The latest Mesoscale Discussion just released by the Storm Prediction Center tells us that the wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain will continue for several more hours, with the possibility of some of that still falling at daybreak.
Temperatures at Birmingham and Tuscaloosa as well as Dempolis are now below freezing and there is a lot of precipitation in Mississippi still poised to affect Central Alabama tonight.
Sleet and a little bit of snow continue to fall over North Alabama and into the northwestern parts of Central Alabama (mainly Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, and Walker counties).
Conditions continue to deteriorate over North Alabama and temperatures are falling across Central Alabama.
More heavy wintry precipitation is over northern Mississippi and about to move into the Tennessee Valley. A wave of freezing rain will drop south this afternoon and evening, glazing much of Central Alabama. A Winter Weather Advisory covers much of Central and Southwest Alabama. Travel will become difficult in the area late this afternoon and overnight.
Dangerously cold Arctic air is dropping south into Alabama today brining the coldest air since December 2022 to Alabama and the Deep South. We are seeing quite the temperature gradient across the state with teens in the Tennessee Valley, and mid to upper 50s across South Alabama.
Snow accumulation reports are coming in from Northwest Alabama with reports of bridges and overpasses being iced over already. The forecast and warnings and advisories are on track.
Wintry precipitation is already occurring over the Tennessee Valley at this hour and will be increasing. Additional advisories have been issued and all of the Tennessee Valley is now under a Winter Storm Warning starting at 6 p.m.
NWS Huntsville has extended the Winter Storm Warning to now include Cullman, DeKalb, Marshall, and Morgan counties from midnight tonight until 6am Tuesday.
NWS Birmingham has extended the Winter Weather Advisory to now include Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Cleburne, Dallas, Hale, Jefferson, Marengo, Perry, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Tuscaloosa counties that will start at 6pm Monday night and is set to expire at 9 am Tuesday.
There is a great deal of uncertainty in timing of the impacts for North and Central Alabama, but here are some first thoughts from our HRRR high resolution model.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings have been issued for our next weather system which will bring winter storm conditions to Alabama starting tonight through Tuesday.
2-5 inches of snow is expected across the Winter Storm Warning areas, with up to one inch of snow and one-tenth of ice accumulations in the Winter Weather Advisory areas.
A wintry mix of precipitation will affect North and Central Alabama Monday and Monday night. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the Tennessee Valley of North Alabama and three counties of Northwest Central Alabama.
Our long time friend, mentor, and charter Weather Factory member, J.B. Elliott, passed away on May 11, 2015. Click HERE to read James' tribute.
