A mix of wintry precipitation is over western Alabama at this hour. From northern Pickens through Lamar, Fayette, Marion, Walker, Tuscaloosa and Winston counties….it is snow and sleet. Further south into Sumter County, it is a mix of sleet, freezing rain and rain.
Some snow and sleet will begin to affect Jefferson County shortly. The radar returns you see aren’t reaching the ground at first. The precipitation is falling into very dry air near the surface and it takes a while for the air to moisten up enough for the precipitation to reach the ground. It is 34F at the BHM airport with a dewpoint of 10F. There will be some evaporational cooling that should bring the temperature back down to freezing. The initial precipitation is light, but it won’t take much with the cold ground and bridges to create some patchy ice on roadways.
Some reports:
SUMTER COUNTY
…Sleet reported in Livingston. Bridge over I-59/20 on Highway 28 is beginning to glaze over with ice. Reports from Skywatchers and Law Enforcement.
…Also report of sleet/light freezing rain along highway 17 at US-80…no accumulations yet…
PICKENS COUNTY
Terry and Byron Sasser are streaming video from US-82. They were headed back to Northport from Pickensville. They report 33F with roads beginning to ice. They make an interesting observation. Many creeks and ponds are frozen over, and with school out, kids may try to play on them. But the ice will not be thick enough to support them, and it is not safe. So if you have have children out playing today, make sure they are cafeful.
MARION COUNTY
…Skywatcher Michael G reports light snow in the past half hour at Haleyville. ASOS at Haleyville reporting 32F with unknown precipitation at last report.
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
…John Oldshue reports snow now falling in Tuscaloosa…John will be out in the field some today as well…TCL Airport reports 32F with a dewpoint of 21F just before 8 a.m. Another report of light flurries in Tuscaloosa right now. Ronald Hughes in Coker has had some snow, but it has stopped for the time being.
WALKER COUNTY
Grady Evans reports slight snow and sleet just before 8 at EMA office in Jasper. Just had another report of snow in Jasper. Good radar returns just east of Jasper now in the Cordova and Sumiton areas.
GIVE US YOUR REPORTS
This is the kind of day when your reports from the field will be invaluable in evaluating precipitation type and effects on roadways.
