January featured what meteorologists referred to as a "blowtorch" pattern in the East, with consistently milder than average weather conditions and barely any snow.
By the numbers: Most cities, particularly those east of the Mississippi River, saw a top 15 warmest January.
The effects of a severe storm in the U.S. South that killed at least 10 people and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights after unleashing sleet, snow and freezing rain were still being felt Friday.
The big picture: While temperatures were expected to return to the 40s and 50s across the region on Friday following the multi-day storm, an estimated 289,000 customers were without power in Texas in the morning.
A new federal report describes a hidden economy of science and engineering jobs in the U.S. — and reveals persistent inequities within it.
The big picture: There's been heavy investment — in the U.S. and other countries — in developing a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce to fuel economies, improve quality of life and protect national security.
The combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Arctic air spilling south from Canada is resulting in a long-duration ice storm for millions of people across at least eight states.
The big picture: At least six people in Texas have died since Monday as sleet, snow and freezing rain snarled road and air travel. Waves of mixed precipitation are forecast to spread northeast with time, lasting through early Thursday.
