9:15 PM March Snow Update

The snow advisory has been canceled for areas south of Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, and Shelby Counties. These areas still could see some snow, but little to no accumulation can be expected. This doesn’t meet the snow advisory criteria; however, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, and Jefferson Counties are under snow advisories. These areas could measure up to an inch or ore of snow in some locations.

The radar tells the story and all evening we’ve had a cold mist with some snow being reported in Fayette and Marion. Snow was also falling in Jackson and portions of East Mississippi. A core of light snow was over Central Mississippi and this was located near the cold core upper air storm system. You can see a nice spin on the Home Team Interactive Radar. This area of snow will gradually shift eastward and I still expected snow showers after midnight tonight. This activity will linger into early tomorrow morning and will taper off to flurries, with a cold day on tap. The pavement is quite wet and I don’t thing we’re going to have any major issues as far as travel conditions in the immediate area tonight. The concern for travel trouble spots increases in locations north of Tuscaloosa, mainly in the Tennessee Valley. Be sure to tune in at 10:00 for a complete update on the snow potential!

Wes Wyatt
WVUA Weather

Friday Afternoon Discussion/Special March Snow Update

We recently received some reports of thundersnow in western Mississippi, as heavy snow was falling in Greenville. This snow was marching slowly eastward and sleet was recently being reported in Jackson. A cold core upper air disturbance will be rolling eastward and this will bring us a round of snow tonight. Snow advisories are up for Tuscaloosa County southward to northern Mobile County. In East Alabama these advisories extended as far south as Pike County. What this means is that tonight we could see from a dusting up to 2 inches of snow in isolated locations. North of that point we could see over 2 inches of snow and heavy snow warnings are in place for Lamar, Fayette, Walker, and Winston Counties. A Winter Storm Warning was in place for the Upper Tennessee Valley.

Soon we will have light rain setting in by 6:00 and this will become mixed with sleet by midnight and then change to snow. The tricky part of the forecast will be the exact location of the heavier snow bands or snow showers. The intensity will lead to some accumulation and help dynamically cool the atmosphere. Therefore, if you glance westward and see temperatures above freezing, we will end up seeing colder readings. This system will bring its own cold air as it moves in. The snow showers will be departing tomorrow morning and scattered snow showers will taper off to snow flurries. We will have a cold and cloudy Saturday, with highs only in the upper 30s. Sunday will be a brighter day and this will mark the start of a warming trend. Our next chance for rain will be in the form of rain and storms late next week.

Also, with all the talk of snow today it was far from snowy during the morning. Parts of Alabama had some wind related damage as the rain shield shifted northeast. Jemison was one community that had some damage reported. The National Weather Service linked these higher winds to a gravity wave. There has been lots of talk about gravity waves lately, but these features have been impacting weather for ages. They are due to density differences in the air, which can enhance downward motion or downbursts of wind. You really have to watch out for these on radar, when there is a distinct back edge to a heavy precipitation shield. This tells us there is lots of dry air entering the rear of the rain mass and this causes evaporation, which leads to colder air that may rush towards the surface.

Be sure to stay tuned to the Weather Blog for frequent updates!

Chief Meteorologist Wes Wyatt
WVUA Weather

Snow Advisory Now Extends South Through Clarke County

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
335 PM CST FRI MAR 7 2008

…SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST
SATURDAY…

.AS SURFACE LOW PRESSURE LIFTS QUICKLY NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE REGION
TONIGHT AND BASE OF UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TRACKS EASTWARD ACROSS THE
REGION…MUCH COLDER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE FORECAST AREA. SCATTERED
RAIN SHOWERS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA EARLY THIS EVENING
WILL CHANGE TO A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW LATE THIS EVENING…AND
OVERNIGHT. SOME BANDS OF ALL SNOW COULD DEVELOP AFTER MIDNIGHT WHERE
TEMPERATURES DROP TO 32 DEGREES OR LOWER. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE
SATURDAY MORNING AS THE LOW PRESSURE AREA MOVES FURTHER TO THE
NORTHEAST…WITH SNOW FLURRIES TAPERING OFF ACROSS BUTLER AND
CRENSHAW COUNTIES.

ALZ051>058-MSZ067-075-076-080545-
/O.NEW.KMOB.SN.Y.0002.080308T0300Z-080308T1500Z/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
WAYNE-PERRY-GREENE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…BUTLER…LISMAN…SILAS…CHATOM…
MILLRY…JACKSON…THOMASVILLE…GROVE HILL…CAMDEN…
PINE HILL…HOMEWOOD…MONROEVILLE…EVERGREEN…GREENVILLE…
LUVERNE…BRANTLEY…WAYNESBORO…RICHTON…BEAUMONT…
NEW AUGUSTA…LEAKESVILLE…MCLAIN
335 PM CST FRI MAR 7 2008

…SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST
SATURDAY…

AS SURFACE LOW PRESSURE LIFTS QUICKLY NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE REGION
TONIGHT AND COLDER AIR FILTERS INTO THE REGION…SCATTERED RAIN
SHOWERS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA EARLY THIS EVENING WILL
CHANGE TO A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW LATE THIS EVENING…AND OVERNIGHT.
THE RAIN AND SNOW MIX COULD GRADUALLY BECOME ALL SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT
WHERE TEMPERATURES DROP TO 32 DEGREES OR LOWER. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP
TO ONE INCH ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA…WITH LOCALIZED
HEAVIER AMOUNTS NEAR TWO INCHES.

