Winter Storm in Alabama, January 6 to 7, 1996

Name: Winter Storm in Alabama, January 6 to 7, 1996
Start: 1996-01-06T20:00
End: 1996-01-07T15:00
Location: Alabama

January 6 to 7, 1996 · NWS BMX · 38 events in 38 counties and zones

A winter storm brought a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow to the northern two-thirds of Alabama. Precipitation began as freezing rain and sleet but quickly changed to snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 38 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $380,000
Crop damage: $38,000
Events: 38

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.

A winter storm brought a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow to the northern two-thirds of Alabama. Precipitation began as freezing rain and sleet but quickly changed to snow. The precipitation coated roads and caused serious travel problems across the northern sections of thestate that lasted into Monday morning (the 8th). Some higher elevations of the northeast corner of Alabama had travel problems into Tuesday. Amounts were generally light with the highest snowfall reported at Huntsville International Airport with 2 inches. Most other locations across North Alabama reported one-quarter of an inch to an inch and a half. On Sunday the 7th, one fatality occurred in an automobile/train collision in Calhoun County that was attributed to icy roads. The teenage driver of the car was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Lauderdale

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.901, -87.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Colbert

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Colbert forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.700, -87.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.442, -87.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lawrence

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Lawrence forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.522, -87.311 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Limestone

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Limestone forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.810, -86.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Madison

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.763, -86.550 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morgan

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.454, -86.853 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marshall

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.367, -86.307 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jackson

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.779, -85.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Dekalb

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Dekalb forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.460, -85.804 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marion

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.137, -87.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lamar

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Lamar forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.779, -88.097 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Fayette

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.721, -87.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Winston

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Winston forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.149, -87.374 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Walker

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Walker forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.803, -87.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cullman

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Cullman forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.132, -86.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Blount

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Blount forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.981, -86.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Etowah

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Etowah forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.045, -86.035 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Calhoun

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.771, -85.826 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cherokee

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Cherokee forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.176, -85.604 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cleburne

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Cleburne forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.675, -85.519 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pickens

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Pickens forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.281, -88.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Tuscaloosa

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Tuscaloosa forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.290, -87.525 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.554, -86.896 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Shelby

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.264, -86.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, St. Clair

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: St. Clair forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.716, -86.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Talladega

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Talladega forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.380, -86.166 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clay

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.269, -85.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Randolph

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 33.294, -85.459 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sumter

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Sumter forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.591, -88.199 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Greene

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.853, -87.952 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hale

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Hale forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.763, -87.629 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Perry

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.639, -87.294 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Bibb

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Bibb forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.999, -87.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chilton

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Chilton forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.848, -86.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Coosa

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Coosa forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.936, -86.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Tallapoosa

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Tallapoosa forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.862, -85.797 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chambers

When: January 6, 8:00 PM CST to January 7, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Chambers forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 32.914, -85.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, January 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5536825, 5536826, 5536827, 5536828, 5536829, 5536830, 5536831, 5536832, 5536833, 5536834, 5536835, 5536836, 5536837, 5536838, 5536839, 5536840, 5536841, 5536842, 5536843, 5536844, 5536845, 5536846, 5536847, 5536848, 5536849, 5536850, 5536851, 5536852, 5536853, 5536854, 5536855, 5536856, 5536857, 5536858, 5536859, 5536860, 5536861, 5536862.