Snow flurries possible in Alabama as season’s first Arctic blast arrives

First thing’s first: don’t get too excited, we’re not talking about any kind of accumulation here.

But there is a real chance some spots in north Alabama will get their first snow flurry sighting of the season in November.

An Arctic blast is on its way to the eastern part of the country and Alabama will likely be impacted by it. Early forecasts for Monday, Nov. 10 and Tuesday, Nov. 11 suggest some areas will have lows in the 20s and precipitation is certainly possible.

Keep reading to learn more about what to expect as we near our first hard freeze of the season.

November freeze

We may not have the same winter feel that our northern neighbors will get but Alabama will still get plenty cold, especially for our own early fall standards.

Here is how the current forecasted lows for Nov. 10 compare to previous record lows and average lows from the National Weather Service:

As you can see, the entire state is expected to be well below the average low for November with some locations likely flirting with a new record low.

Last year, the first hard freeze of the year for most of the state did not come until Nov. 29-30.

The temperatures will be brought on by an Arctic cold front that moves into the area early Sunday following rain expected Friday and Saturday.

“Monday will be a cold, blustery day with temperatures only in the 30s and 40s during the day; a brisk north wind will make it feel colder. And, a few snow flurries are possible over the northeast corner of the state (no accumulation or impact). Best chance of seeing a few snow flakes are across Madison, Jackson, Marshall, DeKalb, and Cherokee counties.

“By Tuesday morning with a clear sky and light wind, a freeze is likely statewide. The only part of Alabama that will stay above freezing is southern Mobile and Baldwin counties south of I-10… but even there mid 30s are likely. Most of the state will be in the 20s; a few colder spots over the northern counties could actually dip into the upper teens.”

James Spann

Cold weather prep

The National Weather Service is also putting out reminders for how to prepare for any freezing weather, next week and into the winter.

It’s all about the Four P’s:

• People: Limit time outside, be prepared for power outages and make sure to check on any elderly or other vulnerable friends + family during the freeze.
• Pets: Keep pets inside as much as possible and limit their time outside. Keep them bundled up + dry!
• Pipes: Insulate your pipes if you can + make sure to open your sink cabinets to expose the pipes to heated air. And don’t forget to disconnect your hoses + turn off any sprinklers!
• Plants: Cover plants before the freeze begins to ensure they will keep some heat. Make sure you know your plants’ temperature thresholds.

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