Eastern Cornbelt:
Highs in southern Illinois reached the 50s as the week progressed, but much colder weather was reported in central and northern areas of the state, with highs topping out in the upper-30s and low dropping to the teens on Jan. 21-22.
Light snow showers were reported across central Indiana during the week, with temperatures dropping into the 20s. Snowfall totals so far this winter are nearly two inches below average across Indiana.
A cold front was also taking aim at northern Ohio as the week progressed, with highs expected to drop from the mid-40s on Jan. 21 to the low-20s by Jan. 23. Lake-effect snow showers were also in the forecast, with 1-4 inches of accumulation expected in northern Ohio by the weekend.
Western Cornbelt:
Des Moines and other central Iowa locations were digging out from a winter storm that brought a half-foot of snow to some areas over the previous weekend.
That same system in mid-January also brought blizzard conditions to parts of eastern Nebraska and northern Missouri, and cold weather followed the precipitation. Highs in southeastern Nebraska reportedly topped out in the low-30s during the week, with lows dropping into the 20s.
Northern Plains:
Scattered snow showers moved through North Dakota and Minnesota early in the week, with reports of multiple bands of snow tracking through southern Minnesota on Jan. 19.
The region experienced mostly dry conditions as the week progressed, but another system was expected to produce heavy snow by the weekend. Forecasts warned of 4-7 inches of accumulation in the Twin Cities area on Jan. 23. Light snow and colder temperatures were also in the forecast for western South Dakota late in the week.
Great Lakes:
Colder temperatures were moving into the Great Lakes region as the week progressed, along with scattered snow showers.
A mix of rain and snow was reported across southern Michigan early in the week, while heavier lake-effect snow was reported in northern Michigan. Temperatures across the state were only expected to climb into the upper-10s or low-20s by the weekend, with breezy weather contributing to lower wind chill values.
Wisconsin was also bracing for gusty winds and cold temperatures at mid-month. Highs in northern Wisconsin were expected to stay below the 20-degree mark on Jan. 22, while southern Wisconsin was preparing for its first sub-zero lows of the winter on Jan. 22-23.
Northeast:
Most of New England experienced dry weather conditions at mid-month after snow and rain over the previous weekend. Up to a half-foot of snow fell on Jan. 16 in the mountains of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, with lesser snowfall reported across northern, western, and much of central New England.
Blustery weather was reported across New York and Pennsylvania during the week, with winds and scattered snow showers in some locations. Much colder weather was on tap for the Mid-Atlantic region by the weekend, with highs topping out in the upper-30s and wind chills falling to the mid-20s in Maryland.