Written by Jay Hobgood, Ph. D., The Ohio State University

Summary:

The average temperature for January is projected to be above normal for the month with above normal precipitation as well.

Details:

Near record warmth will be over Ohio during the first few days of January. A ridge over the southeastern U.S. will produce southerly winds that will transport unseasonably warm air to Ohio to start the new year. The ridge will break down after a few days. A strong west to east jet stream will carry a series of weather systems across our area during the rest of January. 

The weather systems will cause fluctuations between warm and cold temperatures every few days. The coldest air will stay north of Ohio for most of the month. The average temperature for the month of January will be above normal.

The fast jet stream will also carry a series of storms across Ohio during January. Southerly winds ahead of the storms will carry moist air to the state. Most of the precipitation will fall as rain and the total precipitation for January will be above normal.