By Jim Stefkovich, Meteorologist, Alabama Emergency Management Agency
CLANTON –Sunday 2pm, January 2, 2022
Concerning Severe Weather
The SPC has placed southeast AL in a Slight Risk for the remainder of the afternoon. A couple of storms could produce straight-line winds through 6 pm, and an isolated tornado is also possible. In addition, very heavy rain may produce localized flash flooding.
Concerning Winter Weather
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from the I-20 corridor northward for amounts up to two inches.
Models continue to trend with higher snowfall amounts, mainly on grassy and elevated areas between 6 pm – 3 am. The transition to snow will occur between 4-6 pm in far northwest Alabama, 7-8 pm in the Huntsville and Tuscaloosa areas and between 8-9 pm around Birmingham. Areas east of I-65 will transition after 10 pm.
There will be heavy snow for a 2-4 hour period with snowfall rates exceeding melting rates. This will produce slushy roadways, which will be exacerbated on elevated roads and bridges as temperatures drop below freezing shortly after the transition to snow begins. Patchy ice on some roads will lead to difficult driving conditions both tonight and into Monday morning.
Gusty winds up to 30 mph this evening and overnight will limit snowfall on trees. However, in sheltered areas, there could be some accumulation which could down some limbs onto powerlines.
The threshold for a NWS Winter Storm Warning over the northern half of the state is greater than two inches of snowfall. An upgrade to a warning may occur later this afternoon or evening, but regardless, the impacts will be the same.