Mountain Brook Fire Department

WEEKEND WINTER STORM POTENTIAL: New global model runs continue to show a strong signal for winter storm conditions across parts of the Deep South over the weekend. New 12Z model output is attached to this post. Here are the key messages this evening... *The cold air moving into Alabama will be shallow, meaning there is potential for freezing rain (liquid precipitation that falls when surface temperatures are at or below freezing). *A long duration of freezing rain can lead to an ice storm. Thankfully temperatures will be in the 50s over the latter half of the week, so the infrastructure won't be especially cold as the event begins. That is a positive. *The main window for wintry precipitation is over the northern half of Alabama from around 6:00 a.m. Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Sunday. *If low level thermal values are warmer than models suggest, it will simply be a cold, rainy day Saturday. That is a very real possibility. *The cold air will be a bit deeper across the Tennessee Valley of North Alabama, where some snow could be involved. *It is too early to answer questions about specific impact in any given location (like road conditions). *We will be more specific about the event by Wednesday, and a good impact forecast can be made Thursday. But with winter weather situations like this, there will always be uncertainty even one day in advance.