Winter weather
South's coldest morning since March arrives Saturday, Nashville near 29
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk · Published · Updated
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
What's new: Added our new graphic of Saturday's forecast lows and the last time each city was this cold; frost advisories this morning noted.
Key points
- Where: The Tennessee Valley, Kentucky and the interior Deep South, including Nashville, Huntsville, Birmingham and Jackson.
- When: Friday night into Saturday morning, Nov. 14.
- What: Lows from the upper 20s in Lexington, Nashville and Huntsville to about 32 in Birmingham, Jackson and Louisville.
- What it means: Freezing conditions for some cities and Nashville's first freeze of the fall.
- How sure: The cold is likely, but it is five days out, so the exact numbers can still change.
Updated 8:00 AM ET Monday.
A cold Friday night will give the South its coldest morning since March on Saturday, Nov. 14. Nashville is forecast to fall to about 29 for its first freeze of the fall, and Birmingham and Jackson, Mississippi, are headed for right around 32.
Who gets coldest Saturday
Our new graphic above covers the forecast lows and how long it has been since each city was this cold. The sharpest cold sits across Kentucky and the Tennessee Valley. Lexington is forecast near 28, and Nashville and Huntsville near 29. Louisville and Chattanooga come in around 32.
Farther south, Birmingham and Jackson are right at freezing. A small change in the forecast would put them on either side of it. Memphis and Knoxville land near 33, Montgomery and Little Rock near 34, and Atlanta, Mobile and Charlotte near 36. New Orleans stays mild by comparison, around 48.
Nashville's lowest so far this fall is 34, set Sunday, Nov. 8. A drop to 29 would be its first freeze of the season.
How this compares to the rest of the year
For most of these cities, the last time it got this cold was in March. Nashville, Jackson, Huntsville, Memphis and Little Rock last saw readings this low on March 17. Birmingham, Atlanta, Montgomery, Mobile, Chattanooga and Louisville last did on March 18, and New Orleans on March 19. Raleigh and Columbia, South Carolina, go back to April.
That is what makes this a "coldest since March" morning. For most of these towns, it is the first time in about eight months the thermometer will have dipped this far.
A preview is happening this morning
You do not have to wait until Saturday to see the setup. Frost advisories are up this morning for south-central Indiana and portions of Kentucky, northern Alabama, and the western Piedmont and foothills of North Carolina. They run out between 8 and 10 AM local time. Temperatures were expected to bottom out generally in the 30s, with a few Kentucky spots briefly falling below freezing. You can see every active advisory on our live warnings page.
Saturday is a step colder than this morning. Many of the same places under frost advisories today are forecast to get a freeze.
How sure we are
The pattern behind the cold is a big ridge of high pressure over the central states, with deep dips in the jet stream on both coasts. A storm developing off the Mid-Atlantic coast Thursday night into Friday pulls cold air south behind it. That setup supports the cold forecast.
The exact lows are the softer part. The forecast is five days out, so the numbers can still change. Cities forecast at 32 to 34 could land on either side of freezing.
What to do
- Plan for Friday, not Saturday. Do your covering and bringing-in Friday afternoon.
- Move tender plants inside. That means potted herbs, peppers, tomatoes and anything tropical. Cover the rest with a sheet or frost cloth, not plastic touching the leaves.
- Protect outdoor water. Disconnect hoses and cover exposed spigots.
- Check on animals. Bring in pets and give outdoor animals dry bedding and unfrozen water.
- Dress for a cold start. Saturday morning lows are forecast near 29 in Nashville and Huntsville.
We will update the numbers as the week goes on. If you want a heads-up when the forecast tightens, you can sign up for free Y'all Alerts.
Bottom line
Saturday morning brings widespread cold to the South, with the upper 20s from Lexington to Nashville and Huntsville and near 32 in Birmingham and Jackson. Do your plant and pipe prep Friday, and re-check the forecast Thursday.
Explained: What a Freeze Warning means, and how it differs from a Frost Advisory
More on Southeast winter weather, November 2026
Places in this story: Nashville, TN; Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Huntsville, AL; Louisville, KY; Chattanooga, TN; Memphis, TN; Knoxville, TN; Montgomery, AL; Little Rock, AR; Charlotte, NC
Sources
- NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS station records, NOAA Regional Climate Centers (ACIS)
https://ryanhallyall.com/news/souths-coldest-morning-since-march-arrives-saturday-nashville-near-29