Winter Storm Potential Could Impact North Alabama This Weekend

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | Weather Update

NORTH ALABAMA — Forecasters are closely monitoring the potential for a winter weather event that could impact portions of Alabama and the Deep South this weekend, according to the latest global weather model guidance.

New model runs continue to show a strong signal for winter storm conditions across parts of the region, particularly affecting the northern half of Alabama between Saturday morning and early Sunday. While confidence is growing that a significant weather system will move through the area, officials stress that specific impacts remain uncertain at this time.

These are the three key global weather models GFS (American), GEM (Canadian), and ECMWF (European) for Saturday at midnight central time.

One of the primary concerns is the shallow nature of the cold air mass expected to move into the state. This setup increases the potential for freezing rain, which occurs when liquid precipitation falls while surface temperatures are at or below freezing. Prolonged periods of freezing rain can result in ice accumulation, potentially leading to hazardous travel conditions and isolated power issues.

Meteorologists note a positive factor heading into the weekend: temperatures are expected to be in the 50s during the latter half of the week, meaning roads, bridges, and infrastructure will not be deeply cold as precipitation begins. This could help limit the severity of ice impacts, especially early in the event.

The main window for possible wintry precipitation currently appears to be from approximately 6:00 a.m. Saturday through 6:00 a.m. Sunday, primarily across North and Northeast Alabama. Areas farther south may see mostly cold rain if temperatures remain above freezing.

Across the Tennessee Valley, colder air may be slightly deeper, increasing the potential for snow mixing in, though amounts and coverage remain uncertain.

This system has the potential to affect a large swath of the southern United States, stretching from North Texas to the Carolinas, making it a high-impact system worth close monitoring.

Forecasters caution that if temperatures near the surface are warmer than models currently indicate, much of the area could experience a cold, rainy Saturday rather than wintry conditions — a scenario that remains very possible.

More detailed and location-specific forecasts are expected by Wednesday, with a clearer impact forecast by Thursday. Even then, officials emphasize that winter weather events in the Deep South often carry uncertainty up to the final 24 hours.

Residents are encouraged to stay weather-aware, monitor updated forecasts throughout the week, and be prepared for changing conditions as the weekend approaches.

The Weekly Ledger News will continue to provide updates as more information becomes avilable.

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