Moisture increased ahead of a weak storm system on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, across Central Alabama. Temperatures near or below freezing at the surface resulted in widespread freezing rain and sleet beginning around sunrise and lasting through most of the day.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.
Moisture increased ahead of a weak storm system on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, across Central Alabama. Temperatures near or below freezing at the surface resulted in widespread freezing rain and sleet beginning around sunrise and lasting through most of the day. Although precipitation was light, ice quickly accumulated on area roadways, causing hazardous driving conditions, numerous vehicle accidents, and road closures.
Hazardous driving conditions due to ice on the roadway persisted well after precipitation moved out of the area, with many counties maintaining road closures for extended periods of time.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 15, 3:35 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 335 AM CST WED DEC 15 2010 .DISCUSSION... AREA RADARS SHOW INITIAL PUSH OF PRECIPITATION MOVING INTO WESTERN ALABAMA THIS MORNING. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND CERTAINLY NONE OF THE MODELS SEEMED TO HAVE PROJECTED THIS EARLY ARRIVAL. THICK CLOUD COVER THAT MOVED IN DURING THE EVENING HAS LIMITED COOLING OVERNIGHT AND EVEN WARMED A FEW PLACES UP SEVERAL DEGREES OVERNIGHT. THAT WAS GOOD NEWS AND MOST LOCATIONS IN WESTERN ALABAMA ARE NOW IN THE MID 30S. WET BULB EFFECTS AS OF THIS WRITING WOULD DROP MOST LOCATIONS TO RIGHT AROUND FREEZING BUT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH PRECIPITATION FOR ANY EARLY TO MID MORNING CONCERNS AT THIS TIME. EVEN UNDER THE HEAVIER RETURNS...OBSERVATIONS SITES IN MISSISSIPPI ARE NOT MEASURING. AS THE DAY PROGRESSES...EXPECTING LIGHT PRECIPITATION TO FALL OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE AREA AS ISENTROPIC LIFT SPREADS EASTWARD WITH TIME. BIGGEST QUESTION REMAINS...WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO MEASURE? CONFIDENCE IS STILL NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO WARRANT A WINTER ADVISORY AT THIS TIME. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RADAR TRENDS AND MAKE A LAST MINUTE CALL ON POPS. FOR THE WEATHER GROUP...WILL CONTINUE WITH THE MIX OF RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN AT THIS TIME WITH THINKING THAT INITIALLY STARTING AS RAIN POSSIBLY WET BULBING INTO FREEZING RAIN IF ENOUGH PRECIPITATION FALLS. QPFS WILL REMAIN NO MORE THAT A FEW HUNDREDTHS AT THE MOST. AGAIN...ALL OF THESE CONCERNS ARE FOR THE NORTHERN COUNTIES...ROUGHLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A PICKENS TO CLEBURNE LINE. ANYTHING SOUTH WOULD JUST BE A COLD RAIN/SPRINKLE. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL EVENTUALLY OVERTAKE THE AREA AND END ANY WINTRY POTENTIAL THIS EVENING. TEMPERATURES WILL RISE OVERNIGHT WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN ACROSS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES. A COLD FRONT WILL EASE INTO NORTHERN ALABAMA ON THURSDAY PROVIDING FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. GOING TO FEEL LIKE A HEAT WAVE THURSDAY WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE MID 50S NORTH TO UPPER 60S SOUTH. THE FRONTAL BOUDARY WILL SLOWLY SINK SOUTHWARD THURSDAY EVENING AND FRIDAY. A FEW SHOWERS POSSIBLE EACH DAY AS THE FRONT MEANDERS THROUGH THE STATE. FOR THIS WEEKEND...A SHORT WAVE WILL APPROACH FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY AND SPIN UP A SURFACE LOW IN THE NORTHERN GULF THAT WILL RAPIDLY LIFT NORTHEASTWARD AND OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST BY SATURDAY EVENING. SOME SHOWERS/LIGHT RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE DAY SATURDAY. THE RAIN WILL BE FALLING IN A COLD AIR MASS BUT NOT COLD ENOUGH FOR ANY WINTRY PRECIPITATION. AT LEAST NOT FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA. COLDER DRY AIR WILL RETURN SATURDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK WITH TEMPERATURES RUNNING BELOW AVERAGE DURING THIS TIME. && .AVIATION...06Z TAF DISCUSSION. CLOUDS CONTINUE TO SPREAD ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...BUT WILL REMAIN AT OR ABOVE 5000 FEET OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. LIGHT RAIN WILL BEGIN EARLY IN THE MORNING AND ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA...POSSIBLY AS FAR SOUTH AS TCL...EET AND ANB. THE ONLY REAL AVIATION CONCERN FROM THIS LIGHT RAIN OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS IS A NARROW WINDOW WHEN SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE BELOW FREEZING WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES ALOFT. AS A RESULT RAIN COULD FREEZE ON CONTACT WITH THE GROUND OR AIRCRAFT. INCLUDED A 2 HOUR TEMPO GROUP FOR -FZRA AT TCL FROM 15 TO 17Z...AT BHM FROM 17 TO 19Z AND AT ANB FROM 19 TO 20Z. