NOWCAST: With the widespread precipitation shield covering central and south Alabama, things are getting more interesting now. As the temperature continues to ease downward, mixed precipitation already dominates most of northern Tallapoosa county, and is edging southward into Elmore and Montgomery county. Montgomery’s temperature has now fallen to about 36 late this afternoon and continues downward. Into the evening, the wintry mix will sink southward to the I-85 corridor with rain mixed with sleet first, then, by late tonight, a freezing rain/sleet mix, followed by, probably a brief period of s sleet/snow mix, before precipitation ends in the wee hours. The precip will be gone in the morning, but the wind chill could reach 7 by dawn!! More specific details below. Here’s the late afternoon radar snapshot.
UPDATED ADVISORY & WARNING MAP: Winter Weather Advisory continues along the US 80/I-85 Corridor, and Winter storm Warning farther north starting in Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa and Chambers. No change from earlier this afternoon.
FUTURE RADAR: Shows the freeze line near Prattville at 8PM with a sleet/freezing rain mix southward. Should near freezing Montgomery area indicated by 10 on this model. Back end of the precip show into far east/southeast Alabama by 2AM. Many roads could still be hazardous in the morning as leftover puddles freeze.
ICE ACCUMULATION: The greatest concern for ice accumulation is along the I-20/I-59 corridor where .10 to .15” could accumulate. This area has expended a bit. Father south in the I-85 corridor, accumulations of up to .10” ice is possible. This could lead to extremely hazardous travel. Temperatures will fall below freezing by later tonight, in the I-85 corridor. Remember: bridges and overpasses freeze first.
ACCUMULATION MAP: As for the accumulation of sleet & snow, the biggest accumulation is still expected in the Winter Storm Warning area from Perry, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa and Chambers county northward where 2-3” and in some cases 3+” are possible. Travel will become extremely hazardous.
MONTGOMERY AREA FORECAST DETAILS: Winter Weather Advisory today until Saturday AM. Tonight: Rain mixes with sleet. By late tonight a sleet/freezing rain mix likely. Then, in the wee hours a sleet/snow mix, before ending. Little or no snow/sleet accumulation, but ice accumulation of up to .10 possible. Low by Saturday morning 25. (wind chill single digits) High Saturday 36 with Clearing skies. Low by Sunday morning 21, wind chill factor 10-12°. High Sunday 41.
Check out these projected brutal wind chill numbers for 6AM Saturday Morning!
STAY WEATHER AWARE: We will have additional Blog updates as needed later tonight. They will appear on your Weather App, on Facebook and on Twitter. Be careful! Stay off the roads if you can! –Rich