Folks sick ofwinter's coldshould see a reprieve from the icy weather the week of Jan. 5, forecasters said.
Temperatures are likely to be much warmer than average across a wide expanse of the country, the National Weather Service said in an online forecast posted Jan. 2.
"Milder air will surge east next week as winter takes a breather," said Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll on X on Friday Jan. 2.
The warmth will be a welcome relief fromthe recent cold patternthat's overspread much of the nation.
People gather on Washington Street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, December 26, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
People walk with their dog in the snow in Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See the magic and chaos of holiday snowfall in the Northeast
People gather on Washington Street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, December 26, 2025.New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.
Pattern change
Large-scale climate patterns that guide our weather will be shifting next week, forecasters said. Senior MeteorologistNoah Bergrenfrom FOX35Orlando on an X post from Jan. 2 called for a "BIG pattern flip starting mid-next week, lasting through about January 11th."
Parts of the nation that have been seeing persistent cold for weeks will finally see milder temperatures later next week.
"Beyond early next week, the dip in the jet stream in the Northeast, which has been responsible for the waves of Arctic air, will retreat into Canada," according to an online forecast from Alex Sosnowski,AccuWeather senior meteorologist.
How warm will it get?
Notably warmer weather is likely in the east, particularly the Northeast "where it's been a popsicle of late," Bergren said. "In Florida, I could see a few days 80-85 degrees Jan. 9-11!"
Theweather servicesaid that temperatures will also be quite warm in the Plains, where temperatures of 15 to 30 degrees above average will be common. Daily records for warm lows and highs could be set across the Intermountain West and Plains.
Unseasonably warm weather will then gradually expand and spread eastward through the week, bringing temperatures that are some 15 to 25 degrees above average to the Mississippi Valley and eventually 10 degrees above average for the East Coast, after a colder than average start to the week across the Northeast, the weather service said.
By Wednesday Jan. 7, Atlanta will be in the 70s and 50-degree highs will push as far north as Philadelphia, according toWeather.com.
However, the West and Southwest should remain near or below normal temperature-wise much of the week.
What about snow?
A parade of clipper storms and frigid air from Canada will continue to cause wintry woes for travelers from the Great Lakes region to parts of the Northeast through this weekend and for the first day back to work and school for millions on Monday, Sosnowski said.
In spite of the warmer temperatures, areas with snow cover that become wet from melting during the day may freeze at night, posing hazards for pedestrians and motorists, AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.
The trend toward milder temperatures is forecast to be associated with below-average snowfall for much of the United States into mid-January, Noll said on X.
Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, focusing on weather and climate issues.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:January thaw coming for eastern half of US. See when.
