Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Alabama, January 28 to 29, 2014

Name: Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Alabama, January 28 to 29, 2014
Start: 2014-01-28T06:00
End: 2014-01-29T09:00
Location: Alabama

January 28 to 29, 2014 · NWS MOB · 30 events in 9 counties and zones

An area of low pressure moved across the northern Gulf of Mexico January 28th and 29th. This system spread moisture northward across a very cold arctic airmass in place across the deep south.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 30

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 MOB wrote it up.

An area of low pressure moved across the northern Gulf of Mexico January 28th and 29th. This system spread moisture northward across a very cold arctic airmass in place across the deep south. The precipitation fell as a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow across northwest parts of the area Tuesday afternoon and spread across the remainder of the area Tuesday night and ended Wednesday morning. Precipitation changed to snow across northern counties Tuesday night with freezing rain and sleet across southern areas. 1 to 3 inches of sleet and snow fell across most inland areas with freezing rain accumulations of a one-quarter to one-half an inch near the coast.

What forecasters said that day

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 28, 5:44 AM CST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 28, 5:44 AM CST, 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
544 AM CST TUE JAN 28 2014

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...FOR TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...
SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO FCST THIS MORNING WITH REGARD TO THE
IMPENDING WINTER STORM...BUT OVERALL THE FCST REMAINS ON TRACK.
MAINTAINED THE PREVIOUS ADJUSTMENTS TO THE HOURLY DEWPOINTS AS
GUIDANCE WAS NOT HANDLING VERY LOW DEWPOINTS ADVECTING INTO THE FCST
AREA VERY WELL. AS NOTED EARLIER...THIS SURGE OF VERY COLD AND DRY
AIR INTO THE REGION IS LENDING CONFIDENCE THAT VERY EFFICIENT
EVAPORATIVE COOLING WILL OCCUR AS PCPN DEVELOPS AND RAMPS UP OVER THE
AREA LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING
INTO THE VERY EARLY MORNING HOURS ON WEDNESDAY. THIS EVAPORATIVE
COOLING MAY ALSO BE ENHANCED BY PCPN AMOUNTS/RATES...WHICH NEARLY
EVERY MODELS HAS INCREASED OVER THE AREA TODAY AND THIS EVENING. WITH
TEMPERATURES ALREADY NEAR OR JUST ABOVE FREEZING EARLY DURING THE
PREDAWN HOURS...DEVELOPMENT OF STEADY PCPN BY MID TO LATE MORNING
WILL ONLY ACT TO KEEP TEMPS AT OR BELOW FREEZING OVER THE MAJORITY OF
THE AREA TODAY. PCPN HAS ALREADY DEVELOPED JUST TO THE WEST OF THE
FCST AREA THIS MORNING AND IS EXPECTED TO QUICKLY MOVE INTO THE AREA
AFTER SUNRISE AND INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THROUGH THE DAY
AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS AS STRONG ISENTROPIC LIFT INCREASES
OVER THE AREA.

AS THE EVENING SHIFT INDICATED...BOTH THE 00Z NAM AND RAP WERE
SHOWING AN ENHANCED BAND OF PRECIP ACROSS COASTAL AL/NW FL THIS
AFTERNOON IN ASSOCIATION WITH STRONG FRONTOGENESIS. 00Z RUNS OF
SEVERAL OTHER MODELS ARE ALSO INDICATING THIS SCENARIO TO SOME
DEGREE AS WELL AND AS A RESULT WE BELIEVE THERE WILL BE SLIGHTLY
ENHANCED WINTER WEATHER PCPN ACCUMULATION TOTALS OVER THE SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE FCST AREA...MAINLY IN THE FORM OF FREEZING RAIN.
GREATEST THREAT OF FREEZING RAIN WILL BE ALONG AND SOUTH ROUGHLY OF
A WIGGINS...MONROEVILLE...GREENVILLE LINE. ICE ACCUMULATIONS OVER
THE AFOREMENTIONED PORTIONS OF INTERIOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND
INTERIOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA IS EXPECTED TO
GENERALLY BE AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH. OF GREATER CONCERN IS ICE
ACCUMULATION OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF ALABAMA EASTWARD ALONG THE
I-10 CORRIDOR IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. IN THESE AREAS WE HAVE
SLIGHTLY INCREASED ICE ACCUMULATIONS (BY ABOUT A TENTH OF AN INCH)
AND ARE NOW FORECASTING ANYWHERE FROM 2 TENTHS OF AN INCH UPWARDS TO
NEAR ONE HALF INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS. AS FAR AS SNOW...WE STILL
EXPECT 1-3 INCHES OF SNOW TO ACCUMULATE ACROSS THE AREA
TODAY...PRIMARILY LIKELY IN TWO MAIN BANDS (AS INDICATED BY SEVERAL
MODEL SOLUTIONS THIS MORNING)...ONE OVER THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF
OUR FCST AREA (OCCURRING DURING THE DAY TODAY) AND ANOTHER ALONG THE
I-10 CORRIDOR THIS EVENING (ON TOP OF THE ALREADY ACCUMULATED ICE).
WE CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT SUCH CONDITIONS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY
DETERIORATE ROAD CONDITIONS THROUGH THE DAY TODAY AND TONIGHT...AND
ALSO LIKELY IMPACT THE POWER GRID IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT
ICING.

