1145pm – Moderate freezing rain and plenty of ice crystals are falling across Choctaw County, AL at this hour. https://t.co/xxY0NyJPPD
— NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) January 16, 2024
🧊1030pm Update – Freezing rain is falling across Wayne and Choctaw Counties with a few snowflakes mixed in.
Over the next few hours, light to moderate freezing rain overspreads the area with accumulation rates between .01-.03 inches per hour based on observations to our west. pic.twitter.com/tXxdhoaUkp
— NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) January 16, 2024
Excellent reminder from the City of Brewton Fire Department… This is what can happen if you plug in a space heater to a surge protector or power strip. Not good! 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/FS0FX7NkS2
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) January 16, 2024
Precipitation will begin shortly near Thomasville, Grove Hill, Jackson, and Chatom in west Alabama. The expectation is for precipitation to fall as rain and freeze on contact as temps will be below freezing shortly. pic.twitter.com/FPhRS3UMWd
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) January 16, 2024
ICY BRIDGES & ROADS POSSIBLE TUESDAY MORNING; FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE… Winter weather impacts will be possible across parts of southwest Alabama through the late morning hours of Tuesday. Very cold, Arctic air will move into the region over the next 6-8 hours as a cold front crosses our region. This, in combination with precipitation in the area, creates a scenario where freezing rain and sleet will become likely. Freezing rain happens when precipitation falls in the form of rain but instantly freezes on surfaces. Freezing rain/ice can quickly cause issues on roadways and especially over bridges and overpasses. The local National Weather Service maintains a Winter Weather Advisory for northern Mobile, northern Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Choctaw, Monroe, Conecuh, Escambia (AL), and Butler counties. These are the zones that have the greatest chance of experiencing freezing rain before midday tomorrow.
WINTER WEATHER TIMING – OVERNIGHT INTO TUESDAY… 9PM this evening to 11AM Tuesday is the time frame for when minor ice accumulations are most likely to happen across parts of southwest Alabama, specifically in areas along, north, and west of Interstate 65. Minor ice accumulations may also become possible in parts of Butler, Conecuh, and Escambia (AL) counties in areas just east of I-65 tomorrow morning. Minor ice accretions of 0.05 inches will be possible. There is a low-end chance some spots across southwest Alabama may see up to 0.1 inches of ice accretions. This means that roads may become slick, especially bridges and overpasses. Ice accumulation will happen from northwest to southeast in this event, meaning ice issues on bridges and overpasses (and perhaps even local roadways) will begin first in parts of Washington, Clarke, and Choctaw counties this evening. The issues will spread into Monroe, northern Mobile, northern Baldwin, and potentially Escambia (AL), Conecuh, and Butler counties tomorrow morning.
WHAT TO EXPECT – WEST ALABAMA… Don’t drive tomorrow morning unless it is necessary for important tasks or work. Simply put, stay off the roads if you can – and if you do have to drive, take it SLOW and easy. Don’t speed and certainly avoid sudden braking or sudden acceleration. Temperatures may struggle to get above the freezing mark on Tuesday – VERY cold temperatures are expected throughout the day.
WHAT TO EXPECT – NEAR INTERSTATE 65… The same advice as above applies for communities along and near I-65 even though confidence is less certain in the idea of ice accumulations. Take it slow and easy if you have to drive in the morning hours of Tuesday. Temperatures will be in the mid-30s, even in the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday.
WHAT TO EXPECT – ALABAMA COAST, NORTHWEST FLORIDA, SOUTH-CENTRAL & S.E. ALABAMA… Just a cold rain is expected near the Alabama beaches, across northwest Florida, and across south-central and southeast Alabama. Keep the jackets, gloves, and toboggans handy as very cold temperatures will persist all day on Tuesday with highs only in the mid- to upper-30s.
HARD FREEZE WARNING TOMORROW NIGHT… After the passage of the Arctic front over the next few hours, temperatures will plunge into the 30s by 1AM tonight. Temperatures will be below 40 degrees for a solid 36 hours from roughly midnight tonight to around Noon on Wednesday, including all of Tuesday. Temperatures will be below the freezing mark from roughly 6PM Tuesday evening to 10AM Wednesday with overnight lows Wednesday morning likely to be in the mid-10s. Wind chill values will likely be in the single digits Wednesday morning. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for the entire local area along with a HARD FREEZE Warning region wide valid for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. EXTREMELY cold conditions for our local area!
APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have updates posted as needed tonight and tomorrow in the RedZone Weather app. My next detailed video will be posted by 7:15AM Tuesday morning. Have a good Monday evening!
