Here we go again.
Another low-pressure area developing over the NW Gulf of Mexico. That area has produced a lot of them lately.
The low should be centered near or south of New Orleans around midnight and south of Gulf Shores and Pensacola by daybreak Friday. So, what does this mean?
FLASH FLOOD WATCH
More possible flash flooding in South Alabama. A Flash Flood Watch is already in effect for a number of South Alabama counties. There was major flash flooding in that same general area just a few days ago and some places in South Alabama received almost 10 inches of rain. Mobile has already received 12.70 inches of rain in about two weeks and 73.80 inches this year. Pensacola has been soaked with 83.65 inches so far in 2009.
WINTER STORM WATCH
That low-pressure area will continue moving toward the NE and its effect will transitiion into wintry weather in parts of the Mid-Atlantic States, specifically extreme NW South Carolina and Western North Carolina is under a Winter Storm Watch from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon. The snow will spread into that area by Friday morning and snow will continue for much of Friday night and taper off early Saturday. Snow accumulations may reach 4 to 6 inches in the vicinity of Asheville and Hendersonville, North Carolina; up to 10 inches is possible east of I-126 along the Blue Ridge.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW
Rain has overspread SE Texas, much of Louisiana and extreme South Mississippi. It is approaching coastal Alabama. Here in North Alabama, the Birmingham area could get some snow flurries out of this. The NWS in Huntsville believes that a slight chance of rain will mix with some snow Saturday afternoon in that area.
SNOW AT CHRISTMASTIME?
Entirely too early to tell this early in the game. I am sure that James will have an updated discussion on that in his afternoon video discussion. Christmas is over a week away and I personally do not put a great deal of trust in models that far out, although they could be right on target.
