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- Western storms keep coming as warmth looms in eastern states
Western storms keep coming as warmth looms in eastern states
Alaska is seeing its coldest weather in years. In some places, much longer.
Ian Livingston
January 05, 2026
It might be the most Monday of Mondays; the first day back after a long holiday break for many. While it’s still feeling like winter in much of the United States, and the United Kingdom, there’s a hint of something different ahead, at least for a while.
Weather Watch
More western storms. Another grouping of storm system is moving into the West Coast to start the week. It won’t be too bad compared to recent events with the heaviest focused from northern California to the Pacific Northwest. Rain over the weekend caused some new flooding and dropped more big snow in the mountains. By later week, the storm train should at least pause. There are also growing signs of a drier pattern setting in by mid-month.
72 hour snowfall forecast from the NWS. (weatherbell.com)
January thaw. Many records for warmth are likely this week in the central and eastern United States. It’s a big change in places like the Midwest and Northeast that have been plagued by continual cold over recent weeks.
Forecast highs compared to normal on Wednesday. (weatherbell.com)
Lightning links
Low-pressure system brings dangerous weather across Hawaii. (Alexandra Myers, FOX Weather)
More UK snow and ice warnings take effect as schools due to return. (Matt Taylor, BBC)
Despite Calif. rains, America's largest reservoir remains in peril. (Sam Mauhay-Moore, SF Gate)
2025 was UK’s hottest and sunniest year on record, says Met Office. (Helena Horton, The Guardian)
Alaska in a deep (deep, deep) freeze
Alaska is supposed to be frigid in January, but this round is something extreme in the recent climate.
Although no record lows were established on January 3, highs likely made for the coldest day since 2012, according to Alaska climate and weather expert Rick Thoman.
Sunday morning lows were spectacular, too. It got as cold as minus-62 in Chicken.
Alaska climatologist Brian Brettschneider pointed out that Fairbanks had its coldest 7-day stretch since 1975 with an average temperature of minus-43.7. It hit minus-50 there Sunday morning with wind chills as low as minus-68.
This comes on the heels of a warmest on record 2025 for the state.
About
MWF morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster. Connecting weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.
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