ECMWF for Jan 9–23 shows a stretched polar vortex with the core over eastern Canada driving −30° to −40°F into the Prairies and subzero surges across the Northern Plains/Great Lakes—expect dangerous wind chills, lake-effect snow, black ice on I-94/I-90, airport de-icing delays, and a frigid MLK weekend from Chicago to Boston.
Europe braces for two Arctic blasts in January 2026 — severe frost and transport disruption ahead ECMWF flags cold peaks on 9–12 and 19–21 Jan with −20…−25 °C.
Arctic air and Storm Goretti bring heavy snow, fierce winds, flight cancellations, road closures and power cuts across Europe in early January 2026.
Between January 9 and 12, 2026, the coldest conditions in Europe will be found across Eastern and North-Eastern regions, where night-time temperatures will commonly fall to −10…−18°C and locally lower.
Alberta Clipper fuels lake-effect snow across the Great Lakes while back-to-back atmospheric rivers and evacuation warnings impact Southern California into the New Year.
