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A wave embedded in the STJ (sub-tropical jet stream) will bring a variety of precipitation to Alabama tonight. A “winter weather advisory” has been issued for about the northern half of Alabama.
The precipitation will begin as sleet this afternoon; we have many reports of sleet as far east as Coker, in the western part of Tuscaloosa County. Sleet tends to get people excited, but rarely causes big travel problems. The ice pellets simply bounce around and it takes some pretty serious accumulation before icy travel begins.
The sleet will slow change over to rain, and some freezing rain, as the night progresses. Freezing rain is simply rain that falls when surface temperatures are 32 degrees or colder, and this will lead to some icing on bridges and overpasses. Regular road surfaces will be just wet.
At this time we believe the greatest chance of bridge icing tonight and early tomorrow will be along and north of a line from Aliceville to Northport to Birmingham to Anniston. A little patchy ice on bridges could be found south of this line, so everyone that travels tonight will need to take it easy over any bridge you encounter.
The most significant ice accumulation, most likely, will be over Northwest Alabama counties like Lamar, Marion, Fayette, and Winston.
At this point I don’t think this will bring enough ice for widespread power outages…. the heaviest rain will be over South Alabama tonight.
We should also mention a few snow flakes could be in the mix over Northeast Alabama, mainly northeast of Cullman, where the cold air will be deeper. And, all of the precipitation will end from west to east tomorrow morning between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m.
We don’t expect a major ice storm here with tonight’s system… the primary problem will be some bridge icing. Most road surfaces will remain just wet.
REST OF THE WEEKEND: We should warm into the upper 50s on Sunday and lows 60s Monday with a good supply of sunshine.
The next rain comes on Tuesday of next week, and the GFS continues to trend drier, showing now only one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch of rain. A wetter system is due in here Thursday and Thursday night of next week.
Out into the land of voodoo, the southern stream remains active… watch the Weather Xtreme video for all the graphics….
STORM ALERT 2008: Our annual severe weather awareness tour across Alabama begins next week! Our first stop will at Oak Grove High School on Thursday January 31; from there will have shows in Anniston, Northport, Lineville, and Moody. See the details on this year’s show, and the schedule here. We hope to see you along the way!
WEATHER BRAINS: Don’t forget you can listen to our weekly 30 minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including our meteorologists here at ABC 33/40. You can even listen here on the blog; look for the player on the top left.
I had a great time speaking to the 5th graders today at Oak Mountain Intermediate School in Shelby County…. be watching for them on the KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News!
J.B. and Bill Murray will have running updates here tonight and tomorrow morning…. stay tuned!
