As the weekend approaches, we continue to track a developing winter weather system closely. While the forecast has shifted a few times, even small changes in the storm’s path can significantly impact what we ultimately see in West Alabama.
The bigger picture is that Alabama is among the 33 states that could be affected by this winter storm. This weather system “could affect over 180 million people in the U.S. with snow and/or ice,” said The Weather Channel.
Winter Storm Watch Areas
A Winter Storm Watch was issued in advance of the weekend threat, kicking in Friday at 6 p.m. and lasting through Sunday at 6 p.m. It does include a few West Alabama counties, such as Fayette, Lamar, and Walker.
In the Winter Storm Watch area, the possible impacts are heavy mixed precipitation. Ice accumulation above one-quarter inch. Snow and sleet accumulations of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible.
Model Guidance
There is tons of chatter about the models, and they have currently “come into better agreement on the track of a surface low near or just south of Birmingham on Sunday morning,” said the National Weather Service in Birmingham. “Warm air advection ahead of the low is now forecast to keep temperatures above freezing Saturday night in many areas of Central Alabama.”
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What to Know
“For most of Alabama, this will be simply a big rain event; the greatest risk of ice accumulation from freezing rain will be over the northwest and northeast corners of the state,” said James Spann, Alabama Weather Network and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist…