(left) Normal (average) temperatures for the contiguous United States in January from 1991-2020. January is the coldest month of the year, and most of the country is cooler than 50 degrees Fahrenheit (blue), with only the southernmost Desert Southwest and the rim of the Gulf of Mexico warmer than that (yellow to red colors). (middle) Absolute temperatures in January 2024, with a noticeable darkening of the blue colors in the Great Plains, hinting at the impact of the mid-month Arctic air blast. (right) January temperatures compared to normal, showing the cold in the center of the country (blue) and the unusual warmth to either side (red). NOAA Climate.gov images from our Data Snapshots collection, based on data from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.