20 years ago January 31st-February 6th a big chill dipped down in the Southern Parts of the United States of America. This was a very big chill and many places in the south saw temperatures that where rarely seen.

On January 31st a polar vortex brought very cold air from Siberia down into the south. Temperatures plummeted in many areas. Even the state of Florida reported temperatures in the upper 20's. However, my area East Tennessee and North Georgia bore the brute of the big chill.

For 5 nights temperatures were below 10 degrees. In fact, some nights my area observed temperatures 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 degrees. To make matters worse the wind chills were -10 below to -15 below. Highs did not even get up to the freezing mark. The warmest day was 30 degrees.

I was a 18 my junior year in high school when this event took place. I did not fail a grade, but just got a late start to my schooling. That is why I was 12-18 months older than my peers. I can remember having to warm my car up 20 minutes before going to school. My mom had to plug her Diesel vehicle up that is how cold it was.

Once I got to high school I can remember it being brutally cold walking from my car to inside the school. The wind just hit you in the face. What made it so bad was none of us were really dressed for these types of temps. The reason being is we hardly get them in my area. In 2003 the average high for when this event took place was 52 degrees with an average low of 32 degrees. In a once in a while we might get lows in the upper 10's but it had been several years since we saw temps this cold.

Cities and towns all around my area had to deal with busting water pipes due to the cold. I can remember me and my friends hoping a snowstorm would develop so we would not have to get out in the cold but nothing occurred. It was just brutally cold now winter weather.

Eventually temperatures warmed back up to near average. While the big chill in 2003 didn't set any records. It was and still is considered historic to this day. Due to the very low temperatures and wind chills.