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State of emergency declared as winter weather hits Alabama

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State of emergency declared as winter weather hits Alabama

By Alander Rocha
State of emergency declared as Alabama braces for dangerous winter weather
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Snow falls on the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery amid rare winter weather on Jan. 21, 2025. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a state of emergency for 39 counties across Alabama ahead of a potentially dangerous winter storm impacting the southern half of the state.

The declaration, effective at 5 p.m. Monday, allows state agencies and the Alabama National Guard to assist in response efforts.

“Alabama, once again, is faced with the potential for winter weather, but this time, for the southern half of the state,” Ivey said in a statement. “We are anticipating potentially dangerous and uncertain driving conditions in the impacted portions of the state, so I am urging Alabamians to err on the side of caution and limit their travel. Make any necessary preparations now, stay tuned in to your weather forecasts and stay warm.”

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning and winter weather advisory for areas near and south of Interstate 20 through 6 a.m. Wednesday. The impacted counties include Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Washington, and Wilcox.

The National Weather Service Tuesday afternoon also issued an additional excessive cold warning for parts of south Alabama until 10 am Wednesday.

The state of emergency includes activation of the Alabama National Guard and state agencies to assist affected communities; a directive to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to assess damages and request state and federal assistance; implementation of the Alabama Unconscionable Pricing Act, which prohibits price gouging during emergencies and waivers for certain federal motor-carrier regulations to facilitate the transport of emergency supplies and equipment.

Local school board districts may close any school or office based on local conditions. The Alabama State Department of Education is keeping a list of school district closings and delays here.

Jim Stefkovich, a meteorologist who provides weather updates for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with the National Weather Service, warned Tuesday morning of historic snowfall for southern Alabama. 

The snow forecast is expected to fall between 2-6 inches in southern Alabama, slightly up from the earlier prediction of 2-5 inches.  Snow may fall between .5-2 inches in central Alabama while it may start accumulating in northern Alabama in the late afternoon, reaching up to 1/2 inch accumulation. The last time Mobile received more than two inches of snow was March 1993, with three inches recorded in February 1973, according to Stefkovich.

“Any accumulation will result in dangerous to impossible driving conditions, especially in the Winter Storm Warning area,” he stated.

As of early afternoon, many roads were declared impassable for counties under a winter storm warning, according to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.

Jeff Smitherman, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, advised citizens to keep informed through local weather authorities and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

"Follow your local news, the National Weather Service, your local emergency management offices, and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency on social media for the most reliable and up-to-date information for your safety,” he said in a statement to the Alabama Reflector.

Travel remains strongly discouraged in affected areas.

“It is highly likely that some to numerous road impacts will continue until at least Thursday afternoon,” Stefkovich wrote.

Smitherman said the Emergency Management Agency's “best advice is to stay home unless it is an emergency."

Forecasters expected the snow to begin Tuesday morning, with precipitation slowing down in southeastern Alabama by 1 a.m. Wednesday. Stefkovich said a “very sharp line near I-20 of snow/no snow” could shift slightly during the day. Temperatures statewide are unlikely to rise above freezing on Tuesday. It remained below freezing statewide in the afternoon and will remain so through at least Wednesday morning, with temperatures in the single digits to only middle teens all the way to the coast.

Highs on Wednesday will only reach the 30s statewide, with areas that received accumulating snowfall potentially not getting above freezing.  Low temperatures Wednesday night will mainly be in the teens statewide.  Highs on Thursday are finally expected to get above freezing statewide, but only into the lower to middle 40s.

It is highly likely that some to numerous road impacts will continue until at least Thursday afternoon.  A warming trend will finally begin Friday through the weekend, but with still below normal temperatures, according to Stefkovich.

This story was updated at 3:31 p.m. with a weather update from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.