Snow in Mobile? What to know about another week of ‘bitterly cold temperatures’ across Alabama

This story was originally published Wednesday, Jan. 15. Check in with the National Weather Service in Birmingham and in Huntsville + stay tuned to your local meteorologists for the latest forecasts.

It may be warming up a little bit around Alabama this week but you shouldn’t get used to it. Another round of extreme cold is heading our way and yes, there is potential for more snow, sleet and ice to fall along the way.

We’re still too far out for an extremely accurate forecast but many models and meteorologists are in agreement that it will be cold enough for another winter weather event. But how much precipitation + where that precipitation falls can make all the difference.

Keep reading to see what the odds are to see more winter weather where you live.

January 20-24

The National Weather Service in Birmingham says one thing is certain: the state is about to experience another stretch of bitterly cold temperatures as low as 15 degrees + wind chill in the single figures. And some models are showing precipitation will arrive around the same time.

Those two things could lead to snow and other wintry precipitation next week (Jan. 20-24).

As of Jan. 15, all of Alabama has at least a 20 percent chance of seeing at least one inch of snow next week. Areas from Montgomery to Birmingham have between 40 and 50 percent chance of seeing one inch of snow while the odds for much of north Alabama is closer to 60 percent.

However, that still does not mean a snow day is guaranteed.

“It will depend on whether or not a low pressure area develops in the Gulf. There’s about a 30-40% chance that happens, and if so then we would get some wintry precipitation, with the highest chances actually in the southern portions of Central Alabama. On the other hand, there’s a 60-70% chance that the low pressure doesn’t form, and we end up being cold and dry. Why is it so uncertain? The upper-level disturbances impacting this are still way out in the Pacific Ocean. If this forecast were a football game, it would still be the ‘first quarter,’ with a lot of football left to be played.”

~ NWS in Birmingham on social media

Freezing temperatures

What we do know is another week of below average temperatures are on the way to Alabama. Here’s a look at the currently forecasted lows for Sunday night into Monday morning in different areas around the state:

• Huntsville: 14
• Florence: 15
• Gadsden: 16
• Tuscaloosa: 19
• Birmingham: 18
• Montgomery: 22
• Selma: 20
• Auburn: 21
• Dothan: 25
• Mobile: 26

Most areas are likely not to get above 40 until Thursday afternoon while the entire state might not see 50 between Jan. 19 and Jan. 24.

Make sure to stay tuned to your local meteorologists + weather services for updated models. And if you see any snow this week, post it and tag The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn!