The most significant weather for the next 5 days (January 21–26, 2021) will be widespread heavy precipitation across the Southeast. Between 1.5 and 4.0 inches are forecast from eastern Texas through southern Alabama and northern Georgia, and light to moderate amounts should dampen the rest of the Southeast. Farther west, from the central and southern Rockies to the California coast, significant precipitation will fall on the higher elevations. Most of the mountains are expecting 1 to 3 inches, with 0.5 to 2.5 inches expected in the rest of the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. Elsewhere, light to moderate precipitation of up to 0.5 inch is forecast for the upper Midwest, and little to none is expected over the Northeast, High Plains, and the remainder of the Midwest and Great Pains.

The 6–10 day Climate Prediction Center extended range outlook (January 27–31, 2021) favors surplus precipitation from the Rockies to the West Coast, most of the Midwest, and part of the interior Southeast. Much of Alaska is also expecting above-normal precipitation. Meanwhile, the odds favor subnormal precipitation across Florida, in the Northeast and Ohio Valley, Southern Plains, and eastern Montana. Cooler than normal weather is anticipated in the Northeast, the middle Atlantic States, and a broad area from the Rockies to the West Coast. In contrast, enhanced chances for above-normal temperatures cover roughly the southeastern quarter of the country.