Weekend Temperatures May Plunge to Record Lows Across the South

By Sam Stebbins  •  January 30, 2026
a foggy field with trees
Photo by Ries Bosch on Unsplash

Last weekend, a massive winter storm swept across a 2,300 mile stretch of the United States, bringing ice, heavy snow, and frigid temperatures to tens of millions of Americans. The storm was blamed for at least 80 fatalities, most of which were related to motor vehicle accidents, snow removal, and hypothermia from exposure to extreme cold. But while the threat posed by snowfall has passed, low temperatures have lingered, and in much of the country, dangerous cold is expected to intensify throughout the weekend. 

In the Midwest, Northeast, and Rocky Mountains, freezing temperatures are commonplace during the winter months. But in the Southern and Southeastern United States – the two warmest climate regions in the country, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – average temperatures in January and February are well above 32°F. This weekend, however, freezing temperatures are expected from Tennessee down through the Gulf states, even extending as far south as Florida. According to the latest forecasts, hundreds of thousands of Americans across the South and Southeast are due for record-breaking cold in the coming days. 

Using data from NOAA’s Southeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the U.S. cities bracing for record-low weekend temperatures. We reviewed weekend forecasts for over 400 cities across the United States, and identified those for which daily lows on both Saturday and Sunday are expected to break historic daily records for the January 31 and February 1 calendar days. Local, 30-year average daily lows are from NOAA’s U.S. Climate Normals program and previous record lows for January 31 and February 1 are from NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center. Supplemental population data are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. 

The eight cities on this list are spread across six states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Expected, record-breaking daily lows in these places range from 26°F to 2°F on Saturday, and from 19°F to 7°F on Sunday. In each of these places, historic lows are expected to be at least 14°F colder than the 30-year average daily low. In some cases, this weekend’s frigid temperatures are forecasted to break records that have stood since the early 1950s. 

8. Albany, Georgia

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 25.1°F (14.5°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 26.0°F, set in 2014
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 16.1°F (23.6°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 25.0°F, set in 1951
  • Reporting weather station: Albany SW Georgia Regional Airport
  • Local population: 67,939

7. Oak Ridge, Tennessee

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 11.9°F (18.4°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 13.0°F, set in 2004
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 9.1°F (21.4°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 19.0°F, set in 2010
  • Reporting weather station: Oak Ridge Automated Surface Observing System
  • Local population: 32,088
a foggy pond with trees in the background
Photo by Alla Kemelmakher on Unsplash

6. Marianna, Florida

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 26.0°F (15.4°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 26.0°F, set in 2014
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 17.0°F (24.5°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 22.0°F, set in 1951
  • Reporting weather station: Marianna Municipal Airport
  • Local population: 6,815

5. Slidell, Louisiana

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 26.0°F (15.7°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 28.0°F, set in 2014
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 17.0°F (24.8°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 33.0°F, set in 2010
  • Reporting weather station: Slidell Airport
  • Local population: 28,664

4. Gulfport, Mississippi

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 26.0°F (17.5°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 29.0°F, set in 2014
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 19.0°F (24.7°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 33.0°F, set in 2010
  • Reporting weather station: Gulfport – Biloxi Airport
  • Local population: 72,533

3. Athens, Alabama

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 10.0°F (23.9°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 14.0°F, set in 2007
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 11.9°F (22.1°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 13.0°F, set in 1994
  • Reporting weather station: Athens, AL
  • Local population: 27,474

2. Clarksville, Tennessee

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 2.0°F (25.9°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 4.0°F, set in 2010
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 7.1°F (20.9°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 9.0°F, set in 2010
  • Reporting weather station: Clarksville Outlaw Field
  • Local population: 171,897

1. Alabaster, Alabama

  • Forecasted daily low for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 13.0°F (23.4°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for January 31: 23.0°F, set in 2014
  • Forecasted daily low for Sunday, Feb, 1, 2026: 11.9°F (24.6°F colder than normal)
  • Previous local record low for February 1: 25.0°F, set in 2000
  • Reporting weather station: Alabaster Shelby County Airport
  • Local population: 33,633


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