Jan. 8—A winter storm is predicted to hit the Tennessee Valley this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, with several counties expected to receive freezing rain or possibly up to 2 inches of snow.
Meteorologist Rebecca Darish said for the rest of this week to expect frigid weather, with highs remaining in the 30s and “well below” freezing temperatures at night.
“Through the rest of the week, it is going to be chilly,” Darish said Tuesday. “Our coldest night is Wednesday into Thursday where we have temperatures down into the teens. We usually hit our lowest temperatures right before the sunrise, so it is going to be bitterly cold.”
Darish said winter precipitation is expected to begin late Thursday night and continue into Friday as a low-pressure system moves through the state, pulling cold air from the north.
“That’s what is bringing this as more of a winter precipitation event as opposed to just a rainfall event, so it looks like we are going to be starting snow,” Darish said. “With our current forecast, we have snow starting late Thursday night just after midnight and continuing through the day on Friday and ending early Saturday morning. Everywhere right now is forecast to get from an inch to just over 2 inches and that’ll likely change as we get closer.”
Decatur City Engineer Carl Prewitt said his Street Department crew is prepared to work 12-hour shifts starting Friday morning to monitor conditions and apply sand to hazardous areas as needed. He said the department has a flat-bed truck with a device installed to distribute sand on the roads.
“Realistically, until it shows up we don’t know what we’re dealing with,” Prewitt said. “Most of the time we just use sand for the roads. The state usually tries to pre-treat their highways, like Highway 31 and the Beltline, and we’ll focus on some of our main routes and bridges, like routes to the hospital.”
Prewitt said if the city’s roads ice over like they did in January 2024, there is little that can be done until it melts.
“Snow and ice are two different things,” Prewitt said. “We put sand out for that, but you really can’t plow ice until it starts thawing. We don’t get enough of it to buy the equipment and have materials on hand just to have it sitting in a warehouse somewhere. We can deal with snow, and we have equipment for that.”
Environmental Services Director Daniel Boutwell said he has 12 loader trucks ready to be sent out this weekend to assist the Street Department with any debris pickup and said they are all under three years old and in good condition.
“All of my bulk trucks, like my clamshell bucket trucks, they are coming in the garage now and my guys are on call,” Boutwell said. “If something were to happen on Saturday, we are ready.”
He said typical garbage routes could change depending on the weather.
“If City Hall closes, we won’t run garbage, but we would make sure that we would catch up however we have to,” Boutwell said. “Even if we have to run six days a week instead of four, so be it.”
Darish said there may be some freezing rain in areas south of the Tennessee River, and the dividing line between predominantly snow and a wintry mix remains uncertain.
“The big thing is where the line between mainly snow and a more wintry mix is going to set up and that is what we are going to look at because it very well could be set between Morgan, Madison, Limestone, and Lincoln (counties),” Darish said. “We are eying the Tennessee River as a breaking point. Since it is such a fine detail, it is very possible that a couple of miles difference could be snow versus freezing rain.”
In a press release, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency emphasizes the importance of proper vehicle maintenance during winter storm conditions. Motorists are encouraged to take precautions such as checking their battery, inspecting tires, fluid levels, wipers and lights, as well as preparing an emergency kit.
For those who must drive, ALEA advises against using cruise control. The agency recommends reducing speeds, maintaining adequate distance between vehicles, exercising caution on bridges and overpasses, being alert for black ice and staying informed about road conditions.
With the frigid temperatures this week, the Alabama Department of Public Health urges residents to be aware of the signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
ADPH said signs and symptoms of hypothermia for adults include shivering, exhaustion or feeling very tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. For babies, look for bright red, cold skin and very low energy.
Signs of frostbite include a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy and numbness.
— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.