Icing in the Birmingham Metro, Good Snow Accumulations North

Temperatures continue to hover in the lower and middle 30s in the I-20 corridor, with 32F at Birmingham, 33F at Tuscaloosa and 34F at Anniston. Some patches of ice have formed on some roads and bridges in this area. Around the Birmingham area, most people have stayed home this morning. This is really helping minimize traffic problems.

Here is the radar, which shows precipitation diminishing from the west and a rough approximation of the freezing line at the surface:

But of course, it is colder at higher elevations. Saw report of 32F on Signal Mountain near Chelsea. Trees starting to ice there as well as porches.

In Jefferson County, roads are mainly wet, but several accidents have been reported in northern and northwestern parts of the county. Just heard a report of an accident on I-22 in northwestern Jefferson County.

Traffic is moving ok around the Birmingham area, although we are hearing reports of slow traffic inbound on I-20 around Moody and Leeds.

Getting lots of reports of ice accumulating on trees and exposed surfaces around Jefferson County. The heaviest accumulations are over northern Jefferson County around Warrior and Kimberly. 0.13″ of ice accretion reported at Warrior. Raised surfaces like decks and steps will be extremely hazardous. Be careful.

Temperatures will slowly rise above freezing in the Birmingham area over the next couple of hours and the threat of icy roads will ease.

It is a different story across North Alabama especially from Hamilton to Cullman through Marshall County along US-278 where 2-6 inches of snow has fallen. Temperatures in this area are in the lower and middle 20s and will have a hard time getting above freezing today.

Marion County roads are hazardous to impassable and Marion County Emergency Management has asked that travel be limited to emergencies. Same situation in Marshall County.

Ice is being reported on Etowah County roads this morning, including US-431 and on I-759. Recent report of 5.5 inches in Rainsville in DeKalb County going over the mountain between Fort Payne and Scottsboro. Roads are snow covered.

The Sipsey River Bridge on Highway 12 is iced over with an accident on the bridge. Bridges will be a problem in areas where the temperature is at or below freezing.

I-65 is increasingly a problem between Decatur and Cullman with major backups reported.

ROUND TWO
We will be examining model data shortly to start pinpointing the potential impacts from the second round of this system that will being more wintry precipitation to the area tomorrow.

Category: Alabama's Weather, Winter Weather