Billings, Montana – A surge of Arctic air late this month could deliver one of the coldest stretches of January across a broad swath of North America, with sharply colder temperatures possible from the northern Rockies through the Great Lakes and into New England.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, outlooks for January 17 through January 30 strongly favor below-normal temperatures across much of the northern United States. The pattern supports repeated southward pushes of Arctic air, allowing cold conditions to expand from Montana and the northern Plains eastward toward the Midwest, Northeast, and New England.
In the northern Rockies and High Plains, including Montana and the Dakotas, the coldest air is expected to arrive first, bringing prolonged stretches of frigid conditions and increasing stress on infrastructure, livestock, and energy systems. Wind exposure may intensify the cold, particularly across open terrain and overnight hours.
Farther east, the cold air is expected to spread through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, before reaching the Northeast. In states from New York to Maine, temperatures could fall well below seasonal averages even in the absence of frequent snowstorms, increasing the risk of frozen pipes, vehicle issues, and dangerous wind chills.
Officials urge residents across northern states to prepare now by checking heating systems, insulating exposed plumbing, and limiting time outdoors during the coldest periods. While snow chances may vary by region, the cold itself could pose the greatest impact as January comes to a close.
The Arctic pattern is expected to remain active through late month, and additional cold weather advisories or warnings may be issued as confidence increases closer to each surge.
