Tuesday Weather Outlook: A Glimpse of Winter’s Chill

Winter Storm Update: Snow Expected for Southern Alabama

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for southernmost counties in Alabama, including Greene, Hale, Bibb, Chilton, and Coosa counties, until Wednesday morning at 6 AM. This watch is expected to be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning by early Monday evening.

Snowfall Timeline and Impacts

On Tuesday, the morning commute will be cloudy and dry, with no snow expected until the afternoon hours. Light snow is expected to begin falling near Demopolis and Moundville areas just after lunch, quickly spreading northeast to overspread the southern half of the area by mid-afternoon. Even in areas with persistent snow, the event is quick-hitting, lasting only 2-4 hours.

Once snow begins falling in your area, roads will become quickly snow-covered and slick, with no melting prior to accumulation like usual. By early evening, the bulk of steady snowfall should have exited central Alabama, leaving behind a few lingering snow showers south of I-20.

Travel Impacts

The areas highlighted in dark blue (Green, Hale, Bibb, Chilton, southern Shelby, southern Talladega, Coosa, and Clay counties) are where travel impacts may be more widespread. In contrast, the lighter blue counties (Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Etowah) can expect minimal and spotty impacts.

Snowfall Amounts

Confidence in snowfall amounts is higher for southernmost counties, where up to an inch of snow is possible. However, model guidance is still struggling on exact amounts, with less than a half-inch expected for portions of Greene, Hale, Bibb, Chilton, and Coosa counties.

Key Takeaways

This winter storm event will not be as impressive as the previous storm, but its impacts will still be significant in areas that receive any accumulation. Pay attention to the impacts rather than forecast snow totals. Stay tuned for updates from the CBS 42 Storm Team, including Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum and Meteorologist Alex Puckett.