Many of us think of the Storm Prediction Center as meteorologists who only forecast severe weather. But in fact, they also forecast significant winter storms and heavy snow. Currently, they have outlined southern Alabama in a mesoscale discussion showing the area with the most widespread moderate to heavy snow which is expected to continue throughout the afternoon.
Here are the details from SPC:
DISCUSSION...A broad area of snow continues to shift east and northeast into portions of southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle from Louisiana/southern Mississippi. Occasional sleet and freezing rain reports have occurred across the coast, but the main precipitation type has become snow area wide. Enhanced upper-level flow and 925-850 mb frontegenetic forcing are aiding in moderate to heavy snow production across these regions. Heavy snow observations have been reported from Gulfport, MS to Mobile, AL and into portions of southeastern Alabama over the last hour with visibility dropping to 1/4-1/2 mile. Guidance suggests snowfall rates may occasionally approach 1"/hr across southern Alabama near the Florida state line over the next 1-3 hours before tapering off later this evening as upper-level support shifts northward.