ONE OF THE TOUGHER PARTS OF THE PCPN FORECAST CLOSER TO THE COAST
AND ESPECIALLY OVER MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES. WHILE FORECAST
SOUNDINGS AT FIRST GLANCE ARE FREEZING RAIN...THE SOUNDINGS ALSO
INDICATE A 2500-3000 FT LAYER BELOW FREEZING IN THE LOW LEVELS WITH
MIN TEMPS IN THE COLUMN OF -7C. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE SUPER
COOLED WATER DROPLETS RE-FREEZING TO SLEET BEFORE REACHING THE
SURFACE. ATTM...WITH THE VERY LOW DEWPOINTS ALREADY OVER THE AREA...
WE BELIEVE EVAPORATIVE COOLING WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO RESULT IN
PREDOMINATELY FREEZING RAIN VS SLEET.

PCPN WILL BE ENDING AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...BUT VERY COLD TEMPS
CONTINUE. WE HAVE ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WARNING FOR MUCH OF OUR
WESTERN AND NORTHERN FCST AREA AND A WIND CHILL ADVSY FOR THE ENTIRE
AREA TONIGHT.

12/DS

WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...AS AN UPPER SHORTWAVE PASSES NORTH OF
THE FA...THE FA DRIES OUT AS COLDER AIR PUSHES IN. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE
QUICKLY PASSES EAST FROM OVER THE PAINS TO NEAR THE EASTERN
SEABOARD...BRINGING LOW LEVEL WINDS BACK TO EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY
OVER THE LOWER MISS RIVER VALLEY AND WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE
SOUTHEASTERN CONUS. WITH THE COLD AIRMASS IN PLACE AND WINDS
DROPPING OFF WEDNESDAY NIGHT...GUIDANCE IS ADVERTISING ANOTHER COLD
NIGHT...WITH TEMPS DROPPING INTO THE TEENS OVER MOST OF THE
FA...LOWER TEENS OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FA. A HARD FREEZE WATCH
WILL BE ISSUED WITH THIS PACKAGE FOR THIS.

.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT ON)...THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...
SHORTWAVE ENERGY STREAMING ACROSS THE CONUS (WITH THE STRONGEST
MOVING EAST OVER THE US/CA BORDER) PUSH A SURFACE FRONT SOUTHEAST
ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS...TO ABOUT 100 MILES NW OF THE FA BY SATURDAY
EVENING. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING NORTHEAST ALONG THE
EASTERN SEABOARD GETS SHOVED EAST OVER THE ATLANTIC. THIS KEEPS THE
LOWER MISS RIVER VALLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN CONUS UNDER SOUTHEAST TO
SOUTHERN FLOW OFF THE GULF OF MEX THROUGH THE PERIOD. THIS RESULTS IN
AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE LEVELS INTO THE WEEKEND...AND PRECIP CHANCES
AS A RESULT. GUIDANCE HAS PRECIP RETURNING TO THE FORECAST
SATURDAY...WITH HINTS AT LIGHT SHRA TOT HE WEST OF THE FA FRIDAY
NIGHT. TEMPS MODERATE UPWARD FROM AROUND SEASONAL...TO ABOVE SEASONAL
BY SATURDAY.

