Buffalo’s temperature hit 61 degrees Fahrenheit last Friday. This shattered January records by 30 degrees. The weather felt more like late spring than deep winter. AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski warns this warmth won’t last. Temperatures will crash from the low 60s to the low 20s within one week. This dramatic shift will reshape weather patterns across North America.
Scientists have tracked unusual activity in the upper atmosphere since early January. About 19 miles above Earth, a Sudden Stratospheric Warming event disrupted the polar vortex. This marks the earliest such event in 70 years. The warming weakens the vortex and releases massive amounts of Arctic air. This frigid air now plunges toward North America and Europe. Forecasters expect these changes to bring one of the season’s deepest cold snaps.
January started with strange warmth across the continent. The Northern Plains and Upper Midwest saw record warm overnight temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Atlanta reached 78 degrees on December 24, breaking its previous record. The Weather Prediction Center confirmed similar temperature records across multiple regions. Experts say these warm-to-cold swings often signal the breakdown of the polar vortex.
Massive Winter Storm Impacts 25 States
Winter alerts now cover at least 25 states. The affected area stretches from the Great Lakes through the Appalachians to the Southeast. Officials issued blizzard watches and storm warnings for New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and Tennessee. These warnings remain in effect through Tuesday morning, January 14. Effects will continue past midweek.
Western New York faces fierce lake-effect snow. The National Weather Service in Buffalo forecasts up to 12 inches of snow widely. Some pockets may receive 15 to 18 inches. Winds will gust to 45 miles per hour near Lake Erie. These winds will reduce visibility dramatically. Travel becomes hazardous with heavy snow and whiteouts. Governor Kathy Hochul warned that roads would become dangerous starting Monday at 11 a.m.
Arctic air sweeps over the unfrozen Great Lakes waters. This creates moisture-laden snow bands that stretch to the Midwest and Appalachians. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and upstate New York are expected to see significant accumulations. Areas near Lake Ontario are expected to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow. Lake Superior’s south shore expects even higher totals.
Wind chills will plunge to dangerous levels. The Midwest is expected to experience wind chills of minus 50 degrees. North Dakota and Minnesota are expected to experience temperatures of minus 30 degrees. Minneapolis is facing wind chills of nearly minus 40 degrees. Exposed skin can develop frostbite within minutes. Officials warn these conditions threaten lives.
Infrastructure Struggles and Safety Warnings
The cold reaches far south, defying typical January patterns. Freezes will push into Florida and the Deep South. Atlanta faces a nearly 50-degree temperature drop from recent highs. Subfreezing days lie ahead from Tennessee to South Carolina. Frost threatens crops in unusual ways.
This winter swings between record warmth and piercing cold. December ranked among the warmest on record. Now, extreme cold follows. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center notes these swings are accelerating. Rapid temperature changes stress heating systems, pipes, and utilities.
A late December storm already caused widespread problems. Power outages affected 350,000 customers, mostly in Michigan. Airlines canceled over 450 flights and delayed 1,600 more. Current heating demand approaches 2014 peak levels.
Officials strongly urge residents to prepare. They recommend stocking fuel and charging devices. Drivers should winterize their vehicles. Homeowners must insulate pipes to prevent freezing. Authorities advise avoiding travel when possible. Governor Hochul mobilized salt, sand, and emergency teams. Past cold outbreaks, such as 2014, show that preparation reduces injuries and system failures.
These dramatic weather swings signal a shift in atmospheric patterns. Winter now features both warming trends and intense cold extremes. Planners must prepare for rapid shifts. This protects agriculture, power grids, and lives in our changing climate.
Sources:
National Weather Service, Multiple weather advisories and forecasts, January 2026
AccuWeather, Winter weather analysis and forecasts, January 12, 2026
Severe Weather Europe, Polar vortex analysis and winter weather forecast, January 11, 2026
National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, December-January pattern analysis, January 2026
H24 Weather News, Polar vortex disruption analysis, January 2, 2026
Dr. Ryan Maue Weather Substack, Arctic outbreak forecast analysis, January 11, 2026