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Welcome to Multimedia Impact Weather Briefing. This briefing will focus on the potential
for winter precipitation today and tonight for portions of Central Alabama. Today is
January 28, 2014. Precipitation will spread over the area this
morning from west to east. Moisture has been streaming across the area most of the night,
allowing the very dry low levels to slowly saturate. As precipitation begins to make
it to the surface, it will be light and not accumulate through early this morning. A wintry
mix will first affect the southwest and south central areas. A few flurries or isolated
ice pellets are possible elsewhere. Surface temperatures will actually continue to cool
through much of the morning. By mid morning and through the early afternoon,
precipitation will become more widespread with intensity increasing across the southeast.
As noted on the graphic here, the best chance of accumulation precipitation will be southeast
of a line from near Linden to Heflin. Snowfall should generally be light along and south
of the Interstate 59 corridor with only light accumulations. Across the southeast, a much
more significant ice event will be developing. Freezing rain will likely be the dominant
precipitation type across the southeast for much of the day. This will lead to significant
ice accumulations and dangerous travel conditions. Through late afternoon and early evening,
moderate snow showers will begin diminishing to the northwest with a few flurries or light
snow showers continuing across the northern metro areas. To the southeast, a wintry mix
will continue with freezing ice across the far southeastern counties.
After sunset, precipitation will be slowly moving eastward, continuing to diminish in
intensity and more scattered to the northwest. Across the southwest, a wintry mix will continue
to be possible with moderate snowfall as far north as a line from Selma to Alexander City
to Roanoke. Although, significant snowfall is not expected to accumulate across the Interstate
59 corridor, any amount of ice accumulation could cause at least temporary travel problems.
Temperatures will remain below freezing for most of the area. Especially across the southeast,
any slight change in temperature near the surface will have a significant effect on
precipitation type. Please remain advised of the current conditions in your area.
Late this evening, the wintry mix across the southeast will transition to snow as moisture
begins to pull east and south of the area. In addition to the ice accumulations through
the day and early evening, snow accumulations will be possible.
After midnight, light snowfall will end across the southeast, with temperatures continuing
to drop significantly across the north. Overnight lows will drop into the low to mid teens across
the north, where a Hard Freeze Warning is in effect until mid morning Wednesday. Across
the south, upper teens to lower 20s are expected. Here is the forecasted total ice accumulations
for southeast Central Alabama through 6pm tonight. The purple and light blue colors
represent amounts over two tenths of an inch. Any amount of sleet or light freezing rain,
even outside of this highlighted area, could cause travel problems especially on bridges
and less travelled roads. However, across the southeast, dangerous travel conditions
are expected as well as possible power outages due to ice accumulating on powerlines and
tree limbs. Here is the forecasted snow accumulation through
6am Wednesday. The darker shades of blue and green represent snowfall amounts of over 2
inches. These amounts could lead to significant travel impacts. Elsewhere, light snow amounts
could also cause isolated problems. Please remember during any type of weather
event, specific road condition information can be found by visiting the Alabama State
Department of Transportation webpage found here. I will give you a second to write this
link down. Remember you can also contact your local law enforcement for local road conditions
and travel advisories. Thank you for watching this briefing and pay
special attention to near term forecast updates through the day as this still is a developing
weather event. For rapidly changing situations, please see the graphicasts, advertised on
the front our website for the latest pertinent information. If you have any additional questions,
please give us a call at 205-664-3010.