Winter Storm Warnings Issued for West and North Alabama; Winter Storm Watch for Birmingham and Parts of Central Alabama

Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day!

A significant winter storm will affect Alabama over the next 48 hours with potentially heavy mixed precipitation including freezing rain, sleet, and some snow.

National Weather Service offices in Birmingham and Huntsville have issued winter storm watches and warnings. Here is the latest:

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR NORTH ALABAMA
All of the counties in the NWS Huntsville warning area go under a Winter Storm Warning at 6 p.m. tonight lasting until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
…Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, and Limestone counties expecting 1-3 inches of sleet and snow and 0.2 inches of freezing rain.
…Madison, Morgan, and Colbert counties expecting 1 inch of sleet and snow and 0.1-0.3 inches of freezing rain.
…Marshall, Jackson, and DeKalb counties expecting 1 inch of sleet and snow and 0.25 inches of freezing rain.
Light freezing precipitation expected tonight with hazardous driving conditions by Monday morning. Travel conditions expected to be impossible by Monday afternoon.
Power outages will occur in areas ice accumulates thicker than 0.2 inches.
Bitter cold will follow Monday night making it difficult in all areas, and especially in areas with power outages.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR WEST ALABAMA
…Hale and Marengo counties starting at 6 a.m. Monday for light freezing rain tonight and heavy mixed precipitation Monday and Monday night. 0.1-0.3 inches of freezing rain and 1/2 inch of sleet, with locally highe
…Fayette, Walker, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Sumter, and Greene Counties starting at 9 a.m. Monday through midnight Monday night for light freezing rain tonight and heavy mixed precipitation Monday and Monday night. 0.1-0.3 inches of freezing rain and 1/2 inch of sleet, with locally higher amounts.
Very cold Monday night.
Power outages, tree damage, and impossible travel expected.
Have an emergency kit ready in case you do lose power.

WINTER STORM WATCH FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA
…Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Perry, and Bibb counties starting 9 a.m. Monday through Midnight Monday night for 0.2 inches of freezing rain and 1/4 inch of sleet with locally higher amounts. Slippery road conditions will occur but don’t expect widespread power outages.

Travel is strongly discouraged in the warning areas, and may become a problem in the watch area, which could be upgraded later.

I will have a complete update on the forecast and the video by 6:30.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS