G2 Weather Signal™ Flash Report — Jan 5, 2026
Winter’s Hold Slips — Consumers Re-Enter
“There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues.” — Hal Borland
Signal Summary
January thaw hits hard: broad warmth this week, led by Northern Rockies & Plains ~+29°F YoY → resets traffic + promo cadence + winter-inventory risk.
Restaurants win (routine returns): Starbucks (SBUX), McDonald’s (MCD), Texas Roadhouse (TXRH), Shake Shack (SHAK).
Winter apparel risk rises: fewer full-price days → Kohl’s (KSS), The TJX Companies (TJX), Boot Barn (BOOT), Dillard’s (DDS) face clearance pressure.
Watch the whipsaw: thaw now, cold/snow odds reload later (Ohio Valley + Northeast/Great Lakes) → positioning matters.
