All - need some help - did something which will make most cringe (as a novice) - had my 2002 996 outside for a week (nashville - about 30 degree's) and started it up and drove off (without much warm up). about 2 miles into trip got emergency blinking check engine and care moved into limp mode. drove straight home and parked for a few days while figuring out proper garage to tow to. came out this week-end in warm weather and car started up perfect - no check engine - not a thing wrong. drove it for about 5 miles with perfect harmony.....

any suggestions as to what may have gone wrong??

 

This means engine misfire most likely, it needs to be looked at, could be the cold cracked a coil or bad plugs.
A flashing CEL is not a check it when I can lite, get it looked at, you may also be damageing the cats.
These cars can take the cold. On the starting and driving, that's what you should do, but keep it below 3k rpm's until it's warm.

 

I would get it scanned and see which cylinder(s) was misfiring and go from there. You don't want to ruin anything.

 

Most likely cracked coils.