The Alabama Office of the State Climatologist provides monthly climate reports that analyze statewide temperature, precipitation, and drought trends. Each report also highlights how that's month’s climate compared to long-term historical normals. A summary of every monthly report is featured on this page, with options to view the full report in PDF format or explore the complete climate report archive. Download the Full Monthly Climate Report Browse the Monthly Climate Report Archive Alabama Climate Report: January, 2026 Brought to you by the Alabama Office of the State Climatologist Precipitation Summary Temperature Summary Drought Summary Spring 2026 Outlook Figure 1. Precipitation totals and trends across Alabama for January 2026.Rainfall totals for January 2026 were slightly below average with West & Central Alabama receiving the most rainfall. Data provided by PRISM Climate Data, station data, and National Centers for Environmental Information. Precipitation Summary (Figure 1) January was much wetter than December, but it still finished slightly below average. Preliminary statewide total precipitation was 5.06 inches, which was 0.12 inches below the long-term January average (5.18 inches). Central Alabama trended wetter than normal, while North and South Alabama were generally drier than normal. Precipitation Highlights Driest site: Theodore 6.8SSE — 1.09 inches of rainfall Wettest site: Thorsby EXP Station — 10.1 inches of rainfall Driest January on record: 1927 — 1.27 inches of rainfall Wettest January on record: 1936 — 11.49 inches of rainfall Figure 2. Precipitation Percent of Normal for January 2026.Red and orange areas show locations that received less than 50% of normal rainfall, while green and blue areas indicate near- or above-normal precipitation. Central Alabama was wetter than normal, but South Alabama remained pretty dry. Precipitation Percent of Normal (Figure 2) North Alabama experienced near-normal rainfall in January. Central Alabama and parts of West Alabama were wetter than normal. Much of South and Southeast Alabama were drier than normal (receiving roughly 50% of their normal rainfall). Figure 3. Temperature totals and trends across Alabama for January 2026.Average temperatures were slightly warmer than normal across the state, with the coldest temperatures found in DeKalb County and the warmest temperatures found near the Florida panhandle. Temperature Summary (Figure 3) January began on an unseasonably warm note, with many stations reaching the 80s during the first half of the month. Conditions shifted sharply late in the month as a winter storm brought freezing rain, sleet, snow, and much colder air. Several locations dropped into the single digits during the January 27–28 timeframe, making a strong case for this being the coldest stretch of the 2025–2026 winter season. Temperature Highlights Hottest sites: Dothan Airport, Lowe Army Heliport Ft. Rucker, Cairns Field Ft. Rucker, & Open Pond — 82°F on January 9th and 10th Coldest sites: Fort Payne, Liri, & Valley Head — 6°F on January 7th Coldest January on record: 1940 — 32.1°F Warmest January on record: 1950 — 58.9°F Figure 4. January 2026 drought conditions U.S. Drought Monitor maps showing changes in Alabama drought conditions between January 6 and January 27, 2026. Drought Summary (Figure 4) January began with widespread drought conditions. At the start of the year, 87% of the state was in Moderate to Extreme drought, with another 10% experiencing abnormal dryness. By January 6, 100% of the state was classified in some level of abnormal dryness or drought. A storm system then helped reduce drought severity by mid-January, but overall dryness persisted, especially across South Alabama. By the end of January, parts of Central Alabama were declared drought free, while much of the southern half of the state remained in drought or abnormal dryness. Spring 2026 Outlook With spring just around the corner, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) forecasts above-normal temperatures across Alabama, with the highest chance (50-60%) along the Gulf coast. For precipitation, the entire state has equal chances of below-, near-, and above-normal precipitation. The following tables provide the normals for the state and select metropolitan areas relative to the 1991-2020 reference period for each spring month. Spring also tends to be the peak severe weather season for Alabama. Now is a good time to review your severe weather plans, identify your safest shelter, and assemble an emergency kit with supplies to last at least three days. For more information on how to prepare for severe weather, visit ready.gov. If you have any questions, please contact aosc@uah.edu.
