Kansas City, Missouri – A warmer and wetter-than-normal weather pattern is favored across the Heartland from Jan. 7 through Jan. 11, according to the latest outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
The 6–10 day temperature outlook shows a strong signal for above-normal temperatures across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, and surrounding areas. Probabilities favor milder-than-average conditions across the central Plains and lower Missouri Valley, continuing a trend of limited sustained cold for early January.
The 6–10 day precipitation outlook also indicates above-normal precipitation across much of the Heartland. This points to an active pattern with multiple weather systems capable of producing repeated rounds of precipitation, rather than prolonged dry conditions.
With temperatures expected to remain above seasonal averages, rain is expected to be the primary precipitation type across most lower elevations. Periods of mixed precipitation cannot be ruled out during overnight or early morning hours in northern areas, particularly across Nebraska and Iowa, depending on storm timing.
The Climate Prediction Center emphasizes that these outlooks describe overall trends rather than specific daily forecasts. Brief cooler periods remain possible, but the dominant signal favors mild and unsettled weather through the period.
For commuters, agriculture operations, and freight traffic along major corridors such as I-70, I-35, and I-80, the pattern may bring wet roads, reduced visibility, and occasional travel delays, especially during heavier rain events.
Residents across the Heartland are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts from the National Weather Service as the Jan. 7–11 window approaches and forecast confidence continues to increase.
