An extremely rare early season snow event occurred across the central Gulf coast late in the day on the 8th into the morning of the 9th. An area of low pressure moved northeast off the Gulf and as the low moved east and pulled a cold air mass into the area, rain changed to a mix and eventually all snow.
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.
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 MOB wrote it up.
An extremely rare early season snow event occurred across the central Gulf coast late in the day on the 8th into the morning of the 9th. An area of low pressure moved northeast off the Gulf and as the low moved east and pulled a cold air mass into the area, rain changed to a mix and eventually all snow. It was the earliest snow event ever recorded in the area. Most areas received some accumulation, with the largest totals across northwest areas. Areas northwest of a line from Leakesville, Mississippi to Camden, Alabama received 3 to as much as 7.5 inches of snow.
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 Dec 7, 11:51 PM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1151 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017
.DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below.
&&
.AVIATION...
06Z issuance...
MVFR conditions will gradually degrade into IFR conditions by
early morning as ceilings and visibilities become more impacted by
incoming light rain from the southwest. Wintry mix expected to
slowly travel eastward throughout the day from central Mississippi
as such some areas along I-65 could see some flurries in the
evening hours tomorrow. Northerly winds are expected to persist
through the period. DJ/17
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1009 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017/
DISCUSSION...See updated information for land areas below.
UPDATE...Just a quick evening update. Forecast still appears to
be on track for now. Tempertures late this evening primarily in
the lower 40s across all of the forecast area, except along the
immediate coastal areas where many locations are in the mid 40s.
Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings continue for
our northwestern counties, and will not make any adjustments at
this time. There has been a break in the precipitation over the
Advised/Warned area this evening, but all indications are that
precipitation will pick up again later this evening and overnight
as lift associated with the right-rear quadrant of the upper jet
increases over the area. Rain expected to mix with and possibly
change over to snow (based on thermal profiles) over our west and
northwestern counties, generally west and north of I-65, during
the late night hours and continue through much of Friday. Still
expecting a possible 1 to up to 3 inches of snow accumulation over
the Warned area, and up to around 1 inch possible in the Advised
area. Especially monitoring accumulation potential Stone and
George counties of Mississippi, both of which are very close to
the boundary between the heavier snow potential to the north and
the lesser potential to the south. For now, do not think those two
counties need to be included in the Warning (1-3 inch
accumulation, but remain in the Advisory (up to around 1 inch
accumulation). This agrees with incoming Hi-Res Models, at least
through the morning commute time tomorrow. Will continue to
closely monitor model trends for that area overnight and make
adjustments if necessary. 12/DS
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 608 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017/
DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below.
AVIATION...
00Z issuance...
MVFR and IFR conditions continue through the evening. Ceilings
will be gradually lowering overnight while sustained northerly
winds persist through the period. Light rain should also continue
tonight into tomorrow. DJ/17
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 404 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017/
NEAR TERM /Now Through Friday night/...Snow accumulations northwest
of I-65 are becoming increasingly likley as thermal profiles from
various models across inland areas of southeast Mississippi and
southwest Alabama are trending colder. These thermal profiles may
still be a bit a underdone as dynamic cooling in the lower levels
due to evaporative cooling and the "dragging" of cold air aloft
closer to surface is sometimes not accounted for in the models. As
of right now the high resolution near term models through tonight
are indicating a mix of rain and snow to begin after midnight
across our extreme northwest zones, and then possibly reaching as
far east of line from Wiggins, MS to Camden, AL through early
Friday morning. This rain-snow mix line will continue to move
further eastward throughout the day Friday into Friday night, but
accumulations are less likely as the system progresses eastward.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Wayne, Perry and Greene
counties in Mississippi, and Choctaw, Washington and Clarke counties
in Alabama from midnight through Friday afternoon where one to three
inches of snow accumulation is likley. A Winter Weather Advisory
remains in effect for Stone and George counties in Mississippi, and
Wilcox, Monroe and northern Mobile counties in Alabama where less
than one inch of snow accumulation is expected, mainly on grassy
surfaces. The warning and advisory may need to be expanded further
east if the colder air is realized.
The broad upper longwave trough east of the Rockies over Canada, the
U.S. and northern Mexico will continue to dig southward through
Friday night over northern Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico through the
near term. A 130 to 170 knot jet stream along the periphery of the
trough will remain, with the strongest upper level winds occurring
over the eastern conus on Friday, putting our area in the right
entrance region of the upper jet. This will enhance lift across the
area and could promote periods of moderate rain or a mix of rain and
snow. A strong surface cold front will continue moving south across
the Gulf of Mexico, allowing very cold temperatures to advect into
the forecast area from the north through Friday night. Sub-freezing
temperatures are expected to push all the way to the gulf coast by
late Friday night, so a Freeze Watch has been issued across the
southern half of the forecast area where freezing temperatures have
not yet occurred this season.
