Extreme January Cold – NASA Science

Following a winter storm that blanketed many U.S. states with snow and ice, unusually low temperatures continued to grip much of the country east of the Rocky Mountains in late January 2026. The cold snap was notable for its severity, longevity, and geographic scope.

This animation depicts surface air temperatures over part of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, from January 21 to 29. It combines satellite observations with temperatures calculated by a version of the global Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model, which uses mathematical equations to simulate physical processes in the atmosphere.

Dark blue areas indicate the lowest surface air temperatures. The brief pulses show daily warming and cooling, while the broader pattern reveals cold air spreading south and east and persisting through much of the week.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the surge of Arctic air spread deep into the United States on January 22, setting the stage for a period of low temperatures and severe wind chills. The cold coincided with a burst of moisture that produced significant accumulations of snow and ice stretching from the southwestern United States to New England.

In the days following the storm, dangerously cold weather persisted. In the Midwest, for example, the temperature in Alliance, Nebraska, fell to minus 26 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 32 degrees Celsius) on January 24, the lowest daily minimum temperature ever recorded for that date, according to preliminary reports from the NWS. In the South, an extreme cold warning was in effect in south-central Texas on the night of January 26, with temperatures falling into the single digits. By January 27, parts of the South had begun to experience slight warming, but wind chills down to -20°F (-29°C) continued in the Midwest and Northeast.

Meteorologists say the cold snap was caused by frigid air from the Canadian and Siberian Arctic that moved toward eastern North America and then was pushed south as high-pressure systems forced the jet stream to dip. Forecasts called for another blast of Arctic air at the end of the week, with below-normal temperatures persisting into early February.

The persistent cold posed additional challenges for those left without power or heat after the storm and for those working to clean up, clear streets and restore electricity and transportation services.

NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System was activated to support agencies responding to the winter storm. The team will publish maps and data products on its open access mapping portal as new information becomes available.

NASA Earth Observatory images and animation by Lauren Dauphin, using GEOS data from NASA GSFC’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. Story by Kathryn Hansen.

• The Conversation (January 24, 2026) How the polar vortex and ocean heat intensified a major winter storm in the United States. Accessed January 29, 2026.
• NASA Earth Observatory (January 28, 2026) Snow buries the interior and eastern United States. Accessed January 29, 2026.
• NBC News (January 27, 2026) Millions remain under warnings as extreme cold has an icy grip on much of the United States. Accessed January 29, 2026.
• NWS Weather Prediction Center, via X (January 27, 2026) Dangerously cold temperatures continue. Accessed January 29, 2026.
• The Washington Post (January 28, 2026) The extreme cold snap is shaping up to be one of DC’s longest in 150 years. Accessed January 29, 2026.
• Yale Climate Connections (January 23, 2026) Winter 2025-26 (finally) hits the United States with a vengeance. Accessed January 29, 2026.