According to the National Weather Service, Alabama could face several threats over the next few days due to freezing rain.
Some snow can also be thrown in for some.
It’s still a low-confidence forecast, as is the case with winter precipitation in Alabama, but the threat is enough to give it a head start. Keep an eye on the forecast for the weekend.
“February in Alabama is really a difficult time in terms of the weather,” the weather service said Friday morning in one of its forecast discussions.
North and north-central Alabama are the most important areas to be affected, but forecasters in southern Alabama are also keeping a close eye on matters. At the moment, it looks like all the rain for the southern half of the state.
The first round of possible winter precipitation could arrive late tonight until Saturday morning and has affected northern Alabama in particular.
According to the weather service, the second and more significant chance could dawn on Sunday night and last until Monday. And that could affect all of North Alabama and a decent part of North Central Alabama.
The National Weather Service in Huntsville said a slight chance of freezing rain would dawn in northwest Alabama tonight.
The weather service warned that the predicted confidence is still low with tonight’s weather, but that a light mix of rain or freezing rain is possible late tonight.
Forecasters said icing is possible on bridges and highways and secondary roads in northwest Alabama.
According to the Birmingham Weather Service, concerns about possible icing extend south into the central Alabama provinces of Marion, Lamar and Winston.
Some short travel problems will be possible before the precipitation turns into all rain later Saturday morning.
There may be more precipitation during the day on Saturday, but it is expected that it will be all rain.
The second round of possible winter precipitation will begin late Sunday and Monday.
The weather service said it could start as a wintery mix of rain and icy rain, but the transition to snow on Monday. If snow accumulates, it is expected to be on the lighter side.
More freezing rain will be possible later Monday, and a cold front is moving according to forecasters.
“This winter storm system continues to evolve, but confidence is only growing that some travel effects will develop due to this winter mix,” the Huntsville Weather Service said.
Dryer and colder weather is expected on Tuesday.
However, according to forecasters, there is a chance of more winter damage on Wednesday, but it is still too early to say whether freezing rain or snow is a problem.