranchers should monitor over the next seven days. Because local conditions can vary sharply this time of year, use the regional details below as planning guidance and rely on official local forecasts and alerts for field-level decisions.

Past 24 Hours: Agricultural Conditions at a Glance

Across U.S. production regions in late January, day-to-day weather commonly features sharp north–south temperature contrasts, intermittent wintry precipitation in the northern tier and interior West, and episodic Gulf and West Coast moisture. Over the last 24 hours, growers and livestock operators typically contend with:

  • Cold mornings in the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and interior West supporting freeze-thaw cycles that can limit equipment mobility and stress livestock where wind chills are elevated.
  • Intermittent light snow or flurries in northern belts and higher elevations; mixed precipitation or drizzle possible near transition zones, creating slick lots and rural roads.
  • Pockets of light rain or dampness along the Gulf Coast and Southeast that help topsoil moisture but may keep fields tacky.
  • Valley fog episodes and locally dense morning fog in parts of California’s Central Valley, slowing harvest and hauling starts; cool, clear nights where skies were unobstructed.
  • Gusty periods in open country (High Plains, basins of the interior West) that increase livestock weather stress and desiccate exposed topsoil.

Regional snapshots and farm impacts

Upper Midwest and Corn Belt (Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)

  • Temperatures: Seasonally cold to very cold mornings with freeze–thaw cycles; isolated wind-driven chill stress for livestock in exposed areas.
  • Precipitation: Spotty light snow or flurries; localized slickness on farm lanes and bin sites.
  • Fieldwork: Frozen ground supports limited heavy-axle traffic; surface thaw can create ruts by afternoon in the southern fringe.

Northern and Central Plains (Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, northern Colorado)

  • Temperatures: Widespread cold; harder freezes where skies are clear with afternoon moderation varying by cloud cover and wind.
  • Precipitation: Light snow bands or blowing snow in open country possible; visibility occasionally reduced on rural roads.
  • Livestock: Elevated energy needs; windbreaks and dry bedding reduce stress.

Southern Plains (Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle, west/central Texas)

  • Temperatures: Chilly mornings north; milder south and along the Gulf-facing counties.
  • Precipitation: Generally light and scattered where present; damp feedlots may be slow to dry under weak sun angles.
  • Wheat: Cold support vernalization; shallow frost heave possible where moisture is marginal.

Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, western Tennessee)

  • Temperatures: Cool to seasonable; morning fog possible near waterways and low-lying fields.
  • Precipitation: Spotty light rain/drizzle in places; soils remain variable from firm to tacky.
  • Logistics: Intermittent dampness slows earthwork and late maintenance passes.

Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Carolinas, Virginia)

  • Temperatures: Seasonable to mild near the Gulf/peninsula; cooler inland and Piedmont mornings.
  • Precipitation: Hit-or-miss showers; beneficial for pastures and small grains; brief delays in vegetable harvests where showers occur.
  • Frost: Patchy inland frost where skies clear overnight.

Southwest and Desert Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, far West Texas)

  • Temperatures: Cool nights; pleasant afternoons where winds are light.
  • Precipitation: Mostly dry, with localized mountain snow showers possible at elevation.
  • Irrigation: Normal winter demands continue; low humidity favors rapid drying of surfaces.

California and Central Valley

  • Temperatures: Cool nights with frequent valley fog; moderate afternoons where fog lifts early.
  • Precipitation: Light, if any, in many valley locations over a given day; occasional coastal and mountain moisture possible.
  • Operations: Morning fog slows starts for harvest, spraying, and hauling; monitor air quality constraints.

Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho)

  • Temperatures: Cool to cold; colder east of the Cascades.
  • Precipitation: Periodic rain/snow in favored coastal and mountain zones; interior valleys vary between dry and light wintry mix.
  • Tree fruit/vine: Dormant status benefits from chill accumulation; ice accretion risk is localized during mixed precip.

Mountain West and Intermountain (Utah, Nevada, Colorado)

  • Temperatures: Cold mornings; large diurnal ranges in clear basins.
  • Precipitation: Mountain snow showers at times; valley floors mainly dry to flurry-prone.
  • Snowpack: Incremental gains at higher elevations support spring water supply.

Northeast (New York, Pennsylvania, New England)

  • Temperatures: Cold to seasonable; subfreezing starts common inland.
  • Precipitation: Light snow or mixed precipitation in spots; slick rural routes.
  • Dairy/livestock: Ventilation management to balance cold stress and barn humidity.

Seven-Day Agricultural Weather Outlook

The next week often brings alternating shots of cold from the north and moisture along the West and Gulf/Southeast storm tracks in late January and early February. Use the guidance below as a regional planning framework, and adjust with your local forecast updates.

National themes to monitor

  • Hard-freeze potential: Northern tier and interior West remain vulnerable to subfreezing mornings; brief southern intrusions possible into the central/southern Plains and interior Southeast on clear nights.
  • Wintry precipitation: Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, interior Northeast, and high terrain of the West have periodic light-to-moderate snow chances; mixed precip corridors possible near the rain–snow line in the central/eastern U.S.
  • Pacific moisture: Rounds of coastal rain and mountain snow likely at times in the West; track and intensity determine spillover into the interior and the Plains.
  • Gulf/Southeast rains: Intermittent disturbances can bring showers and a few heavier pockets from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Southeast and up the Eastern Seaboard.
  • Wind episodes: Plains and western basins prone to gusty periods surrounding frontal passages, elevating livestock stress and fire weather locally where fuels are dry.

