I've seen a TV program about some events occuring when Challenger was launched.

2 seconds after liftoff, the dark smoke at the O-ring level of the SRB, subsided...Because the aluminium blocked it.
What made it reappear more than 60 seconds later, was the shaking caused by strong crosswinds.

It was suggested the SRB might have resisted the leak for about the duration of its exhaust, had there not been any crosswinds.
Then, the SRBs would have been recovered with even more serious damage (than before) and it would have been easier for Thiokol to prevent any launch with very cold temperatures.