Although a cold front this past week cooled the unseasonably warm February temps, the cooler temperatures cannot compare to the 1993 blizzard that left six inches of snow in Covington County.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the storm that has many names, “The Storm of the Century,” “The 1993 Superstorm” and “Winter Storm ’93.”

Snow began to fall in North Alabama on Fri., March 12, 1993, and then spread south overnight.

A strong and massive low-pressure system that moved from the western Gulf of Mexico into the Florida Panhandle and up the Eastern Seaboard caused the storm

Andalusia had six inches of snow compared to Birmingham’s 13 inches and Montgomery’s only three and a half inches.

An estimated range of damages done from the storm in Alabama was $80 million to $100 million. There were no severe damages in Andalusia, only several cars that slid off the road.

An estimated 400,000 homes were without power in Alabama, but locally, Covington Electric Cooperative said they only about 8,000 to 8,500 meters in their system lost power, according to Star-News archives.

Because the storm hit other parts of the South so hard, the local Shaw Industries plant closed for most of the week. The company’s Dalton, Ga., mill was damaged and temporarily could not use the carpet yarns manufactured.

The main problem in Covington County was traffic. Fourteen deaths were recorded in Alabama associated with the exposure or stress due from the storm. One person froze to death in their home, six people died due to abandoned or disabled cars, and seven more died due to exposure.

Fortunately, there is nothing similar in the immediate forecast. According to the National Weather Service, this week could be the last week of cold weather, but there will be areas of frost until Thursday morning.

However, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, predicts:

• The start of spring will be cool and sunny, speckled with a few thunderstorms.
• April and May will be cooler and rainier than normal.
• Spring will end with mild weather and sun.