A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS…BRIDGES…
OVERPASSES…AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY
CAREFUL AT NIGHT AS SLIPPERY SPOTS MAY NOT BE VISIBLE AND MAKE FOR
HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS…USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATER
UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

Stay Tuned

WVUA-TV Weather

Intern Steven Ray

Snow Reported in West Mississippi

A large band of snow is now migrating eastward out of Arkansas. I just noticed an incredible snow total of 14.5” out of Mount George, Arkansas. That is about 9 miles south of Dardanelle, AR. Also, snow advisories are in place for Alabama as far southeast as Pike County for tonight. Winter Storm Warnings are in place for counties in Arkansas, extending as far northeast as Maine. The latest reports out of West Mississippi show light snow in Tunica and Greenville. I will have a webcast update posted earlier than normal and also, be sure to join us for a first update at 4:00 p.m.!

Wes Wyatt
WVUA Weather

More Winter Weather Advisories

…WINTER WEATHER EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA ON FRIDAY BRINGING COLD TEMPERATURES FROM THE NORTHWEST ALONG WITH GULF MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTH. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FALLING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

…HEAVY SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY… (Dark purple counties on Home Team Interactive Radar)

COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WARNING ARE: MARION… LAMAR… FAYETTE… WINSTON… WALKER… BLOUNT… ETOWAH… CHEROKEE…

SOME CITIES INCLUDED ARE: HAMILTON… SULLIGENT… VERNON… FAYETTE… DOUBLE SPRINGS… JASPER… ONEONTA… GADSDEN… CENTRE…

AS A STRONG SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TONIGHT…COLD AIR WILL BEGIN FILTERING INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM ARE EXPECTED TO CHANGEOVER TO SNOW DURING THE EVENING HOURS IN THE NORTHWEST AND LAST THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. INITIALLY THE GROUND TEMPERATURES WILL BE TOO WARM TO SUPPORT ACCUMULATIONS. HOWEVER…AS THE TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO COOL THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS…ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO GENERALLY BE UP TO 2.5 INCHES.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRIMARILY ON GRASSY SURFACES. HOWEVER…A FEW ISOLATED SLICK ROAD SURFACES CAN NOT BE RULED OUT…ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS AND NORMALLY COLDER
LOCATIONS. USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

…SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY…(Light blue counties on Home Team Interactive Radar)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A SNOW ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY.

COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE: CALHOUN… CLEBURNE… PICKENS… TUSCALOOSA… JEFFERSON… SHELBY… ST. CLAIR… TALLADEGA… CLAY… RANDOLPH… SUMTER… GREENE… HALE… PERRY… BIBB… CHILTON… COOSA… TALLAPOOSA… CHAMBERS… MARENGO… DALLAS… AUTAUGA… LOWNDES… ELMORE… MONTGOMERY… MACON… BULLOCK… LEE… RUSSELL… PIKE… BARBOUR…

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF: ANNISTON… HEFLIN… CARROLLTON… TUSCALOOSA… BIRMINGHAM… HOOVER… COLUMBIANA… PELHAM… ALABASTER… PELL CITY… MOODY… TALLADEGA… SYLACAUGA… ASHLAND… ROANOKE… LIVINGSTON… EUTAW… GREENSBORO… MOUNDVILLE… MARION… CENTREVILLE… CLANTON… ROCKFORD… ALEXANDER CITY… DADEVILLE… VALLEY… LANETT… LAFAYETTE… DEMOPOLIS… LINDEN… SELMA… PRATTVILLE… FORT DEPOSIT… HAYNEVILLE… WETUMPKA… TALLASSEE… MONTGOMERY… TUSKEGEE… UNION SPRINGS… AUBURN… OPELIKA… PHENIX CITY… TROY… EUFAULA…

AS A STRONG SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TONIGHT…COLD AIR WILL BEGIN FILTERING INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM ARE EXPECTED TO CHANGEOVER TO SNOW DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS AND LAST THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. INITIALLY THE GROUND TEMPERATURES WILL BE TOO WARM TO SUPPORT ACCUMULATIONS. HOWEVER…AS THE TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO COOL THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS…SNOW WILL BEGIN TO ACCUMULATE ON MAINLY GRASSY SURFACES. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL DECREASE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH BY TOMORROW MORNING. AMOUNTS UP TO 1.5 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR…UP TO 1.0 INCH ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR….UP TO 0.5 INCH ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 85 CORRIDOR.

WIDESPREAD TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER…A FEW ISOLATED SLICK ROAD SURFACES CAN NOT BE RULED OUT…ESPECIALLY ON ELEVATED ROADWAYS AND IN RURAL AREAS. USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

…WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…(Light blue counties on Home Team Interactive Radar north of the Heavy Snow Warning counties.)

