Here’s your Alabama thread for keeping updated on the storm in your state. Let your other Alabama FReepers know... :-)
By Dennis Sherer
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, January 29, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 11:12 p.m.
North Alabama residents are likely to see a mixture of wintry precipitation today as a significant storm moves across Tennessee.
"It's going to be a mixed bag of snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain ... a little bit of everything," said Andy Kula, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Huntsville. "We will probably see more snow in the mix right along the Tennessee line in extreme northern Lauderdale County."
Up to an inch of snow is expected in north Alabama. A winter weather advisory is in effect for all of north Alabama through 6 a.m. Saturday.
Up to 4 inches of snow is expected in the Nashville area where a winter storm warning is in effect. A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected in Tennessee counties along the Alabama border, where a winter weather advisory also is in effect through 6 a.m. Saturday.
The wintry precipitation was expected to begin overnight. Meteorologists warned ice patches could form on some roads by sunrise today. George Grabryan, director of the Florence-Lauderdale Emergency Management Agency, said Shoals residents should monitor local media reports today for updates and weather and road conditions.
The precipitation is expected to change over to rain in north Alabama today before turning into sleet and ice pellets tonight. Slick roads are expected across southern Tennessee and north Alabama on Saturday morning. With temperatures only expected to rise into the low 30s Saturday, icy patches could remain on some roads through Sunday when the temperature is expected to rise into the middle 30s. Lows in the teens are expected Saturday and Sunday nights.
Krissy Scotten, a meteorologist at the Weather Service's Huntsville office, said if the temperature is only slightly colder or slightly warmer than expected today, it will have a major impact on the type of precipitation. "One or two degrees difference in temperature will make a huge amount of difference."
Kula said colder temperatures could increase the amount of sleet and snow that falls in the Shoals. Warmer temperatures would mean mostly rain will fall. He does not expect there will be enough freezing rain to break utility lines and trees, regardless of the temperature.
Because of the uncertainty in the forecast, Mike Melton, director of the Colbert County Emergency Management Agency, said residents should monitor weather reports throughout the weekend for possible changes.
Scotten said the greatest potential for wintry precipitation today is west of Interstate 65 and north of the Tennessee River.
Today's rain could compound flooding along the Tennessee River. Low-lying areas of Colbert and Lauderdale along Pickwick Lake remain under a flood warning. Flood waters from the lake have spilled into low areas of McFarland Park in Florence, where the campground remains closed.
Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746.
or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.