It is cold. Really cold. If you’re waking up today wondering how’s the weather for Monday, the answer depends heavily on how much you like shivering. We are officially in the teeth of January 2026, and the atmosphere isn’t pulling any punches.
Between a displaced polar vortex and a "nickel-and-dime" snow pattern, today is less about one massive blizzard and more about a relentless, bone-chilling deep freeze.
The Arctic Grip on the East and Midwest
If you’re in the Upper Midwest or the Northeast, "brisk" doesn't even cover it. For much of the region, today is the morning of the big refreeze. Following Sunday’s coastal storm and the clipper systems that rattled the Great Lakes, Monday, January 19, is characterized by sub-zero wind chills.
In places like Minneapolis and Chicago, wind chills are diving well below $0^\circ\text{F}$—even hitting $-20^\circ\text{F}$ in exposed areas.
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Basically, any slush or standing water from yesterday’s snow has turned into a sheet of concrete-hard ice. The National Weather Service (NWS) offices from Atlanta to Boston are warning commuters about these "invisible" hazards. Black ice is the real enemy today.
Major City Check-in:
- New York City: It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so there’s no trash pickup, which is lucky because the city is still coming off a Snow Alert. Temperatures are hovering in the low 30s, but the wind makes it feel like the teens.
- Chicago: Frigid. We’re talking a high that barely scrapes $10^\circ\text{F}$.
- Dallas: Even the South is feeling the bite. Dallas is waking up to temperatures in the high 20s.
- Tallahassee: Believe it or not, there were whispers of snowflakes in North Florida yesterday. Today? It’s just plain cold for the Panhandle, with temperatures hovering near freezing.
Why it's happening: The Polar Vortex Disruption
You might have heard meteorologists chatting about Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW). Honestly, it sounds like a tech glitch, but it’s the reason your heating bill is spiking.
Earlier this month, the stratosphere above the Arctic warmed up rapidly. This "pushed" the cold air that usually stays up north down into our neighborhoods. When the polar vortex gets wobbly, we get these episodic arctic intrusions. This isn't a one-off storm; it’s a shift in the global pattern that’s likely to keep things colder than average through the end of the month.
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Weak La Niña conditions are also playing a role, though they’re fading. Usually, La Niña means a warmer Southeast, but the 2026 version is proving that weather rules are more like suggestions.
What’s happening elsewhere?
While we're freezing in North America, the rest of the world is dealing with its own extremes. Europe is seeing a split; Scandinavia and the UK are bracing for their own northerly arctic flows, while parts of Southern Africa are still grappling with catastrophic flooding after weeks of relentless rain.
In Asia, Northern regions like Siberia are seeing the usual January brutality (we’re talking $-40^\circ\text{C}$ territory), while Southeast Asia remains predictably hot and humid. If you’re traveling to Vietnam or Thailand today, expect temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
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Travel and Safety Tips for Today
If you have to be out, you've gotta be smart. This isn't the day for "fashion over function."
- Layering is a science. Use a base layer that wicks moisture. Sweat is your enemy in sub-zero temps because it chills you faster.
- Watch the roads. Since it's a holiday for many, traffic might be lighter, but the salt spreaders are still out in force. Give them room to work.
- Check your pipes. If you’re in the South and your home isn't built for a hard freeze, keep those faucets dripping. A burst pipe is a terrible way to spend a Monday.
- Pet safety. If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for them. Keep the walks short and check their paws for salt irritation.
How’s the weather for Monday looking for the rest of the day? Expect the sun to be out in many places, but don't let it fool you. It’s a "bright but biting" kind of day. The clouds are clearing out in the wake of the weekend's clippers, but the cold air mass is firmly entrenched.
Next Steps for Your Monday:
Check your local NWS radar before heading out to ensure no lingering lake-effect snow squalls are popping up in your specific zip code. If you are in the Northeast, double-check your flight status, as airlines like JetBlue have been issuing waivers due to the lingering effects of Sunday's system. Finally, ensure your car emergency kit has a heavy blanket—battery failures are common in this kind of deep freeze.