Widespread precipitation continues across Alabama late this afternoon. Around 4:10 p.m., based on radar returns, it looked like 80% of the state was still getting precipitation. Only the SW part has seen the rain come to an end, mostly from near Livingston southward to Mobile. The main precipitation was over Central and North Alabama where there continued to be a mix of rain, sleet and some light snow.
By 4:00, the temperature had fallen to 34 at Gadsden Airport. A report from Rainbow City (my son) indicated that the grassy areas, rooftops, decks and automobiles were white, but the snow was still not sticking to streets. A separate report from Rainbow City at 4:08 p.m. said the snowflakes were as big as quarters, but still no accumulation on the ground or streets.
In NE Etowah County, Vic Bell, the 33/40 skywatcher for Black Creek, said some of the snowflakes were the size of half-dollars. It is not unusual for snowflakes to be larger than usual in marginal situations like this.
Over in extreme East Alabama at Muscadine, the temperature was down to 31. The snow changed over to heavy sleet for about 30 minutes, but has now turned back to snow. Our skywatcher for that area reported numerous wrecks over the county. The road conditions seem to be worse in the southern part of the county near Ranburne where several accidents have occurred. The weather watcher’s brother-in-law drove northward from that area and said he nearly slid off the road numerous times.
From Jacksonvile, some accumulation was occurring on some of the streets.
The NWS continues the Winter Weahter Advisory for 9 counties in East/Central Alabama until 9:00 tonight with indications that up to 1 inch could occur, mainly on elevated and grassy areas. Those counties are:
Blount
Calhoun
Cherokee
Clay
Cleburne
Etowah
Randolph
St. Clair
Talladega
Meanwhile, up over extreme NE Alabama, the NWS in Huntsville believes there could be some icy spots on elevated roads and bridges at about an elevation of 1,500 feet or more. This woudl include much of Lookout Mountain, including Mentone, DeSoto State Park and that part of Ft. Payne that is up on the mountain east of downtown.
We will be here all evening trying to keep on top of the situation.