SATURDAY NIGHT ON...GUIDANCE DIVERGES IN THE HANDLING OF THE FRONT.
THE GFS PUSHES THE FRONT ACROSS THE FA SUNDAY..WHILST THE
ECMWF...WITH WEAKER UPPER DYNAMICS PUSHES IT OVER THE FA BY SUNDAY
EVENING AND STALLS IT. THE RESULT IS THE GFS DRYING OUT THE FA SUNDAY
NIGHT AND MONDAY...WHILST THE ECMWF KEEPS PRECIP IN THE FORECAST. THE
GFS IS NOT ADVERTISING A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN TEMPS BEHIND THE FRONT
AND IS ACTUALLY WARMER THAN THE WETTER ECMWF FOR SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY. HAVE TRIED TO BLEND THE TWO SOLUTIONS...WITH THE GFS
ENSEMBLE MEAN INDICATING THE RESULT IN BETWEEN THE TWO. TEMPS REMAIN
SEASONABLY WARM WITH CHANCE FOR RAIN BEING ABOVE SEASONAL ALSO. BY
TUESDAY...WITH THE GFS ADVERTISING AN APPROACHING SHORTWAVE (FASTER
THAN THE ECMWF)...TEMPS AND CHANCE OF RAIN COME BACK INTO LINE WITH
THE ECMWF AND GFS...ALBEIT WIND DIRECTION IN THE ECMWF IS GENERALLY
NORTHEASTERLY...WHILST  IN THE GFS IS IT IS SOUTHEASTERLY.

&&

.AVIATION...(28/12Z ISSUANCE)...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO TAFS THIS
FCST CYCLE. MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE TIMING OF ONSET OF
FREEZING AND FROZEN PRECIPITATION AND DURATION AT TERMINALS. KPNS
HAS FREEZING PRECIPITATION THAT LAGS THE ONSET OF KMOB AND KBFM BY A
COUPLE OF HOURS. KMOB AND KBFM WILL LIKELY SEE BEGINNING OF FREEZING
PCPN BY LATE MORNING...KPNS DURING EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON HOURS.
CIGS LOWER TO IFR BY MID MORNING AND THEN LIFR THIS AFTERNOON AS
FREEZING RAIN BECOMES MORE INTENSE DURING AFTERNOON HOURS AND THEN
CHANGES TO SNOW LATE FROM NW TO SE ACROSS THE AREA LATE TOMORROW
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS PREVAIL IN THE 18-23
KNOT RANGE WITH WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 30 KNOTS POSSIBLE. VSBYS WILL
MOSTLY BE IN THE MVFR RANGE MOST OF THE PERIOD BUT OCCASIONAL IFR
NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION AFTER 28.21 UTC THIS AFTERNOON. STILL
FORECASTING LIFR CIGS AND MVFR VSBYS AFTER 29.00 UTC AT MOST COASTAL
TAF SITES AS FREEZING RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW AND/OR A MIX OF SLEET AND
SNOW. THIS ENDURES THROUGH 29.03 UTC AND FINALLY BECOMES LIGHT SNOW
BEFORE ENDING DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WEDNESDAY. 12/DS

&&

.MARINE...ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL SURGE INTO THE MARINE AREA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. DEVELOPING STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY. SMALL CRAFT
CONDITIONS FOR BOTH WINDS AND SEAS WILL BE OBSERVED FROM THIS
MORNING AND NOW EXTENDING INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. WINDS BECOME MORE
EAST THURSDAY AND THEN MORE SOUTHEASTERLY LATE IN THE WEEK AND INTO
THE WEEKEND AS THE HIGH PRESSURE DRIFTS EAST AND ANOTHER COLD FRONT
BEGINS TO DEVELOP AND MOVE TOWARD THE MARINE AREA FROM THE WEST. A
WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT. 12/DS

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE      30  18  36  18  46 / 100  70  10  00  00
PENSACOLA   36  23  36  23  46 / 100  80  10  00  00
DESTIN      40  26  37  28  46 / 100  80  20  00  00
EVERGREEN   30  20  36  13  46 /  90  80  10  00  00
WAYNESBORO  29  15  39  14  48 /  90  70  05  00  00
CAMDEN      29  18  37  15  46 /  90  70  10  00  00
CRESTVIEW   34  24  34  16  49 / 100  80  10  00  00

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...COVINGTON...
     CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...
     MONROE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...WASHINGTON...
     WILCOX...

