Somewhere in the depths of the plains winter, often in the latter part of January, the country frequently enjoys a brief and welcome softening — a spell of milder days when the cold relaxes its grip, the sun feels almost warm at noon, and the snow settles and glazes under the thaw. The old-timers have long marked this January thaw on their mental calendars, half folklore and half observation.

A Breath Drawn Midwinter

Whether it arrives by the almanac or by chance, the thaw is a tonic for a winter-weary people. It offers a chance to catch up on outdoor chores, to let the livestock bask, and to remember that the season is not endless. Roofs drip, drifts shrink, and for a few days the plains breathe a little easier before the cold inevitably returns.

From the almanac's reckoning:

• The January thaw is a spell of milder days deep in winter.
• It often arrives in the latter part of January by tradition.
• The reprieve is temporary, with hard cold usually returning after.

The reprieve is temporary, and February can be as fierce as any month, but the January thaw plants a seed of hope that spring, however distant, will come. The almanac notes the thaw with affection — the plains' midwinter breath, drawn deep before the cold closes in again.