Issued: 8am on Thursday, January 29th 2026
Technical Forecast Discussion
Key Messages:
- High-pressure will sit over the region through next week, keeping conditions exceptionally stable.
- Temperatures will begin to rise by Sunday and into next week.
Short-Term Forecast (Thursday 01/29/2026 through Saturday 01/31/2026):
High-pressure is expected to dominate over much of the Midwest into Saturday, keeping the state calm and stable to close out the week. Temperatures will remain steadily in the 20s through Friday before dropping into the mid-teens on Saturday. While no frontal boundary is expected to pass over between Friday and Saturday, a positively tilted trough will develop and cross across the state Friday and Saturday. The trough’s axis on Friday will briefly put us upstream of this trough, possibly bringing the slightest chance for some flurries Friday afternoon as a small band of moisture follows alongside this trough. By early Saturday morning, it’ll then develop a more SW-NE’ly orientation, amplifying considerably stable conditions Saturday and beyond.
Long-Term Forecast (Sunday 02/01/2026 through Wednesday 02/04/2026):
By Sunday and Monday, a ridge will begin to build and push into the state, allowing slightly warmer temperatures to creep back into next week. Heights will begin to substantially rise Monday evening into Tuesday, continuing to support stable conditions to follow. High-pressure will, as mentioned, persist through the remainder of the forecast, though we may see a weak low-pressure system snake into the state by Tuesday. While clouds will build considerably mid-day Monday as this low inches towards the region before mostly engulfing us Tuesday, significant weather is not expected. Another low following close behind Tuesday’s low has the chance to bring some instability into the region and the chance for more precipitation, however, it’s too early to confidently tell the significance of this low. Overall, pleasant conditions are expected into the upcoming week, especially as we expect temperatures to steadily climb into the upper-20s and near 30.