     HARD FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...
     CONECUH...CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER MOBILE...MONROE...
     UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...WASHINGTON...WILCOX...

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 2 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...
     COVINGTON...CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER
     MOBILE...MONROE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...
     WASHINGTON...WILCOX...

     HARD FREEZE WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT THURSDAY TO 9 AM THURSDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...
     COVINGTON...CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER
     MOBILE...MONROE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...
     WASHINGTON...WILCOX...

FL...HARD FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: INLAND ESCAMBIA...

     HARD FREEZE WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT THURSDAY TO 9 AM THURSDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...
     COASTAL SANTA ROSA...INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...
     INLAND SANTA ROSA...

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 2 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...
     COASTAL SANTA ROSA...INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...
     INLAND SANTA ROSA...

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA
     ROSA...INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...INLAND SANTA
     ROSA...

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA ROSA...

MS...HARD FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...
     WAYNE...

     HARD FREEZE WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT THURSDAY TO 9 AM THURSDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...
     WAYNE...

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 2 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...
     WAYNE...

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...WAYNE...

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY...COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO
     PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL
     TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM...MISSISSIPPI SOUND...NORTHERN
     MOBILE BAY...PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM...PERDIDO BAY...SOUTHERN
     MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO
     60 NM...WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20
     TO 60 NM...

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 27, 4:02 PM CST, 13 hours 58 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
402 PM CST MON JAN 27 2014

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-282215-
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-WAYNE-PERRY-
GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
402 PM CST MON JAN 27 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...

MUCH COLDER AIR WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TONIGHT IN THE WAKE OF A
STRONG COLD FRONT. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES
WILL SPREAD INTO THE AREA TONIGHT. LATE TONIGHT MOISTURE WILL BEGIN
TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. RAIN WILL TRANSITION
TO A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN BEFORE DAYBREAK.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

MOISTURE WILL SPREAD ACROSS OUR AREA ON TUESDAY AS A SERIES OF
STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST OVER MUCH OF
THE GULF COAST REGION. WITH COLD AIR IN PLACE...MOST OF THE AREA
NORTH OF THE IMMEDIATE COAST CAN EXPECT A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SLEET THROUGHOUT THE DAY TUESDAY... WHILE SNOW MAY ALSO MIX IN ACROSS
INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA.
PRECIPITATION MAY TRANSITION TO A WINTRY MIX OF FREEZING
RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW NEAR THE COAST TUESDAY NIGHT...AND FROM SLEET
TO SNOW OVER INTERIOR AREAS. SIGNIFICANT ICE...SLEET...AND SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE BEFORE PRECIPITATION ENDS WEDNESDAY.

A HARD FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MORNING FOR THE POTENTIAL OF TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE UPPER
TEENS TO AROUND 20 DEGREES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE
REQUIRED LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AS THE WINTER STORM MOVES ACROSS
THE AREA.

GMZ630>635-650-655-670-675-282215-
NORTHERN MOBILE BAY-SOUTHERN MOBILE BAY-MISSISSIPPI SOUND-
PERDIDO BAY-PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM-CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
402 PM CST MON JAN 27 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL
WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTH OF THE MARINE AREA TONIGHT WITH A
A STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT TONIGHT. THIS WILL
CREATE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MORNING DUE TO STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 ice storm, 13 sleet, 3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain and sleet resulted in some light glazing.

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 8:05 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A bridge on hwy 43 at south end of Thomasville city limits iced over.

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 8:05 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Grove Hill police officer on patrol reports windshield icing up.

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 9:40 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hwy 43 bridge over Tombigbee River is iced over and subject to closure.

