Just before noon, temperatures across Central Alabama remained generally below freezing. Alexander City was the only reporting spot I could find that was above the 32-degree mark.
Much of the 12Z GFS model run is in, and there is consistency with what I posted in the Weather Xtreme Video this morning. It appears reasonably likely (a little hedge wording here) that the northern two-thirds of Alabama could see a winter weather event from about noon on Thursday through about noon on Friday. The bulk of any winter weather could come between noon Thursday and midnight according to the 12Z run.
The 850-millibar zero degree isotherm is south of Montgomery along with the 540 thickness contour. If this forecast is correct, Central Alabama is firmly in the cold air. The GFS model paints a total liquid amount of 13 hundredths of an inch which would translate roughly to an inch and a half of snow. It would appear to me that one of the critical elements we need to watch will be the amount of moisture that can be tapped by this system. The 12Z GFS output seems to be a tad shy in that department.
Watching!
-Brian-
