actually, the BEST place to store a battery is in the freezer as cold temps reduce the rate of discharge.
because sulphuric acid has a freezing point below -50C a fully charged lead-acid battery (34% sulphuric acid, 64% water) will not freeze in our climate unless it has discharged enough to compromise the freezing point of the electrolyte (a fully discharged battery is 100% water and will, therefore, freeze at 0C).
it’s only when you try to start the car that the cold battery rapidly discharges due to the slower electrochemical process (if you try to send too much current through the battery while it’s cold, it is unable to replace the charges on its terminals quickly enough and it’s voltage sags).
TwoFourZero, chances are your discharged battery froze and the plates shifted… time for a new one (might want to invest in a trickle charger as well).