The Jackson National Weather Service office is considering an ice storm warning for North Mississippi; it would be for areas along and north of a line from Bastrop to yazoo city and east to Noxubee county. We stress the decision has not been made yet; this is a complicated situation and we will continue to watch it unfold.
The new 12Z run of the NAM (see the output below) is now printing 0.46″ for Birmingham, which is very problematic.
And, just looking at the situation to the west, you can’t ignore the idea of icing problems for parts of Alabama tonight.
CURRENT THINKING: Looks like sleet will begin reaching the ground in West Alabama this evening, then spreading eastward during the 6:00 to midnight time frame. The sleet will slowly change over to rain, and freezing rain where surface temperatures are 32 or lower. This will mean a decent chance of bridge icing tonight and tomorrow morning for North Alabama, mainly along and north of I-20, with isolated icy spots to the south.
Forecast upper air soundings are now even suggesting there might be a few snow flakes in the mix on the northern periphery of the precipitation shield.
I am pretty sure the NWS Birmingham will have to raise some kind of winter weather advisory within the next few hours, and if you have to travel tonight or tomorrow, be aware that bridge icing is a very real possibility.
The full discussion and afternoon Weather Xtreme video will be posted a little later… and other updates as needed…
