Honestly, if you've been outside lately, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The weather over the last week has been a complete mess of records and "firsts." We spent the start of January basically living in a bizarre spring fever, but that’s officially dead and buried.
Wild. That is the only way to describe it.
One minute, people in Chicago are literally walking around in light jackets while the mercury hits 60°F. The next? We are staring down the barrel of a polar vortex that wants to freeze the whiskers off a cat. It’s been a week of two halves, and frankly, the second half is winning the fight for our attention—mostly because it involves a lot of shivering.
Why the last 7 days of weather felt like a fever dream
The big story that dominated the last 7 days of weather was the final gasp of the "January Thaw." We saw atmospheric rivers slamming the West Coast while the Midwest dealt with rain that shouldn't exist in the dead of winter.
Typically, January is about snow shovels and salt. Instead, the National Weather Service was tracking flash floods. Between January 8th and 10th, a massive low-pressure system dragged unseasonably warm air all the way from the Gulf. It wasn't just "warm for January." It was record-breaking.
Chicago tied its 1880 record of 60°F on the 9th. Rockford smashed its previous 1965 high of 55°F by four whole degrees. That kind of jump is massive in the world of meteorology. But it wasn't just the warmth—it was the water.
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The rain that broke the rules
Think about this: normal precipitation for the entire month of January in some parts of Wisconsin is around 1.25 inches. Last week, La Farge, Wisconsin, saw 2.29 inches in just 24 hours. That's a month's worth of water in a single day.
Usually, this would be a disaster for flooding. But we got lucky. The ground wasn't frozen solid yet because of the warm streak, so the soil just drank it up like a sponge. Had it been a typical frozen January floor, the Kickapoo River would have been in everyone’s living rooms.
The return of the polar vortex
If you enjoyed the 60-degree break, I hope you took pictures. The "thaw" is officially over.
As of this morning, January 17th, the pattern has flipped. Hard. That ring of frigid air above the North Pole—the polar vortex—decided to take a vacation further south. It happens when the jet stream gets "wavy." Imagine a garden hose that starts whipping around; that’s what the cold air is doing right now.
It’s pushing into the Great Lakes and the Northeast with a vengeance. We are looking at subzero temperatures for nearly 40 million people. Minnesota is already seeing lows in the minus-20s.
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What happened to Florida?
Even the "Sunshine State" is getting slapped. Freeze watches are out for parts of the Florida panhandle and central regions. There’s a forecast low of 29°F near Lakeland. That’s cold enough to worry the citrus growers and send the iguanas falling out of trees again.
It’s a classic example of how "global warming" doesn't mean it never gets cold. It means the systems that hold the cold in place are getting weaker and more erratic.
California’s atmospheric rollercoaster
While the East is freezing, the West Coast is dealing with a whole different beast. Northern California just got hammered by a cold atmospheric river.
- Snow levels: They dropped to around 4,500 feet.
- The Sierra: Places like Palisades Tahoe reported over 14 inches of fresh powder in a single day last weekend.
- The total: Some spots in the Sierra are staring at 2 to 4 feet of new snow from this one event.
Down south in Los Angeles, though? It’s basically summer. They’ve been hitting the 80s while San Francisco is dealing with "king tides" and urban flooding. The state is a literal weather divide right now.
Breaking down the local impact
The town of Lincoln, Ontario, actually declared a "Significant Weather Event" on January 15th. That’s a fancy way of saying "the roads are too dangerous for us to promise they'll be clear." They were expecting up to 35 cm of snow. When a municipality says "stay home," you should probably listen.
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In the San Francisco Bay Area, it wasn't just rain. It was the tides. Record-breaking king tides caused flooding even when the sun was out. It’s a reminder that weather isn't just about what’s falling from the sky; it’s about where the water has to go.
A quick look at the "Snow Drought"
Interestingly, while some spots are getting buried, others are bone dry. Much of the West is actually in a "snow drought" despite the recent storm. We need these big atmospheric rivers to keep coming, or the water situation for 2026 is going to look pretty grim come July.
What experts are saying about the next week
Meteorologists like John Baranick from DTN are pointing toward "clipper systems." These are fast-moving storms that dive down from Canada. They don't usually bring three feet of snow, but they bring reinforcing shots of Arctic air.
Expect the "polar plunge" to happen in waves.
- Wave one: The initial chill that hit Thursday/Friday.
- Wave two: A secondary surge this weekend.
- Wave three: The real "teeth" of the winter, expected mid-to-late next week.
If you are in the path of that third wave, you're looking at wind chills that can cause frostbite in under 15 minutes. This is the part of winter where you check on your elderly neighbors and make sure your pipes are wrapped.
Actionable steps for the coming days
We've covered the chaos of the last 7 days of weather, but what do you actually do with this info?
- Check your tire pressure: Cold air makes the air in your tires "shrink." Don't be surprised if your low-pressure light comes on tomorrow morning.
- Drip your faucets: If you're in the South or Midwest and your house isn't built for sub-zero temps, keep a slow drip going on your furthest faucet to prevent burst pipes.
- Layer up for the "Wind Chill": Remember that the temperature on the thermometer is only half the story. If it’s 10°F with a 30mph wind, it feels like -10°F. Wind strips heat from your body way faster than still air.
- Watch the tides: If you live on the coast, keep an eye on those king tide schedules. Flooding can happen during high tide even if there isn't a cloud in the sky.
The biggest takeaway from the last week is that "normal" is a word we should probably stop using for January. Between 60-degree rainstorms in the Midwest and snow in the Sierra, we’re in for a very active rest of the month. Keep the shovel handy, but maybe keep the umbrella nearby too. It’s going to be a long winter.