A dangerous winter storm is moving into Alabama tonight and tomorrow. I am tracking ice, sleet, and pockets of snow spreading across the state, with the worst impacts in the north. A state of emergency is active for 19 north Alabama counties, and the National Guard is on standby. Travel will turn hazardous. Power disruptions are possible. The cold will lock in the damage.
What to expect tomorrow
Cold air has sunk into the Tennessee Valley. Moisture is arriving from the Gulf. Where they meet, ice forms. That is the setup for tomorrow, and it is a serious one.
Freezing rain and sleet will expand across north Alabama late tonight and continue into tomorrow morning. Roads that look wet can be coated in glaze. Bridges and overpasses will ice first. By midday, many places north of Birmingham will stay at or below 32 degrees. That means ice will not melt. It will build.
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Temperatures will likely remain below freezing through much of tomorrow and into tomorrow night in the Tennessee Valley and the Shoals. Black ice will be a threat well after sunset. Farther south, many communities will sit near the freezing line, with a cold rain or a brief mix, then a hard freeze Monday night.
If your thermometer reads 33 or 34, shaded roads and high bridges can still be slick. Do not trust a quick warmup.
Areas at greatest risk
The highest ice impacts are likely from the Shoals through the Huntsville metro and east toward Scottsboro and Fort Payne. This corridor has the best overlap of cold air and steady moisture. Sleet and freezing rain will coat trees and power lines here. Isolated outages are likely, with scattered outages possible if ice accretion increases.
Along the I 65 corridor from Cullman north, travel could become treacherous by sunrise. Side streets and rural roads will ice first. Interstates will be treated, but bridges will still glaze. Birmingham sits near the dividing line. A glaze is possible on the north side, with more slush in higher hills. South Alabama sees mainly cold rain, with a quick freeze on wet surfaces tomorrow night.
I expect snow to mix in at times along the higher ridges of northeast Alabama. Totals are secondary to ice, which is the main hazard. Any snow on top of glaze will make traction worse.
Roads, power, and the cold
Ice adds weight to tree limbs and lines. A shallow glaze can bring small branches down. A heavier glaze can snap larger limbs, then power flickers. Ground is already cold, so roads will respond fast. Expect traffic to slow sharply on untreated routes by morning.
If you must travel, plan as if you will not have help for hours. Crews will be out, but road treatment takes time when temperatures stay below freezing. Keep extra layers, water, a small shovel, and phone chargers in the car. If you lose power, close interior doors, block drafts, and avoid using generators indoors.
Charge every device tonight, fill your gas tank, and set heat a bit higher so your home holds warmth if power drops.
Last minute prep, tonight
Do these four steps before you go to bed:
- Drip indoor faucets, open cabinet doors under sinks.
- Bring pets inside, add straw or blankets to outdoor shelters.
- Move cars off the street, away from trees and power lines.
- Set alerts for AEMA and your local National Weather Service office.
Subfreezing air will prolong impacts into midweek in north Alabama. Keep plans flexible, and expect refreeze each night.
Climate signal in a southern ice storm
Ice storms in the South are rare, but they are not random. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture. When a shallow layer of Arctic air slips south, that extra moisture can fall as heavy freezing rain. The result is more ice per hour when the setup is right. We are seeing that pattern more often, even as winters warm overall.
The Southeast is built for heat, not ice. Many lines are above ground, and roads are not treated as often as in northern states. That is why ice here can be so disruptive. Resilience means better tree care near lines, stronger local grids, and weather ready homes. Simple upgrades help, like sealing drafts and insulating pipes. Heat pumps paired with backup power can hold safe indoor temps during outages. Community cooling centers can shift to warming centers when cold snaps hit.
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Long term, cutting pollution that warms the planet reduces the fuel for extreme moisture. In the near term, better forecasting and public communication saves lives. Today is a test of both. The timeline is clear, the risk is clear, and the choices we make tonight will shape tomorrow.
Stay informed, stay safe
I will keep tracking the changeover and temperature trends through tonight. North Alabama should plan for ice, very limited travel, and a long freeze tomorrow. Central Alabama should watch for a glaze near daybreak, then a hard freeze tomorrow night. Follow updates from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and your local National Weather Service office. Check on neighbors who may need help.
This is a high impact winter day for a warm weather state. Prepare now, move carefully in the morning, and let the storm pass before you do.
