It has been quite a day in the weather office. Numerous inquiries about what was going to happen, BLOG updates, forecasts–you name it. Tonight rain continues over a large part of Alabama, but most areas even in North Alabama are no longer getting freezing rain or snow. The heaviest rain early tonight was down over the southern part of the state from south of Montgomery to the Mobile, Pensacola, Panama City area. This included some thunderstorms clustered over the extreme North Gulf and adjacent to the Mississippi/Alabama/NW Florida coast.
The Flash Flood Watch continues or a good chunk of Central Alabama until midnight. Precipitation has ended over much of Mississippi, except the NE and East/Central part.
ALABAMA AND REGIONAL SPOT REPORTS
Gulf Shores…67, thunderstorm
Pensacola…64, thunderstorm
Gulfport, Miss.,. ..62, heavy rain
Huntsville…39, light rain
Birmingham…39, rain
Anniston…38, light rain
Ft. Payne…38, cloudy
Nashville…26, light snow, visibility 1 mile
Chattanooga…32, freezing rain
Memphis…31, freezing rain
THE WORST HIT AREA
Difficult to say this early. From all reports I have seen today, Oklahoma is possibly the hardest hit state from this ice storm. But, this Superbowl of winter weather is not over by any means. Freezing rain damage in Oklahoma was extensive and major. Over 200 power poles were down in one county. In some counties, almost the entire county was without power. In at least one county, every tree was damaged according to early reports. The Texas Panhandle was also hard hit with up to 13 inches of snow. The main east-west highway across the Panhandle (Interstate 40) was closed. However, late this afternoon it was reopened.
PLACES STILL UNDER THE GUN
Even though the worst of the winter storm is over in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, places like Guymon, Oklahoma and Amarillo will be dealing with freezing fog tonight as temperatures drop to near 7.
KNOXVILLE
4 to 10 inches of snow and sleet expected to accumulate tonight and an additional 2 inches Saturday.
CHATTANOOGA
5 to 9 inches of snow forecast for tonight.
MOUNTAIN CITY AND ROAN MOUNTAIN/NE TENNESSEE
10 to 16 inches of snow expected tonight and Saturday.
GATLINBURG
A Winter Storm Warning. 8 to 16 inches of snow tonight and Saturday plus about 1 inch sleet accumulation.
OKLAHOMA CITY
Most of the storm is over, but they will get about 1/2 inch additional snow tonight.
OTHER SPOT REPORTS
Crossville, Tennessee…24, light snow
Russellville…36
Atlanta…40, light rain
Dalton, GA…32, cloudy
Gadsen…37, cloudy
Jackson, TN…28, freezing rain
Nashville…26, light snow and sleet
Tupelo…35, light rain
Panama City…a mild 63, cloudy
