It sure does look like it’s going to snow somewhere in Alabama on Tuesday.
The state was virtually covered in winter weather advisories, the governor has declared a state of emergency and many schools were announcing closings ahead of what could be a significant winter weather event.
But maybe not for the reasons you’d expect.
Snow day: Tuesday closing announced for some schools
Here are a few questions or things to know if you’re going to have to face the snow.
1. So is it REALLY going to snow?
The National Weather Service seems to think at least someone in Alabama will get snow on Tuesday.
All of the state except for the southeast corner is under a winter weather advisory.
A strong cold front is expected to move through Alabama tomorrow, and light snow is anticipated fill in behind it in the much colder air that follows.
Winter weather advisories expanded in Alabama
It will be cold enough for snow to fall in north and central parts of the state, and a wintry mix to light snow will be possible all the way to near the Gulf Coast.
In fact, the weather service in Mobile said up to 1 inch is not out of the question in isolated spots in south Alabama.
Less than an inch to maybe 2 inches will be possible in north and central Alabama.
2. OK then, so WHEN is it going to snow?
Snow could begin in northwest Alabama as early as 3 a.m. and spread south and east through the day.
Here’s a look at estimated arrival times from north to south:
Update: We have upgraded the watch to a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Central AL. Expect impacts to travel as snowfall melts on roads, then refreezes as temperatures drop into the 20s. There have been no changes to the expected timing. #alwx pic.twitter.com/r3xYspiram
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 15, 2018
[?][?]WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 12pm Tuesday thru 6am Wednesday. A wintry mix (light rain, sleet, snow) will initially fall before turning to light snow late Tuesday afternoon thru evening hours.
[?]Snow Accumulation: Less than a 1/2″ (isolated amounts to 1″ possible). #mobwx pic.twitter.com/mGcb494a62
— NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) January 15, 2018
The snow could last all day and taper off early Wednesday morning in areas in east Alabama.
3. There likely won’t be a lot of snow
Forecasters as of Monday night were thinking that 2 inches could be the top range for snow amounts across Alabama tomorrow. Most spots are likely to get an inch or less.
The exceptions could be higher terrain areas, which typically get a bit more.
Add an asterisk here: Those forecasts will likely be refined going into Tuesday.
4. But the amounts don’t matter as much for us this time because….
It’s going to be cold, and whatever falls is likely going to stick — and stick around for a while for those in north and north-central parts of the state.
So only a little snow has the potential to cause big travel issues.
Remember this?:
Traffic travels along I-20/59 near downtown Birmingham after a winter storm dumped snow on Jan. 28, 2014.
Temperatures on Tuesday aren’t expected to rise above freezing in many spots — and some places in north Alabama may not make it above freezing again until Thursday.
And Monday’s halfway decent temperatures could have the consequence of “warming” up the roads, a bit, so that they could be still holding onto a bit of heat when the first snow falls.
That could cause the snow to melt, then quickly refreeze as temperatures continue to fall through the afternoon.
Which brings back bad memories for many of ….
5. Is it going to be just like the Snowmaggedon? No, the Snowpocalypse?
Not exactly like it. At least this time around forecasters have a better idea of what could happen, and many people across the state are electing to stay home and (hopefully) off the roads on Tuesday.
That should lessen traffic as well as potential problems.
It won’t catch us by surprise this time.
6. A winter weather advisory ISN’T a downgrade even though it may sound like one
The National Weather Service in Birmingham changed a winter storm watch to a winter weather advisory on Monday afternoon.
(There are also winter weather advisories in effect for southwest Alabama and north Alabama.)
That may sound like a lesser threat, but it’s not, meteorologist Gerald Satterwhite said earlier this afternoon:
“Some people think that going from a watch to an advisory is a downgrade but it’s not,” he said. “The watch meant we were kind of keeping an eye on the potential for there to be winter weather impacts, but now that we’re more certain that will occur we’ve gone to an advisory.”
To get a winter storm warning more than 2 inches of snow would have to be expected.
7. Expect the forecast to change even now.
There is only one thing that’s certain when it comes to winter weather in Alabama: Expect the unexpected.
There’s still the question of just how much moisture will make it into the state to touch off the snow as the cold air arrives.
It could mean hardly any snow. Or it could mean more.
“We’re still keeping a very close eye on the amount of precipitation that’s going to occur,” said the weather service’s Satterwhite. “We still can’t rule out there being just a hair more moisture with the system that could push totals a little bit higher.”
8. When are things going to get back to normal?
That depends on where you are. Temperatures in south and south-central Alabama are expected to rise into the mid to upper 30s on Wednesday, which could help to melt anything on the ground there.
North and north-central Alabama may not be as lucky. Temperatures for those areas on Wednesday aren’t expected to make it above freezing from roughly Birmingham north. So it may take longer for roads to become drivable again.
Thursday promises to have highs above freezing statewide.
Gallery: Snow possible in Alabama