The northern fringe of a large band of snow across central into northeast Alabama brought a period of snow during the morning and afternoon hours over portions of Cullman, Marshall and DeKalb Counties. Amounts ranged from 1 to 3 inches.
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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 HUN wrote it up.
The northern fringe of a large band of snow across central into northeast Alabama brought a period of snow during the morning and afternoon hours over portions of Cullman, Marshall and DeKalb Counties. Amounts ranged from 1 to 3 inches. The Valley Head COOP observer in DeKalb County measured 3.2 inches.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 8, 5:37 AM CST, 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 537 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 .UPDATE... For 12Z TAFS and Near Term. && .NEAR TERM...(Today and Tonight) Issued at 530 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 As of 5 AM made a few tweaks to the forecast based on current satellite and radar trends. Increased PoPs a little bit based on the blob of precip and cooling cloud tops moving across central MS towards the AL border. Timing out the arrival of this precip puts it into Cullman county around 8 AM and into Marshall and DeKalb counties around 9 AM. Winds have increased out of the N/NE a bit this morning and this has continues to provide a steady stream of drier air in the lowest levels of the atmosphere. Much of the TN Valley will remain dry today but could see a few flurries. The exception to this is east of a line from Cullman to Scottsboro, where light snow is possible and could potentially change over to a mix of rain/snow later this morning. Reports so far indicate that around 0.25 inches of snow fell in portions of Marshall and DeKalb counties but all of this stuck to elevated surfaces and remained off of the roads. An additional half an inch is possible in southern Marshall and DeKalb counties as the blob of precip out of MS moves into the area. But as mentioned, the precip will be contending with drier air working in at the lowest levels and this may help to limit snowfall totals somewhat. If the blob of precip intensifies any as it moves towards our SE counties we may need to issue a Winter Weather Advisory but at this time feel that any impacts will be limited as road temps remain in the upper 30s to lower 40s and any snow that falls should melt on contact with road surfaces. (Previous Near Term Discussion)...This continues to be a difficult forecast in regards to what will eventually win out (drier air vs wintry precip) across NE AL. Cold and dry air has spread across the entire HUN CWA with dewpoints in the 20s. The exception being in far southern Marshall and DeKalb counties where a band of light precip has been able to saturate the lowest levels resulting in a change over from light rain to light snow. Based on radar trends as of 2:45 AM this band of now light snow could continue until 3:30 AM, which might be enough for a quick dusting of snow on elevated surfaces. The AL road sensor network shows road temps in NE AL in the upper 30s to lower 40s and indicates that any snow that does fall should melt on contact with road surfaces. The exception is bridges and overpasses where a very light dusting of snow may be possible. After 3 AM radar trends back to our W/SW suggest a break in any wintry precip until later this morning. Latest forecast guidance continues to indicate a sharp gradient in precip. This is primarily due to the steady stream of dry air at the surface up through about 10,000 feet. Above this layer W/SW winds will be advecting moisture into the TN Valley. With an elongated positively tilted trough lingering back to the west, the best upper level forcing won't move over the area until this afternoon/evening, which is just out of phase with the timing of the better moisture aloft. The main forcing instead will be generated by isentropic lift above 700mb and should be maximized from 7am-3pm. But the continued stream of cold dry air at the surface will limit precip chances somewhat. With latest guidance bringing QPF/PoPs back to the NW towards Lake Guntersville have nudged values upwards for the morning and into early afternoon. The best chances will remain to our south where a better band of precip will be located. As mentioned above there will be enough lift and moisture around later this morning to support initially light snow, then as we warm slightly this could become a mix of rain/snow in valley locations and continued light snow in the higher terrain of Marshall and DeKalb counties. Then transition back to all snow by this afternoon/evening. The upper level trough starts to move over the area this evening and will push any lingering moisture off to the east, ending precip chances. In terms of accumulations, the band that is currently moving across southern Marshall and DeKalb counties could be enough for a light dusting by sunrise. Then additional light accumulations are possible later this morning with up to a half an inch possible in far southern Marshall and DeKalb counties. Some higher amounts are possible in the higher terrain areas. Those amounts combined with road temps in the upper 30s to lower 40s should keep any travel impacts to a minimum. So, we have decided to hold off on issuing any Winter products at this time and have issued an SPS discussing light accums on mainly elevated surfaces. Winds tonight should remain elevated enough to keep things mixed and temperatures from falling into the teens. Nudged lows down a degree or so but could potentially see a need to lower values a bit further. This would put the entire TN Valley in the lower 20s for Saturday morning. .SHORT TERM...(Saturday through Sunday night) Issued at 300 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 Quiet weather will continue to dominant the week ahead with very limited chances for precipitation -- and generally continued troughing and below normal temperatures. A cold front will track toward the region on Saturday, though the best lift and any available moisture will be well to the northeast. Thus, any chances for light rain and/or flurries was kept to the NE across Upper East Tennessee. Dry air will move back in quickly as this weak front quickly surges south from the Ohio Valley and through the Tennessee Valley. Though moisture will be limited, a stronger reinforcing shot of colder air will make it feel quite chilly behind the FROPA in the afternoon (despite the sunshine). A clear night with light northerly flow will give us the coldest night of this winter season so far as lows will bottom out in the upper Teens to lower 20s by early Sunday morning! Northwest flow between an upper-trough to the northeast and an upper ridge to the southwest will promote a very chilly day Sunday, with highs only peaking in the low to mid 40s. