National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Birmingham Cold Weather Facts


 

Birmingham Freeze Facts (1896-2020/2021 Winter Season)

Freeze Facts

  • Earliest first freeze - October 18th, 1948
  • Latest first freeze – January 10, 1932
  • Average date of first freeze - November 9th
  •  
  • Earliest last freeze – February 3rd, 1945
  • Latest last freeze – April 23rd, 1986
  • Average date of last freeze - March 25th

Coldest Temperature ever: -10 on February 13th, 1899

Coldest Maximum Temperature ever: 13 on December 12th, 1962

 

Greatest number of consecutive days with minimum temperatures of 32 degrees or below (1896 - 2021)

  • 27 days - December 24th 1980 - January 19th, 1981
  • 20 days - February 6th, 1968 - February 25th, 1968
  • 20 days - December 14th, 1963 - January 2nd, 1964
  • 18 days - January 26th, 1978 - February 12th, 1978
  • 17 days - January 15th, 2014 - January 31st, 2014
  • 17 days - December 29th, 1968 - January 14th, 1969
  • 17 days - January 18th, 1940 - February 3rd, 1940
  • 17 days - January 7th, 1918 - January 23rd, 1918
  • 16 days - January 8th, 1978 - January 23rd, 1978
  • 16 days - January 16, 1966 - January 31st, 1966

 

Most number of days with a minimum temperature of 32 degrees or below per month (1896 - 2021)

  • 27 days - January 2014
  • 25 days - January 1978
  • 25 days - February 1968
  • 25 days - December 1963
  • 25 days - January 1940
  • 24 days - January 1985
  • 24 days - January 1981
  • 24 days - January 1977
  • 24 days - January 1976
  • 23 days - February 2015 

​  

October April
4 days – 1957
5 days – 1983
3 days – 1987, 1965, 1913, 1910
4 days – 1987, 1950

 

 

At or Below Zero Degrees Readings (1896 - 2021)

  • -10 – February 13th, 1899
  • -6 – January 21st, 1985
  • -4 – January 20th, 1985
  • -4 – January 30th, 1966
  • -2 – January 24th, 1963
  • -1 – January 11th, 1982
  • 0 – January 17th, 1982

Most number of days with minimum temperature 32 degrees or below in a calendar year (1896 - 2021)

  • 81 - 1968
  • 77 - 1969
  • 75 - 1963
  • 74 - 1978
  • 73 - 2010
  • 72 - 1958
  • 70 - 1983
  • 69 - 1947
  • 69 - 1965
  • 69 - 1996

 

Least number of days with minimum temperature 32 degrees or below in a calendar year (1896 - 2021)

  • 20 - 1921
  • 22 - 1939
  • 22 - 1931
  • 23 - 1933 
  • 23 - 1923
  • 23 - 1922
  • 23 - 1907
  • 25 - 1897
  • 27 - 1911
  • 28 - 2021

 

Birmingham Snow Facts (1896-2021)

Top Five Snow Days

  1. 10.3” - March 13th, 1993
  2. 9.5” - January 23rd, 1940
  3. 8.1” - January 28th, 1904
  4. 8.0” - December 31st, 1963
  5. 8.0" - January 30th, 1936


Earliest/Latest Measurable Snow Based on Water Year (October 1st through September 30th)

First date for measurements 0.1" or above - November 24th, 1950

Average first date for measurements 0.1" or above - January 21st

Last first date for measurements 0.1" or above - March 24th, 1983

 

Earliest last date for measurements 0.1" or above - November 24th, 1938

Average last date for measurements 0.1" or above - January 30th

Last date for measurements 0.1" or above - April 3rd, 1987

 


Most Recent Snow

0.2" - March 2022

0.6" - January 2022

4.0" - December 2017

0.3" - January 2017

0.1" - March 2015

0.7" - February 2015

3.0" - February 2014

2.0" - January 2014

2.1" - January 2013

1.0" - February 2011

 

 

Monthly Snow Normals (1991-2020) Average and Max (Year)  (1895 - 2021)

Month
Normal Amount
Average Amount
Max/Year
January 0.4” 0.8" 11.8" (1936)
February 0.3” 0.2" 5.0” (1901)
March 0.5” 0.3" 13” (1993)
April 0.0" 0.0" 5.0” (1987)
October 0.0 Trace T"  (2004)
November 0.0 0.0" 1.4” (1950)
December 0.2” 0.3" 8.0” (1963)
Annual 1.4” 1.6" 13.0” (1992-93 season)

 

White Christmas Data (December 22nd-27th) Christmas Day Snows are Red and Bold

Measurable Snow

  • 5.5' -- December 22nd, 1929
  • 1.0” – December 22nd, 1935

Trace Amounts

  • December 26, 2012
  • December 26, 2010
  • December 25, 2010
  • December 26, 2000
  • December 24, 1995
  • December 23, 1995
  • December 25, 1993
  • December 23, 1993
  • December 22, 1993
  • December 24, 1990
  • December 23, 1990
  • December 25, 1989
  • December 24, 1985
  • December 24, 1980
  • December 22, 1969
  • December 27, 1967
  • December 24, 1966
  • December 23, 1966
  • December 24, 1963
  • December 23, 1963
  • December 22, 1963
  • December 27, 1961
  • December 24, 1961
  • December 27, 1950
  • December 22, 1949
  • December 25, 1899
  • December 27, 1895