Been out at Bessemer Academy for a weather program this morning. Note that comments have been turned off; we are slammed with traffic today and the current configuration will allow for blog access for everyone. We will get the comments turned back on tonight as soon as the traffic dies down.
THE HOURS AHEAD: The complex cold core snow situation continues to unfold. Here is the latest statement from the NWS in Jackson, which continues a winter storm warning for Central and East Mississippi:
A HEAVY SNOW BAND HAS DEVELOPED ALONG AND AXIS FROM MC COMB TO AROUND
MORTON MISSISSIPPI…GENERALLY WITHIN A 55 MILE BAND WHICH EXTENDS TO
THE NORTH NORTHEAST. THE FURTHER WEST YOU ARE LOCATED THERE WILL BE
A STRONG DELINEATION FROM HEAVY SNOW TO A RAIN SLEET MIX WHICH WILL
HAVE LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION. AREAS WITHIN THE DESCRIBED HEAVY
SNOW BAND COULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW WHICH WOULD
BRING SOME TOTALS BETWEEN 3 AND 7 INCHES. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO
LAST UNTIL MID AFTERNOON WITH PRECIPITATION ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST
BETWEEN 2 AND 6 PM.
WHEN? This snow will move into West Alabama by mid-afternoon, and will move across the state between 4:00 and 10:00 p.m.
HOW MUCH? Along the snow axis, amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible, mainly in grassy areas. Remember, the ground is relatively warm, and surface temperatures are expected to remain above freezing, so the streets should stay mostly wet and major travel issues are not expected.
WHERE? Generally speaking, the best chance of accumulating snow in this situation is under the coldest air aloft, and that path seems to be across Central Alabama. It remains to be seen if the rain can change to snow to the north, over the northwest part of the state, where the dynamic cooling will not be as pronounced. See the map posted this morning a couple of posts below this one.
The snow should be out of the state by 10:00 p.m. and sunshine returns in full force tomorrow.
I will have a full discussion posted by 2:00 or so… stay tuned…
