WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
The NWS Birmingham has issued a Winter Weather Advisory is effect for tomorrow for Central and North Alabama generally north of a line from Aliceville to Calera to Roanoke. Temperatures may be cold enough at the surface early tomorrow morning for freezing rain to fall and wih temperatures hovering near freezing all day, the slick road condiions could be with us until Saturday morning.
VALID TIMES OF ADVISORIES:
…Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties from 4:00 AM until 12:00 PM CST
…Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Etowah, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega Counties from 8 AM until 6 PM CST
…but travel problems could be with us much of the day if temperatures stay at or below freezing.
ICY TRAVEL POSSIBLE TOMORROW MORNING
With continued cold advection at the surface through tomorrow morning, temperatures are expected to be below freezing for areas along and north of the I-20 corridor. With moisture increasing and precipitation beginning around sunrise over western sections, it could lead to a mix of wintry precipitation across North and Central Alabama. As far south as I-20, the temperatures may get cold enough for the precipitation to fall as freezing rain. It doesn’t take much freezing rain to cause BIG travel problems. Bridges and overpasses will be especially vulnerable and will be the first to have problems.
The models vary slightly in their handling of the temperature, but we could see freezing temperatures in the Tuscaloosa – Birmingham – Anniston areas through mid-morning, and perhaps even into late morning with about 0.15 of an inch of rainfall. This would be sufficient to cause disruptions for businesses, schools and other organizations in the morning. Administrators and managers will want to check the latest conditions tomorrow morning and perhaps implement any contingency plans for critical operations.
SOUTH OF I-20: Problems should be more scattered south of I-20, but there could be enough of a wintry mix to cause problems as far south as a line from Aliceville to Calera to Roanoke. We caution that this is a developing situation, and everyone across Central Alabama should check the latest reports throughout the night and especially tomorrow morning.
NORTH ALABAMA…
Further to the north, temperatures may be cold enough for sleet or snow to fall, especially north of a line from Hamilton to Cullman to Collinsville. We would not be surprised to see a inch of snow or sleet in some locations across that area of Alabama. This could also result in some significant travel disruptions. The NWS Huntsville has issued a special weather statement that highlights the threat of a light wintry mix over Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Jackson, De Kalb and Cullman Counties for tomorrow through tomorrow ngiht.
I will have the latest developments throughout the afternoon and into the evening and overnight.
Please scroll down to read James’ afternoon blog post and view the Weather Xtreme Video…
And get the latest from James live on ABC 3340 News at 5 and 6 from the Storm Alert Tour Stop at the High School in Oneonta tonight…if you can be there…doors open at 5, shows starts at 7.
