Extreme Cold Watch issued as ‘dangerously cold wind chills’ expected across Alabama

I know many people in Alabama who spend weeks and even months hoping a “real winter” in our state. And I think we’re getting a taste of it this week.

Last weekend’s winter storm turned into rain and storms for most of us with some in north Alabama seeing flurries, sleet and plenty of ice. And while most of the state will stay dry this weekend, even colder temperatures are on the way.

The National Weather Service has issued several weather advisories for the state including:

• Extreme Cold Warning (12AM-12PM Saturday): Lamar, Marion
• Cold Weather Advisory (Friday night-Saturday morning): Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston
• Extreme Cold Watch (Saturday afternoon-Sunday morning): Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston

Just so how cold will it get? Here are some of the low temperatures the National Weather Service has forecasted for Saturday across Alabama:

• Auburn: 17
• Birmingham: 17
• Dothan: 19
• Florence: 15
• Gadsden: 14
• Gulf Shores: 21
• Huntsville: 16
• Mobile: 21
• Montgomery: 18
• Tuscaloosa: 17

For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills as low as -2 degrees in the north and 5 degrees in the south are expected. For the Cold Weather Advisory, wind chills as low as 5 expected.

Will there be snow?

The short answer: probably not. But it depends on where you live.

There could be some flurries that fall Friday night into Saturday morning with the potential for small accumulation in northeast Alabama.

“Snowflakes may fly Friday night into Saturday for parts of Central Alabama. Let’s not get into a big hoopla though! Most of us will just end up with dry, blustery conditions … but some may see flurries or a snow shower.

“In a best case scenario, for snow fans, a few locations northeast and east of Birmingham, closer to the Georgia state line, may stand a chance to pick up a coating or very minor accumulation. Below is one model’s idea of how things may look early Saturday morning. Considering everything available to us, chances are ~20% at this time.”

National Weather Service Birmingham

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