Cold in Tennessee, February 1, 2026

Name: Cold in Tennessee, February 1, 2026
Start: 2026-02-01T02:00
End: 2026-02-01T04:00
Location: Tennessee

February 1, 2026 · NWS MEG · 21 events in 21 counties and zones

A Canadian airmass encompassed the region on the morning of February 1. This airmass intensified to 1040mb allowing temperatures to fall below freezing to kick off the month.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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: 21

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 MEG wrote it up.

A Canadian airmass encompassed the region on the morning of February 1. This airmass intensified to 1040mb allowing temperatures to fall below freezing to kick off the month. Clear skies and a light northerly wind resulted in wind chill values at 5 degrees or less across West Tennessee.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 11:24 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Issued at 1123 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026
A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through noon Sunday as wind chills hover around 0 degrees.
Temperatures will warm to near normal on Monday with rain chances returning Tuesday.
The end of the week will be dry with temperatures slightly below normal.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 11:24 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1124 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 1123 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

- A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through noon Sunday as
  wind chills hover around 0 degrees.

- Temperatures will warm to near normal on Monday with rain
  chances returning Tuesday.

- The end of the week will be dry with temperatures slightly below
  normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Tonight through next Saturday)
Issued at 1123 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

A 1040 mb high will center over the Mid-South by sunrise,
allowing morning lows to dip into the single digits and teens. A
Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through noon as wind
chills hover around 0 degrees. Luckily, warmer conditions are on
the way as high pressure slides east today, allowing winds to
veer southwest. Afternoon highs will climb above freezing nearly
areawide, allowing residual snow and ice to begin melting once
again. Efficient melting will continue into Monday as sunshine
and temperatures in the 40s and 50s return.

A slight pattern change will emerge on Tuesday as a shortwave and
attendant cold front eject across the Plains. Ahead of this
system, precipitable water values will increase to around the
90th percentile. Light showers will begin impacting the Mid-South
in the morning hours, becoming more widespread through the
evening. Precipitation will linger into Wednesday before the
aforementioned front clears the area. Overall storm total
rainfall appears minimal with the latest LREF painting a 30%
chance of greater than 0.75 inches through midday Wednesday. This
will have a minimal impact on the ongoing D2 and D3 drought
conditions in the Mid-South.

The end of the week will feature dry conditions with temperatures
warming to slightly below normal. Friday will be the warmest with
highs in the mid to upper 50s. Long range guidance suggests
another frontal passage this upcoming weekend, along with
additional rain chances. However, run-to-run inconsistencies
continue to make precise timing and impacts too early to tell.

ANS

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1123 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

Strong surface high pressure over the region will result in VFR
conditions over the next 30 hours. There is high confidence that
winds will diminish to 5 knots or less through Sunday morning.
There is a low probability (20%) of MVFR CIGs and/or fog
affecting MEM and MKL near daybreak. Winds will shift to the
south tomorrow afternoon as surface high pressure slides east.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1123 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

Light 20ft winds and MinRH values above 50 percent will keep fire
weather concerns to a minimum through the end of next week.
Wetting rain chances return Tuesday.

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for ARZ009-018-
     026>028-035-036-048-049-058.

MO...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for MOZ113-115.

MS...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for MSZ001>017-
     020>024.

TN...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for TNZ001>004-
     019>022-048>055-088>092.

&&

PUBLIC FORECAST...ANS
AVIATION...AC3

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Benton

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.070, -88.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Carroll

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.973, -88.450 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Chester

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Chester forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.422, -88.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 8F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Crockett

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Crockett forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.814, -89.139 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 4F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Decatur

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.603, -88.109 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Dyer

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Dyer forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.059, -89.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 0F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Fayette

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.197, -89.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Gibson

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Gibson forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.997, -88.933 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 7F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Hardeman

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Hardeman forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.207, -88.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 8F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Hardin

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.199, -88.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 8F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Haywood

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Haywood forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.583, -89.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 4F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Henderson

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Henderson forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.654, -88.388 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 7F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Henry

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.332, -88.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Lake

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.335, -89.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 5F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Lauderdale

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lauderdale forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.761, -89.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 0F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Madison

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 35.608, -88.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 8F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, McNairy

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: McNairy forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.175, -88.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 7F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Obion

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Obion forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.358, -89.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Shelby

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 35.184, -89.896 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 7F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Tipton

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Tipton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.497, -89.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of -4F reported.

Cold/Wind Chill, Weakley

When: February 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Weakley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 36.298, -88.718 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minimum wind chill of 6F reported.

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
Cold/Wind Chill, Fayette	2026-02-01	82	Male	Permanent Home	Direct

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Tennessee, February 2026

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1317130, 1317131, 1317132, 1317133, 1317134, 1317135, 1317136, 1317137, 1317138, 1317139, 1317140, 1317141, 1317142, 1317143, 1317144, 1317145, 1317146, 1317147, 1317148, 1317149, 1317150.