Winter Storm Warnings Starting To Be Issued
NWS offices are starting to our west are starting to issue Winter Storm Warnings now for Sunday into Monday.
The NWS Birmingham is planning to hold off issuing a winter storm warning until later this evening. The system is now not expected to cause snow accumulations before 6 p.m. Sunday in the Birmingham warning area. They will extend the winter storm watch for now, but expect it to be upgraded to a warning by around 9 p.m. tonight.
Here is the text of the Birmingham notice just issued:
NOTE TO EVERYONE:
This has the potential to be a very dangerous ice storm situation for parts of Alabama and the Southeast, in addition to the threat of heavy snow. We will be refining our snowfall and ice accumulation forecasts continually throughout the night and all day and night tomorrow as the situation unfolds. Do not take the icing threat lightly if you are expected to receive freezing rain. Extensive power outages and impossible travel will be the result.
NEW WARNINGS
The NWS Memphis has issued a winter storm warning for Northern Mississippi and extreme eastern Arkansas starting at noon Sunday for heavy snow. 5-8 inches of snow is expected. The snow may start out as sleet Sunday afternoon in the southern portions of the warning before changing to all snow Sunday night.
They warn that the snow could be locally heavier with the possibility of thundersnow.
Dangerous travel is expected by Sunday evening, lasting into Monday
The NWS Jackson has issued a winter storm warning for North Central and East Central Mississippi for heavy snow for Sunday afternoon and Sunday night.
They expect 4-8 inches of snow, possibly beginning as sleet.
Southern portions near I-20 should see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain with significant icing.
They warn that northeasterly winds of 10-25 mph Sunday evening will cause tree limbs to fall, resulting in the potential for significant power outages.
The precipitation is expected to begin earlier Sunday morning over southwestern Mississippi, as a mixtire of snow and sleet. Freezing rain will start mixing in Sunday afternoon.
From Rayville LA to Canton MS to Philadelphia MS it is expected to changeover to snow with some sleet Sunday evening, with accumulations of 4-8 inches.
In the I-20 corridor, freezing rain will be the problem, with a band of accumulating freezing rain to 1 inch thick somewhere between US-84 and I-20 in South Central Mississippi. These type ice accumulations can cause disastrous problems with widespread power outages and impossible road conditions.
IN ADDITION: Winter storm warnings cover much of the southern two thirds of Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, extreme northeastern Texas and southwestern Tennessee. 3-6 inches is expected around Memphis.
Needless to say, this is a developing winter storm situation that will have widespread ramifications across the Southeast including Alabama. Please stay in touch with the latest forecasts and conditions as it unfolds and act accordingly.
Category: Alabama's Weather, Winter Weather
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Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorianSubscribe
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