Extreme Cold in Alabama, January 24 to 25, 2003

Name: Extreme Cold in Alabama, January 24 to 25, 2003
Start: 2003-01-24T00:00
End: 2003-01-25T23:59
Location: Alabama

January 24 to 25, 2003 · NWS BMX · 39 events in 39 counties and zones

The coldest temperatures in 7 years occurred across much of North and Central Alabama and lasted for about two days. Early morning temperatures ranged from 2 to 10 degrees.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 39 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 39

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.

The coldest temperatures in 7 years occurred across much of North and Central Alabama and lasted for about two days. Early morning temperatures ranged from 2 to 10 degrees. The coldest temperatures were measured in outlying areas. Although no new records were established, these temperatures were very cold for the Deep South. Many area residents reported frozen and broken water pipes as a result of the extended cold. Several lawn sprinkler systems also froze and broke making many areas very icy. One woman in Talladega was found outside dead, apparently succumbing to the harsh, cold conditions. Many area farmers lost a large part of their strawberry crops.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

39 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Jefferson

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.554, -86.896 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Autauga

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Autauga forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.535, -86.643 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Barbour

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Barbour forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 31.870, -85.393 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Bibb

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bibb forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.999, -87.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Blount

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Blount forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.981, -86.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Bullock

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bullock forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.100, -85.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Calhoun

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.771, -85.826 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Chambers

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Chambers forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.914, -85.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Cherokee

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cherokee forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.176, -85.604 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Chilton

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Chilton forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.848, -86.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Clay

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.269, -85.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Cleburne

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cleburne forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.675, -85.519 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Coosa

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Coosa forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.936, -86.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Dallas

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.326, -87.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Elmore

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Elmore forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.597, -86.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Etowah

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Etowah forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.045, -86.035 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Fayette

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.721, -87.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Greene

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.853, -87.952 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hale

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hale forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.763, -87.629 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lamar

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lamar forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.779, -88.097 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lee

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.601, -85.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lowndes

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lowndes forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.155, -86.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Macon

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Macon forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.386, -85.693 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Marengo

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Marengo forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.248, -87.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Marion

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.137, -87.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Montgomery

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.220, -86.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Perry

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.639, -87.294 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pickens

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pickens forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.281, -88.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pike

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 31.803, -85.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Randolph

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.294, -85.459 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Russell

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Russell forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.288, -85.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Shelby

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.264, -86.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, St. Clair

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: St. Clair forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.716, -86.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sumter

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sumter forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.591, -88.199 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Talladega

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Talladega forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.380, -86.166 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Tallapoosa

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Tallapoosa forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.862, -85.797 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Tuscaloosa

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Tuscaloosa forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.290, -87.525 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Walker

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Walker forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.803, -87.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Winston

When: January 24, 12:00 AM CST to January 25, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Winston forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.149, -87.374 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Talladega	2003-01-25	37	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, January 2003

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5338205, 5338206, 5338207, 5338208, 5338209, 5338210, 5338211, 5338212, 5338213, 5338968, 5338969, 5338970, 5338971, 5338972, 5338973, 5338974, 5338975, 5338976, 5339354, 5339355, 5339356, 5339357, 5339358, 5339359, 5339360, 5339361, 5339362, 5339363, 5339364, 5339365, 5339366, 5339367, 5339368, 5339369, 5339370, 5339371, 5339372, 5339373, 5339374.