January 2026 Climate Summary

January 2026 Climate Review:

Temperatures averaged below normal by 3 to 4 degrees. Much of the first half of the month was above normal which included many days with highs in the 60s (6 days above 60 in Paducah). Record highs in the upper 60s to around 70 were observed on the 8th and 9th. The period from January 1st through 14th was the 10th warmest such period on record in Paducah. Then an abrupt pattern change occurred which brought below normal temperatures from the 17th onward. A prolonged period of well below normal temperatures was experienced from the 23rd through the 31st. Highs only reached the teens and 20s many of these days with lows in the single digits numerous nights and even a few locations dropping below zero. Wind chills below zero were observed many of these days, with the coldest occurring on the 26th with many -10 to -15 readings then. Perryville, MO registered our lowest wind chill in our forecast area with a reading of -23 on the 26th. The period from January 18th through 31st was the 6th coldest such period on record in Paducah. It sure was an impressive flip after the warmth earlier in the month!

Precipitation was drier than normal with most areas only receiving between 1 and 3”. This was roughly 1 to 2.5” drier than normal. Cape Girardeau observed their 8th driest January on record. The heaviest swaths of 2 to 3” were focused from Mississippi County Missouri northeast along the Ohio River and into the Evansville area, along with areas of west Kentucky southeast of a Murray to Madisonville line. The highest observed amount in our forecast area was 3.5” at a CoCoRaHS station in Posey County Indiana (Mt Vernon 10.6 ENE).

Snowfall was well above normal due to a major winter storm that impacted our area on January 24-25. Amounts with this system were in excess of 4” nearly everywhere, with many areas over 6”. A swath of 8-14” was observed across southern IL and southwest IN. Evansville recorded their 2nd largest snowstorm on record, observing 12.5” with this storm. They finished the month as the 5th snowiest January on record, and the snowiest of any month since December 2004. Paducah registered 8.2” with this system and finished as their 8th snowiest January on record. The prolonged duration of abnormally cold temperatures in the week after this snow storm allowed the snowpack to remain in place for an unusually long time. Paducah registered 8 straight days with a snow depth of at least 5”, which was tied for the 2nd longest streak on record. Meanwhile, Evansville observed 8 straight days with a snow depth of at least 7”, which was their 3rd longest on record.