January 17, 2008, 10:13 am | James Spann | Forecast Discussion
Based on the volume of data we have seen this morning, here is our preliminary thinking. Lets cut through all this model mumbo-jumbo and get down to it.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Rain should move into the state between 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight Friday night. The rain should change to snow in the 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. time frame as the Arctic air dives southward.
SATURDAY: Snow should be widespread across the central part of Alabama from 3:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Most likely, there will be about a 50 mile wide band of heavy snow, with potential for 3 to 6 inches. First guess is that the center of the axis of heavier snow will be from roughly Livingston to Clanton to Roanoke. There will be potential of 1 to 3 inches of snow on either side of that heavier snow band. By the time you get to the Tennessee Valley, snow should be light and spotty.
For the I-20 corridor, this looks like a 2 to 4 inch kind of snow… for places like Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Anniston. Snow should accumulate as far south as Montgomery, and a few snow flakes could be found before the day is done deep into South Alabama.
NOTES: We are talking all snow here, NOT freezing rain (no ice storm). Freezing rain events are the ones that usually mean power outages, not snow events. The snow has to be extremely wet and heavy for widespread power outages. Can’t rule it out, but again, this is not ice. Just snow.
Travel problems could be very significant Saturday morning, unlike yesterday’s event with temperature above freezing when there were very few ice issues.
THIS IS PRELIMINARY. The snow amounts and placement could change. I will have an update by 3:30 when the regular afternoon discussion and Weather Xtreme video is posted. Stay tuned.