By Jim Stefkovich, Meteorologist, Alabama Emergency Management Agency
CLANTON – Thursday, 3:45 pm January 9, 2025
Freezing rain totals have increased near and north of I-20. This is a very complex setup. Precipitation will enter the western sections by Midnight and continue to spread across the entire state during the early Friday morning hours.
Warm air is still expected to move into state Friday morning and afternoon. The questions become just how deep the warm air will be and how far north it gets (above 32 degrees) Friday morning into the afternoon. If the warm air is shallow, then more of a snow/sleet event with some freezing rain event. If deeper warm air, but 32 degrees or less at surface, then a lot more freezing rain.
With still some uncertainty of the warm air intrusion and still potential changes through the event, the amount of freezing rain has increased with total amounts of 0.10 – 0.25 inch near and north of I-20, with potentially 0.25-0.5 inch along the I-59 corridor from Ashville to Fort Payne.
Snowfall amounts are 2-3 inches near the Tennessee River, around 1 inch near I-20 and an inch or less south of I-20. There could be some areas that have heavier snow bands on Friday which could dramatically increase accumulations in some areas north of I-20.
For the latest road conditions/hazards, make sure you download the Alabama Department of Transportation App (ALGO Traffic) or go to their website at algotraffic.com
How will the depth and extent of warm air intrusion impact the balance between snow, sleet, and freezing rain across regions north of I-20?
Need to salt the roads
It’s going to melt and freeze up to one inch warm air n water then cold bad mix.