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The winter that wasn’t: Pleasant temperatures could give way to powerful storms

By Emmett Gienapp March 4, 2017 5 min read

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Storms leave path of damage across Tennessee

A downed tree blocks Martin Road on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Red Bank, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters walk past a downed tree on Westwood Avenue on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency workers examine a downed tree at a home on Westwood Avenue on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Wind removed a mailbox from its stand on Westwood Avenue on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Baylee Fann crosses running water to check out damage from a downed tree that fell on her car outside a home between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Isam Ghazi examines a downed tree on a garage between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Brett Ratner stands in front of a downed tree in an alley between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

T.J. Maurer walks on an alley between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive that saw extensive downed trees on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Danielle Mitchell examines a tree that fell on a car parked in an alley between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

A tree fell onto a home between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

A tree is uprooted between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

A tree fell on a basketball goal in an alley between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

A tree fell on a home between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Storm damage is seen in Darrell Meece's kitchen after a tree fell on his home on Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Darrell Meece looks out at storm debris in his back yard after a tree fell on his home on Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

A team of agencies including police and fire departments, Homeland Security, TEMA, Salvation Army and others monitor the storm's progress Wednesday, March 1, 2017 in the 911 call center building on Amnicola Highway.

S & H Erectors Inc at 8427 Hixson Pike was damaged Wednesday, March 1, 2017 when storms swept through the Chattanooga area.

Chrisha Diaz examines a downed tree in an alley between Westwood Avenue and Highland Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Severe storms swept through the region Wednesday afternoon.

Record Average January Temperatures

1950: 53.71937: 53.31880: 52.01907: 50.61890: 50.41949: 49.71932: 49.41974: 49.32017: 49.1

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 3/2/17. Trees begin to bloom along the Tennessee River waterfront in North Chattanooga on Thursday, March 2, 2017.

Record Average February Temperatures

1890: 53.91927: 53.11932: 52.41938: 51.81887: 51.61990: 51.52017: 50.9

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 3/2/17. Trees begin to bloom along the Tennessee River waterfront in North Chattanooga on Thursday, March 2, 2017.

What feels like the early onset of spring may be a welcome opportunity to enjoy unseasonable T-shirt weather, but the unusual temperatures also might bring unexpected consequences for the region.

With an average of 50.9 degrees, this February was the seventh warmest on record, according to data from the National Weather Service. January wasn’t far behind, coming in at the ninth warmest on record with an average of 49.1 degrees.

One of the first causes for concern was seen, and felt, Wednesday when a storm system blew through the region, damaging several Chattanooga homes. That may have been a harbinger of more severe weather to come, said Jeremy Buckles, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn.