Alabama Snow Chances: What to Know Before the Weekend

Many locations across the United States are covered in snow, offering postcard-worthy views but also causing travel headaches. Closer to home, some Alabamians are hopeful for some snow. Others are still trying to figure out why the mere mention of winter weather sends people rushing to the grocery store for milk and bread. I’m in that group.

The Weather Channel said that “Chances are growing that a quick-hitting wintry system will sweep through the South this weekend, but despite the social media hype, it probably won't be a big winter storm.”

A friendly reminder for my fellow Southerners: forecasting snow and wintry weather can be tricky around here. There is a lot of science behind it, but the important reminder is that conditions can change, especially when we are still a few days away from the predicted event. In the South, even the smallest shift can make a big difference in how winter weather shows up.

Thoughts

Currently, the timing of a storm system moving across the Southeast is late Saturday, with impacts through Sunday.

James Spann, Alabama Weather Network and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist, dived into the snow rumors and has provided a great checklist of what you need to know right now.

• A few flurries are possible late tomorrow night or during the pre-dawn hours Saturday across the Tennessee Valley. No accumulation or impact expected.
• There is evidence that a weak wave could form along the Arctic front in the Northeast Gulf over the weekend.

Model Talk from James Spann

• The reliable European global model continues to suggest nothing more than light rain, sprinkles, or flurries across far South Alabama Sunday morning.
• The American global model (GFS) continues to be the outlier, suggesting some potential for snow accumulation across the southeast counties of the state.
• The Canadian global model (GEM) shows no precipitation at all.
• Output from the AI version of the European ensemble shows the chance of one inch of snow or greater for South Alabama at zero.

More details will roll in as the weekend forecast comes into clearer view.

Mary K. - Weather Forecaster