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING AT ALL SITES NO LATER THAN 21Z. PREVAILING WINDS WILL BE FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT LESS THAN 5 KNOTS. NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO THE END OF THE FORECAST THROUGH THE END OF 2010. THE CEILOMETER DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR ACCURACY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 33 32 53 41 48 / 30 60 60 40 50 ANNISTON 37 36 58 46 54 / 30 40 60 50 50 BIRMINGHAM 37 38 60 44 50 / 30 50 60 40 50 TUSCALOOSA 40 43 64 45 49 / 30 40 50 40 50 CALERA 36 38 61 47 52 / 20 40 40 50 50 AUBURN 38 35 60 53 62 / 10 20 30 40 50 MONTGOMERY 43 39 66 52 64 / 10 20 40 40 50 TROY 43 38 65 54 67 / 10 10 30 30 50 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && 88/12
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 600 PM CST TUE DEC 14 2010 ALZ011>015-017>050-160001- AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE- CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE- JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY- PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA- TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON- 600 PM CST TUE DEC 14 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. A LOW CONFIDENCE THREAT REMAINS FOR A STORM SYSTEM THAT MAY PRODUCE LIGHT PRECIPITATION OVER NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY. COLD AIR WILL STILL BE IN PLACE DURING THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON HOURS...AND FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
26 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A period of freezing rain led to a light glaze of ice on many surfaces, particularly at the Bevill Lock and Dam.
A period of freezing rain led to a light glaze of ice covering most outdoor surfaces.
A period of freezing rain led numerous accidents and road closures, particularly in and around the cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport.
A light glaze of ice on numerous area roadways and bridges led to numerous vehicle accidents.
A period of freezing rain led to ice covered bridges countywide.
Ice accumulating on area roadways and bridges resulted in road closures and numerous vehicle accidents, across the entire county. One accident resulted in minor injuries (indirect) in east Jefferson County along Interstate 20.
A light glaze of ice on area roadways and bridges caused numerous accidents.
A light glaze of ice on area roadways and bridges caused numerous accidents.
A period of freezing rain resulted in a light glaze of ice accumulation on area bridges.
A period of freezing rain resulted in a light glaze of ice on area bridges and numerous vehicle accidents.
A period of freezing rain resulted in a light glaze of ice on area bridges and numerous vehicle accidents.
A fatality occurred (indirect) along Interstate 65 when a vehicle bypassed slowed traffic and struck an EMS worker. The EMS worker was responding to a vehicle accident with injuries (indirect) caused by icy spots on the roadway.
A period of light freezing rain led to ice accumulation on area bridges, resulting in a vehicle accident with one injury (indirect) and two fatalities (indirect) on U.S. Highway 231.
Numerous single vehicle accidents along Interstate 65 due to icing on the roadway.
Freezing rain reported in the city of Rockford.
A period of light freezing rain and sleet led to ice accumulation on area roadways and bridges, resulting in numerous vehicle accidents and road closures.
A period of light freezing rain led to ice accumulation on several area roadways and bridges.
A period of light freezing rain led to ice accumulation on several area roadways and bridges.
A period of freezing rain led to ice accumulation on area roadways and several vehicle accidents.
Light freezing rain was reported in Auburn.
A period of light freezing rain and sleet led to ice accumulation on several area roadways and bridges.
A period of freezing rain led to ice accumulation on area roadways.
Freezing rain and sleet reported.
A period of freezing rain led to widespread ice accumulation on area roadways and numerous vehicle accidents. At least one accident resulted in minor injuries (indirect).
A period of freezing rain led to ice accumulation on area roadways and bridges.
A period of freezing rain led to ice accumulation on area roadways and numerous vehicle accidents.
A period of freezing rain led to ice accumulation on area roadways.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Montgomery | 2010-12-15 | 29 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
| Winter Weather, Pike | 2010-12-15 | 14 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
| Winter Weather, Pike | 2010-12-15 | 15 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, December 2010
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 276524, 276522, 276523, 276525, 276526, 276530, 276527, 276528, 276529, 276531, 276532, 276534, 276539, 276543, 276533, 276544, 276549, 276575, 276535, 276558, 276576, 276565, 276582, 276583, 276584, 276569.