Some of you hoping for a change in January may be disappointed as the country has some substantial areas of above and below average temperatures. Discover what the nation's regions will see.

New Year’s Day celebrators may be in need of snow shovels in the Great Lakes for the first day of 2026 thanks to ongoing lake-effect snow bands throughout parts of the region. Feet of snowfall could be picked up in the snowbelts over the next few days, especially in upstate New York near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Snowfall rates could even reach 3-5 inches per hour. Strong wind can create whiteout conditions even if there isn’t any snow actively falling, so anyone hitting the roads should be extra cautious and allow for extra travel time.

From bizarre snowstorms to a weird hurricane season, 2025 was an odd bird for weather. Here's our ranked list of what we found most strange, along with some honorable mentions.

The new year will begin much like how it ended in the West. More rain and mountain snow will continue to fall from California to Washington. While rain will taper off early in the day across Southern California, moisture, rain and snow will linger into the Desert Southwest, Great Basin and Intermountain West through the day and into Friday. Several inches of rain will be possible, and some of the highest elevations could see at least a foot of snow. Watch this video for the latest forecast.

While some countries kicked off the New Year with spectacular fireworks celebrations, other nations chose more subdued, traditional ways to welcome 2026. Do you have any special New Year’s Eve celebrations or rituals?