It’s a cold, wet morning for sure, but it has not gotten cold enough for any significant travel problems around here this morning. The light rain/sleet mix will end in the Birmingham metro area before sunrise, but you still may see some sprinkles or sleet pellets falling in Gadsden, Anniston, Roanoke, and Heflin through 8 AM.
Here’s the 3 AM Temperature/Dewpoint round-up:
Birmingham: 38/36
Calera: 39/37
Gadsden: 37/34
Anniston: 37/33
Tuscaloosa: 43/36
Cullman: 37/32
Clanton (SkyCam): 41/33
Hamilton (SkyCam): 37/35
The temperature is the first number, and the dewpoint is the second number. As a rule of thumb, when precipitation is able to saturate the air close to the ground, the temperature and dewpoint will change by the “One-Third Rule.” That means that if you take the difference between the temperature and dewpoint and divide by three, you can get a good estimate of how far the temperature will drop. The reason it’s the “One-Third Rule” is because the temperature falls 1/3 of the way toward the dewpoint, and the dewpoint rises 2/3 of the way to the temperature.
For example, at Clanton where the temperature is 41 and the dewpoint is 33, the difference is 8 degrees. The temperature would fall to around 38 or 39, and the dewpoint would rise to that level.
Again, if there are any problems, they’re likely to come between airport observing points, and they would be on elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses in extreme eastern Alabama. There are bigger problems in northeastern Georgia and South Carolina. Some icy roads may be possible on the east side of Atlanta on toward the Carolinas.
Be sure to join us for Good Morning Alabama starting at 5 AM!
