Ice update – 330 pm

As mentioned in my previous blog, the big issue now is figuring out when temperatures are going to rise above freezing over north and central Alabama, allowing any remaining icy roads/bridges to melt.

Temperatures were still at or just below freezing over most of the BHM metro and most locations north and east as of 330 pm, but were very slowly rising.  THE TEMPERATURE AT THE AIRPORT IS NOW 33!  Temperatures should slowly rise over most of the BHM area over the next 2 hours.  One reason…the wind has started blowing.  The graphs below show the temperatures at 925 mb (1,500 ft.) and 850 mb (4,000 ft.)

Over BHM, it is 35 degrees (1.5 C) at 925 mb, and 39 degrees (4 C) at 850 mb, and the wind is bringing in warmer air every hour at those levels.  As long as we can keep even a light wind blowing, it will continue to mix some of that air down to the surface, and get the temperatures in all of the BHM metro above freezing. 

Also helping us is the fact that 4 inch soil temperatures are between 35 and 40, so some of that heat is slowly moving to the surface and warming the ground and the roads (most importantly). 

Bottom line now…travel is still dangerous over some parts of the BHM area, mainly higher elevations (the temperature can drop up to 1 degree for every 200 ft. you go up a mountain) and a few bridges, especially in NE parts of Jefferson County (Palmerdale, Argo, Leeds).  Things will be slower to improve in ANB and GAD.

When driving home from work this afternoon, please remember some basic rules for driving when patches of ice may be present.  1) Drive a little slower tha  normal.  2) Leave plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you.  3) If you have to stop at a traffic light or due to traffic stopped ahead of you, go ahead and start applying the brakes way ahead of time, instead of waiting until you’re almost where you need to stop and then slamming on the brakes, like many people do all the time (including members of my family).  4) If you feel your car begin to slide, don’t apply the brakes unless you are about to hit something otherwise.  You still have some control of your car as long as you’re driving, but when the brakes are on, you lose most control.

Disclaimer:  I’m not a driving nor traction expert, these are just some suggestions using common sense.

Temperatures will be way above freezing by tomorrow morning over all but extreme east Alabama, so expect no travel problems in BHm tomorrow.

Category: Winter Weather