The time to prepare for dangerous and life threatening cold temperatures will quickly come to an end this evening as an arctic cold front moves through. This front is expected to move into northwest Central Alabama by 7pm, then cross the I-59 corridor by 9pm, and exit the area by 1am. As the front moves through, a 20-40 degree temperature drop is likely within a small amount of time. For tonight, low temperatures are expected to be in the upper single digits across the northern counties and low to mid teens for the rest of the area. In addition to these cold temperatures, gusty winds are expected, which will lead to dangerous and life threatening wind chill values in the -15 to -10 degree range. A Hard Freeze Warning remains in effect for the entire area through Sunday morning. A Wind Chill Warning is in effect for the northern counties through Saturday morning, with a Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for the rest of the area.
While moisture remains limited with this system, a brief change over to a light wintry mix or light snow will be possible across the north as temperatures drop below freezing. A few roadways may become slippery. This will mainly affect areas near Hamilton, Fayette, Jasper, Warrior, Oneonta, Gadsden, and Centre. With the warm ground conditions, little to no snow accumulation is expected.
“A Wind Chill Warning is in effect tonight through Saturday morning for counties near and north of Interstate 20, where a combination of cold air and windy conditions will result in wind chills as low as 11 below zero. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for counties south of Interstate 20, where a combination of cold air and windy conditions will result in wind chills as low as 5 below zero.” – NWS BMX “A Hard Freeze Warning in effect for all of Central Alabama tonight through Sunday morning. A prolonged period of very cold temperatures will be a threat to people and pets without adequate warmth. Exposed pipes that are not insulated or drained could burst.” – NWS BMX “Rain may briefly change over to a light wintry mix tonight with temperatures quickly dropping below freezing. This may result in slippery roadways for the northern portion of Central Alabama including: Hamilton, Fayette, Jasper, Warrior, Oneonta, Gadsden, Centre and nearby communities.” – NWS BMX. “Cloudy skies and patchy drizzle can be expected this morning. Temps will remain in the 50s.” – NWS BMX “Temperatures will plummet between 6pm and midnight behind the arctic cold front. Light wintry mix will be possible across northern counties, with showers elsewhere ending after midnight. Gusty winds up to 30mph can be expected behind the front with temperatures falling into the teens in the northern counties by midnight.” – NWS BMX “The arctic front will be approaching from the northwest by this afternoon, with a few showers possible across the northwest counties.” – NWS BMX “Friday morning lows will plummet into the single digits across the northern half of Central Alabama, while the south falls into the lower 20s by 6am. Gusty winds will make temperatures feel much colder.” – NWS BMX “Dangerous wind chills are expected Friday morning, and could drop below -10 degrees by 6am across the far northern counties. Elsewhere, below zero to single digit wind chills are expected as far south as Montgomery.” – NWS BMX
