 Average mean temperature anomalies across the United States during the month of January 2025 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 2,2025 |
| Dissipated | January 27,2025 |
| Cold wave | |
| Lowest temperature | −36 °C (−32.8 °F) in Saskatchewan,Canada on January 20 |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 24 [note 1] |
| Damage | >$500 million |
| Areas affected | Canada,Central United States,Eastern United States,Northern Mexico |
Part of the 2024–25 North American winter | |
The January 2025 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that brought extremely cold temperatures to a majority of the Lower 48 of the continental United States,as well as the countries of Canada and Mexico as well throughout most of January 2025. It was the coldest January in much of the continent,especially the U.S.,in at least a decade,bringing temperatures as much as 20–35 °F (11.1–19.4 °C) below average to a majority of the country. Originating from the southward migration of the polar vortex after an arctic front passed through the continent in early January,the pattern persisted for much of the month,bringing a wide swath of wintery weather across the Lower 48 of the U.S.,allowing snow and ice to accumulate in regions that do not see it much at all in the Deep South.
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Though similar in extent to a previous cold wave in 2021,it was not as record-breaking within the central United States,but freezing temperatures reached as far south as the Gulf Coast,breaking many temperature records there,especially in the state of Louisiana. The cold weather is estimated to have caused at least US$500 million in damages,and at least 18 deaths directly or indirectly attributed to the cold or winter weather.