Regional outlooks

Upper Midwest and Corn Belt

  • Temperatures: Predominantly below to near seasonal, with the coldest mornings mid- to late-week under clear skies; brief daytime moderation ahead of weak disturbances.
  • Precipitation: Light, frequent chances for flurries or light snow; a clipper-type system could bring a broader swath of light accumulation.
  • Fieldwork window: Narrow but workable for heavy equipment on frozen ground; avoid afternoon rutting during thaw.
  • Risks: Livestock cold stress during windy periods; icy spots on lots and approaches.

Northern and Central Plains

  • Temperatures: Persistently cold to seasonably cold; occasional reinforcing fronts keep nighttime minima low.
  • Precipitation: Light snow chances north; central sections largely dry with blowing snow hazards where existing cover is loose.
  • Risks: Wind chill; dehydration of topsoil in open, windy areas.

Southern Plains

  • Temperatures: Near seasonal overall; colder snaps possible behind fronts, especially Panhandle and OK.
  • Precipitation: Spotty light precip with frontal passages; widespread heavy totals are not guaranteed and will depend on Gulf connection.
  • Winter wheat: Continued vernalization; monitor for leaf burn after hard, dry freezes.

Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley

  • Temperatures: Seasonable; occasional chilly mornings with patchy frost inland.
  • Precipitation: Periodic showers; localized heavier bands possible along stalled boundaries.
  • Fieldwork: Short, opportunistic windows between showers; drainage maintenance remains valuable.

Southeast

  • Temperatures: Near to slightly above seasonal along the Gulf and peninsula; cooler inland nights with frost risk on clear nights.
  • Precipitation: Intermittent showers; a coastal low could enhance rainfall near the Atlantic seaboard depending on track.
  • Produce: Plan harvests around shower timing; disease pressure management following wet periods.

Southwest and Desert Southwest

  • Temperatures: Cool nights, mild afternoons; occasional breezy days.
  • Precipitation: Generally limited, with mountain-focused snow showers if a Pacific wave penetrates inland.
  • Irrigation: Steady winter demand; good drying for field surfaces between rare showers.

California and Central Valley

  • Temperatures: Cool mornings with recurring valley fog; gradual daytime warming where fog lifts.
  • Precipitation: Onshore systems may deliver periodic coastal rain and mountain snow; valley precipitation varies by system track.
  • Operations: Plan around fog delays; watch for short, efficient spray windows on clear afternoons.

Pacific Northwest

  • Temperatures: Cool; below freezing nights east of the Cascades.
  • Precipitation: Waves of rain and mountain snow; interior valley impacts vary with snow levels.
  • Risks: Icy travel during transition events; orchard/vine cane damage risk is localized in ice-prone pockets.

Mountain West and Intermountain

  • Temperatures: Cold nights; large diurnal swings under clear skies.
  • Precipitation: Occasional mountain snows; valley floor events generally light.
  • Water supply: Ongoing snowpack accumulation remains a key metric for spring allocations.

Northeast

  • Temperatures: Seasonable to cold with frequent freezes; brief thaws possible south of the I-95 corridor ahead of coastal systems.
  • Precipitation: Periodic light snow or wintry mix; track of any coastal low determines rain–snow line.
  • Livestock: Maintain dry bedding and ventilation to limit respiratory stress during damp, cold spells.

Operational Guidance and Commodity Considerations

  • Livestock cold stress: Prioritize wind protection, dry bedding, and reliable unfrozen water access during gusty, subfreezing periods.
  • Field access: Use morning freezes for heavy moves; reassess by midday if thawing produces mud and rutting.
  • Winter wheat and small grains: Cold supports vernalization; brief hard freezes after mild stretches can nip exposed tissue, especially on thin stands.
  • Fruits and nuts (dormant orchards/vines): Accumulating chill remains beneficial; protect against localized ice accretion where mixed precipitation occurs.
  • Vegetables and citrus (Southeast, California, Desert Southwest): Schedule harvests/sprays around fog, showers, and wind; deploy frost protection where inland radiational freezes are likely.
  • Transportation and logistics: Anticipate fog delays in California valleys, slick rural routes in northern belts, and intermittent wind holds in High Plains yards.

What to Watch Each Day This Week

  • Early week: Monitoring for a quick-moving clipper or weak front crossing the northern tier, bringing light snow and a fresh push of cold; patchy fog/frost south.
  • Midweek: Potential Pacific wave timing dictates West Coast rain/mountain snow and any downstream Plains moisture; reassess wind and livestock sheltering needs.
  • Late week: Re-freeze risk behind any midweek system; window for maintenance, fertilizer deliveries, and limited field moves where ground remains firm.

Bottom Line

Expect a classic late-January pattern: periodic northern cold, selective West Coast and Southeast-to-Atlantic moisture, and variable windows for fieldwork. Protect livestock during breezy, subfreezing spells, plan around fog and intermittent showers in the West and Southeast, and leverage frozen mornings for equipment access in the central and northern belts. Always align these region-wide signals with your nearest official forecast and on-farm observations.