Eastern Cornbelt:
While most of the Eastern Cornbelt was expected to avoid the potent mix of snow and cold temperatures from Winter Storm Kenan, the region still experienced its share of both during the last full week of January.
Much of central and northern Illinois experienced subzero wind chills during the week, with light snow reported in central Illinois at midweek. Temperatures in central Indiana warmed to the low-20s at midweek, followed by snow flurries on Jan. 28.
Temperatures in northern Ohio struggled to break out of the teens during the week, with lake-effect snow reported in some locations.
Western Cornbelt:
Much of Iowa was under a wind chill advisory at midweek, with readings falling to minus 20-30 degrees across northern Iowa and the negative 10-20 range in eastern and central Iowa. Highs were expected to climb to the upper-20s and lower-30s in central Iowa by Jan. 28, however.
Milder temperatures were reported in Missouri at midweek, but wind chills still dropped to near zero in the Kansas City area, along with a dusting of snow in some locations.
Northern Plains:
Minnesota experienced see-sawing temperatures during the week, with highs climbing 46 degrees in the Twin Cities area over a 24-hour period at midweek before plummeting again as the week progressed. Forecasts warned that the entire state would experience temperatures in the double digits below zero by Jan. 27.
Subzero wind chills were also reported across North Dakota during the week, with highs struggling to reach the teens. Slightly warmer weather was on tap for the weekend, along with dry conditions, but another drop into frigid lows is expected for early February.
Northeast:
Wild temperature fluctuations and potentially heavy snow dominated Northeast weather patterns for the last full week of January.
In New England, temperatures rebounded from subzero lows at midweek to the teens and 20s by late Jan. 27, with highs in the 30s in the forecast for Jan. 28. Thursday morning wind chill readings included minus 4 degrees in Boston, 6 degrees in New York, and minus 10 degrees in Watertown, N.Y.
Heavy snowfall was in the weekend forecast for much of New England and the Mid-Atlantic region from Winter Storm Kenan, along with high winds and blizzard conditions. Baltimore was planning for 2-3 inches of snow from the weekend storm, with Philadelphia expecting six inches and parts of southern New England bracing for a possible 12-18 inches of accumulation.
Eastern Canada:
Winter weather advisories and special weather statements were in effect for nearly all of Eastern Canada as the week progressed. Heavy snow squalls produced whiteout conditions across southern Ontario at midweek, with frigid temperatures blanketing much of the province late in the week.
Extreme cold warnings were also in effect for western Quebec during the week, with wind chills plunging to the negative 30s and 40s C at many locations. By the weekend, a powerful nor’easter was expected to bring heavy snow to the three Maritime Provinces on Jan. 29, along with 50-80 km/h wind gusts.