…WINTER WEATHER LIKELY ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY TONIGHT…

COLD AIR FILTERING INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY…COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE AREA…WILL BRING SNOW TO THE REGION TONIGHT. A BRIEF WINTRY MIX IS POSSIBLE AS THE PRECIPITATION CHANGES FROM RAIN TO SNOW.

INCLUDING THE COUNTIES OF: MARSHALL… DE KALB. CULLMAN…
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF: GUNTERSVILLE… FORT PAYNE… CULLMAN…

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

RAIN THIS EVENING WILL MIX WITH SLEET AND SNOW…AND POSSIBLY CHANGE TO FREEZING RAIN BRIEFLY…BEFORE EVENTUALLY BECOMING ALL SNOW OVERNIGHT. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS UP TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE…ESPECIALLY IN FAVORED HIGHER ELEVATIONS. SOME ICE ACCUMULATION IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THE MORNING HOURS SATURDAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

PORTIONS OF THIS WATCH ARE LIKELY TO BE UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

ROADS…BRIDGES…AND OVERPASSES IN THE WATCH AREA MAY BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY.

REMEMBER…A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR A HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER EVENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

Robert Stevenson
WVUA Weather

Snow Advisory/Heavy Snow Warnings Issued For Our Area

Here we go! The trend continues to grow more favorable for snow in our area. Here are some important advisories just issued by the NWS Birmingham. Be sure to bookmark our Weather Blog and check in frequently for updates. We will have another webcast posted this evening and I will have a discussion posted this afternoon. A snow advisory has been issued for most of the area. The counties not in the advisory are now under a heavy snow warning.

Areas near the I-20/59 corridor and points northward will see some snow tonight, but the accumulations will be light. We’re not expecting any major problems; however, some heavier snow showers could created some slick spots on elevated surfaces by tomorrow morning. Areas along the I-20/59 corridor could measure up to an inch of snow and areas south of the I-20/59 corridor could see a dusting to an inch of snow. Also, North of Tuscaloosa heavier totals can be expected. Northern counties are under a heavy snow warning. The counties under this warning are Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, and Winston. Travel trouble spots will be more likely in these areas and you can see the full NWS text below.

FOR FAYETTE, LAMAR, MARION, WALKER, WINSTON….HEAVY SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A HEAVY SNOW WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

AS A STRONG SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TONIGHT…COLD AIR WILL BEGIN FILTERING INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM ARE EXPECTED TO CHANGEOVER TO SNOW DURING THE EVENING HOURS IN THE NORTHWEST AND LAST THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. INITIALLY THE GROUND TEMPERATURES WILL BE TOO WARM TO SUPPORT ACCUMULATIONS. HOWEVER…AS THE TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO COOL THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS…ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO GENERALLY BE UP TO 2.5 INCHES.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRIMARILY ON GRASSY
SURFACES. HOWEVER…A FEW ISOLATED SLICK ROAD SURFACES CAN NOT BE RULED OUT…ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS AND NORMALLY COLDER LOCATIONS. USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

Wes Wyatt
WVUA Weather

Winter Storm Watch Update

We had a nice shield of rain march over the state this morning and at one point I noticed the entire state of Alabama dealing with rain. The heavy rain has moved northeast and now the trailing upper air disturbance will bring more precipitation tonight.

The news for all of the fans of snow is looking better by the day and minute. The morning data is still showing the possibility of a dusting along the I-20/59 corridor and points northward. There are winter storm watches in place for Lamar, Fayette, and Cullman counties and points northward. This watch means that heavier accumulations can be expected and this may cause some travel slick spots early tomorrow morning, mainly in areas north of Tuscaloosa. I still don’t see this event causing any problems in our immediate area although the snow will be neat to see. We will have rain and then a rain/snow mix late and then snow showers after midnight through tomorrow morning. Parts of Central Mississippi are gearing up for a chance of heavy snow tonight. The big story for us will be the chill and temperatures are on the fall now. This trend will continue trough tonight and tomorrow morning. Stay tuned!

Wes Wyatt
WVUA Weather

Winter Storm Watch

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA ON FRIDAY BRINGING COLD TEMPERATURES FROM THE NORTHWEST ALONG WITH GULF MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTH. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FALLING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH: MARION… LAMAR… FAYETTE… WINSTON… WALKER… BLOUNT… ETOWAH… CHEROKEE…

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF… ONEONTA… GADSDEN… CENTRE… HAMILTON… SULLIGENT… VERNON… FAYETTE… DOUBLE SPRINGS… JASPER…

AS A STRONG SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH THE DAY… COLD AIR WILL BEGIN FILTERING INTO THE AREA AFTER SUNSET. THE ASSOCIATED RAIN SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CHANGEOVER TO SNOW DURING THE EVENING HOURS AND LAST THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. INITIALLY THE GROUND TEMPERATURES WILL BE TOO WARM TO SUPPORT ACCUMULATIONS. HOWEVER… AS THE TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO COOL THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS… ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE GENERALLY ONE INCH…BUT ISOLATED AREAS COULD POSSIBLY RECEIVE AS MUCH AS TWO INCHES.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW… SLEET… OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Richard Scott
WVUA Weather