Final Review of Cold Outbreak

This table shows the 20 previously coldest 7-, 10-, and 14-day periods in BHM, according to average daily temperature, with overlapping periods removed (raw data from Office of Alabama State Climatologist). Clearly, the recent cold wave was one of our worst in history, especially looking at the longer periods. January 1-14, 2010, was the 8th coldest 14-day period on record. Also note that we had snow cover at least some of the time during 4 of the 7 colder periods, so for cold without snow, this outbreak was 4th.

We had 13 days in a row with a low temperature below 25. This breaks the all-time record set in January 1940.

We had 9 days in arow with a high temperature below 40. This ties the all-time record set in January 1940.

We had 12 days in a row with a high temperature below 50. The max ever was 15, in January 1940.

Here is a plot of hourly temperatures for January 1-14, 2010:

We were below freezing for a total of 239 hours during this period, including 69 hours in a row ending at 1 pm on January 10.

The only thing missing from this historic cold wave was 1 or 2 extremely cold nights (lows near zero), or even an extremely cold day (high in the teens). You almost have to have snow cover for this.

Overall, this cold wave is still way behind January 1940 or February 1899, but it ranks fairly close to December 1989, December 1983, and January 1978. This was our coldest air since December 1989.

I’m ready for Spring!

Category: Met 101/Weather History, Winter Weather