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 300 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 The upper-trough over the Northeast US will quickly exit into the Canadian Maritimes as a subtropical ridge over the western Gulf Coast briefly tries to nose it's way into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on Monday. Thus, some brief moderation will occur as winds back to the WSW thanks to this feature. Highs will return to the mid 50s (seasonable levels) for a day, with plenty of sunshine and only a few passing high clouds. This warm-up, however will be short- lived as a deepening upper- trough swinging southeast from Ontario into the St. Lawrence Valley will drag another strong (but dry) cold front into the Deep South Tuesday into Wednesday. This will bring with it another round of Canadian air and knock temperatures down 10-15 degrees once more. There is some evidence that another weak ridge may attempt to build back in by late week and give us some relief -- but uncertainty exists due to the fluid nature of this pattern. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday morning) Issued at 530 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 A band of precip is moving out of central MS towards western AL and as this moves towards northern AL it could lower cigs down to around 3,500 feet at HSV. Otherwise, northerly winds around 10kts will provide enough dry air near the surface to keep VFR cigs at both HSV and MSL. Light snow turning to a mixture of rain/snow is possible across NE AL this morning. A few flurries are possible at HSV but not expecting any accumulations. Winds remain out of the north for the next 24 hours with a brief gusts to 15kts possible at times today. Winds increase on Saturday as a stronger system drops into the area from the north. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...Stumpf SHORT TERM...Stumpf LONG TERM...Stumpf AVIATION...Stumpf For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Huntsville AL 348 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-090500- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-De Kalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 348 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Light snow accumulations of generally one half inch or less are possible across portions of Cullman, Marshall, and DeKalb Counties through this afternoon. While most accumulations will remain confined to grassy surfaces, localized slick roads could develop along rural, elevated locations where slightly cooler surface temperatures exist. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time, but any snowfall reports would be greatly appreciated.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 220 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ALZ008>010-016-081500- Marshall-Jackson-De Kalb-Cullman- Including the cities of Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville, Arab, Scottsboro, Fort Payne, Rainsville, and Cullman 220 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ...Light snow accumulations expected this morning across Cullman, Jackson, Marshall, and DeKalb Counties... A broad area of light snow will continue to move across portions of North Central and Northeast Alabama early this morning. Surface temperatures in most locations will generally stay at or above the freezing mark, causing most snow that falls to melt on contact. However, slightly cooler temperatures in elevated areas such as Sand and Lookout Mountain may allow for some light snowfall accumulations around half an inch through mid-morning. This could result in some localized slick roadways in these rural, elevated areas. The remaining valley locations could see a light dusting, mainly on grassy surfaces by daybreak. However, widespread travel concerns are not expected.
Special Weather Statement...UPDATED National Weather Service Huntsville AL 447 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ALZ008>010-016-081800- Marshall-Jackson-De Kalb-Cullman- Including the cities of Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville, Arab, Scottsboro, Fort Payne, Rainsville, and Cullman 447 AM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ...Light snow accumulations expected this morning across Cullman, Jackson, Marshall, and DeKalb Counties... A broad area of light snow will continue to move across portions of North Central and Northeast Alabama this morning. Surface temperatures in most locations will generally stay at or just above the freezing mark. This will cause most of the snow that falls to generally melt on contact on pavement and keep accumulations mainly to grassy surfaces. However, slightly cooler temperatures in elevated areas such as Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain will allow for some light snowfall accumulations around half an inch to perhaps an inch through midday. This could result in some localized slick roadways in these rural, elevated areas. The remaining valley locations could see a light dusting to around one quarter of an inch, mainly on grassy surfaces. However, widespread travel issues are not anticipated.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall accumulated to one inch or less across central and eastern portions of the county. The highest amount reported was 1.0 inch at 1.6 E of Hanceville.
Snowfall accumulation reports ranged from 0.8 inch 2 ENE of Crossville to 1.8 inches 1.8 WNW of Albertville.
The NWS COOP observer at Valley Head reported a snow total of 3.2 inches in the northeast corner of the county. Other portions of the county received 1.0 to 2.0 inches based on other CoCoRaHS observers.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, December 2017
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: 727515, 727516, 727518.