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 9:05 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County reports 0.125 inches of ice coating vehicles in parking lot.

Ice Storm, Choctaw

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 9:15 AM CST
Where: Choctaw forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.020, -88.263 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Alabama Highway 10 bridge over Tombigbee River is closed due to icing over. Numerous other bridges icing over.

Ice Storm, Choctaw

When: January 28, 6:00 AM CST to 9:40 AM CST
Where: Choctaw forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.020, -88.263 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 84 bridge iced over and subject to closure.

Ice Storm, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to 11:33 AM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Light freezing rain with glaze accumulation and icicles forming.

Ice Storm, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to 11:33 AM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

One-tenth of inch of ice accumulation at Cottage Hill and Dawes Road.

Ice Storm, Lower Baldwin

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to 12:50 PM CST
Where: Lower Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

One tenth of an inch has accumulated and is covering tree limbs, cars, crops and grass.

Sleet, Washington

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.408, -88.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Washington County EMA estimates 0.5 inches of sleet and snow in the Laton Hill area.

Sleet, Clarke

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

EMA reports 1 to 1.5 inches of sleet in Grove Hill.

Sleet, Monroe

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.571, -87.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

EMA reports 0.5 to 1 inches of sleet in Monroeville.

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 28, 9:00 AM CST to January 29, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County roads closed due to ice. City streets in Fulton, Thomasville, and Jackson closed due to ice. US and state roads declared impassable by ALDOT due to ice.

Ice Storm, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 11:00 AM CST to 4:04 PM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A third of an inch of sleet recorded on the University of South Alabama campus.

Ice Storm, Lower Baldwin

When: January 28, 11:00 AM CST to 4:25 PM CST
Where: Lower Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ice accumulation of 0.25 inches measured on County Road 8 in Gulf Shores. Ice accumulation was approaching 0.4 inches in spots.

Ice Storm, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 11:00 AM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

An NWS employee measured about one third of an inch of freezing rain accrual around 230 pm.

Sleet, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 12:00 PM CST to 5:03 PM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Half inch of sleet measured on the USA campus.

Sleet, Upper Mobile

When: January 28, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Upper Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

EMA reports 1 inch of sleet in Saraland.

Sleet, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

An employee measured 0.8 inches of sleet at the NWS office in West Mobile.

Sleet, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 12:00 PM CST to 8:20 PM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Public reports a measurement of 1 inch of sleet near Foreman and Dickens Ferry Rd. in West Mobile.

Sleet, Clarke

When: January 28, 12:00 PM CST to January 29, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 31.677, -87.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of sleet and snow accumulation.

Sleet, Crenshaw

When: January 28, 1:00 PM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where: Crenshaw forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.732, -86.314 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

All roads and bridges iced over in Crenshaw County.

Winter Storm, Choctaw

When: January 28, 1:00 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Choctaw forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.020, -88.263 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of sleet and snow reported at Choctaw General Hospital in Butler.

Sleet, Lower Baldwin

When: January 28, 2:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Lower Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: Public

One inch of sleet reported in Daphne.

Sleet, Upper Baldwin

When: January 28, 2:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Upper Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Public report of 1.25 inches of sleet in Bay Minette.

Winter Storm, Upper Baldwin

When: January 28, 2:00 PM CST to January 29, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A quarter inch ice accrual with a half inch sleet accumulation.

Winter Storm, Lower Baldwin

When: January 28, 2:00 PM CST to January 29, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A quarter inch ice accrual with a tenth of an inch sleet accumulation.

Sleet, Upper Baldwin

When: January 28, 6:00 PM CST to January 29, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Baldwin forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Three quarters of an inch sleet accumulation with around one tenth inch ice accrual.

Sleet, Lower Mobile

When: January 28, 6:00 PM CST to January 29, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Mobile forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

One inch of sleet.

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
Sleet: Sleet accumulating half an inch or more.
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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, January 2014

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 496726, 496727, 496728, 496729, 496730, 496731, 496732, 496733, 496734, 496735, 496951, 496955, 496956, 497235, 496737, 496738, 497229, 496950, 496957, 496958, 496959, 498133, 496739, 496740, 497230, 497231, 498114, 498115, 498117, 498129.