Much below normal temperatures will persist with low temperatures
tonight ranging from 32 to 37 degrees inland areas, and from 37 to
42 degrees along the coast. High temperatures Friday should only
manage to reach between 36 to 41 degrees inland areas, and from 41
to 45 degrees along the coast. Low temperatures Friday night will
range from 24 to 29 degrees inland areas, and from 29 to 34 degrees
along the coast. /22
SHORT TERM /Saturday Through Sunday night/...By early Sat most
of the heavier precip will be moving east of the forecast area as
a deepening upper trof over the deep south and vigorous short
wave just to the north shift east and northeast of the north
central gulf states by mid to late Sat morning. Skies are expected
to clear from west to east during the morning hours also leading
to mostly sunny conditions each day through Sun, resulting in
slightly warmer conditions compared to Thu and Fri. Thickness
values rebound slowly through the short term period with a broad
surface ridge building in from the west and southwest. Main
concern will continue to be freezing temps each night through Sun
night with wind chill values in the 20s and 30s both Sat and Sun
morning up until about 10 or 11 am.
LONG TERM /Monday Through Thursday/...Main upper trof that shifts
east of the region over the weekend will stall over the eastern
conus and western Atlantic through about midweek digging again
to the west over the lower Mississippi River valley and se conus
late Mon through Tue evening as another vigorous short wave dives
south moving across the northern gulf states mostly during the
day on Tue. With no moisture return in the lower levels and very
limited return in the mid to upper levels during this time frame
a few high clouds will be possible beginning late Mon through Wed
afternoon. Near the surface high pressure will continue to build
from the west through Wed then begin to shift east of the north
central gulf states and forecast area Thu into Fri. With this
pattern temps both day and night will remain 5 to 10 degrees
below seasonal averages through Wed morning then gradually
rebound to near seasonal norms through Thu afternoon. 32/ee
MARINE...A Gale Warning remains in effect for the offshore
waters of Alabama and Northwest from 20 to 60 nm through 6 PM Fri.
Small craft advisories remain in effect for the inshore waters
through early Fri and Lower Mobile Bay and the MS Sound
including the open gulf waters through mid morning Sat. Seas up
to 10 feet well offshore can be expected. A strong northerly wind
flow will continue over the north central gulf and marine area
through early Sat then gradually diminish through Sun night. A
moderate to occasionally strong westerly flow develops by early
next week shifting north Tues through early Wed as another upper
level disturbance tracks east over the deep south. Northerly winds
will then diminish later in the week shifting mostly west late
Thu into Fri. 32/ee
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for ALZ051>053.
Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for
ALZ059-060-261>266.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST Friday for ALZ054-055-261.
FL...Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for
FLZ201>206.
MS...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for MSZ067-075-076.
Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for
MSZ078-079.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST Friday for MSZ078-079.
GM...Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM Friday to 9 AM CST Saturday for
GMZ670-675.
Gale Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for GMZ670-675.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM CST Saturday for GMZ631-632-650-
655.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM CST Friday for GMZ630-633>636.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mobHazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Mobile AL 601 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017 ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-090015- Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw- Escambia-Covington-Mobile Inland-Baldwin Inland-Mobile Central- Baldwin Central-Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal-Escambia Inland- Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Inland-Santa Rosa Coastal- Okaloosa Inland-Okaloosa Coastal-Wayne-Perry-Greene-Stone-George- 601 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Alabama...southwest Alabama...northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight ...A WINTER STORM WARNING AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF THE AREA FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM FRIDAY... A rain and snow mix will overspread northwest portions of the area and continue through the day on Friday. The precipitation will change over to all snow and some accumulations are possible, mainly in the warning area. Please see out winter weather products for details on accumulations and the exact location of the warnings and advisories. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday A mix of rain and snow will continue through the day on Friday with additional accumulations possible, mainly in the area covered by the Winter Storm Warning. Please see our winter weather products for details on accumulations and the exact location of the warnings and advisories. The coldest temperatures of the season so far are expected this weekend. Lows Friday night will be in the mid to upper 20s for much of the area except for near freezing close to the coast. Saturday night and Sunday night will be similarly cold. These conditions will bring potential impacts to agriculture industries and local nurseries dealing with cold sensitive vegetation. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of SkyWarn Severe Storm Spotter networks is not expected through Wednesday. GMZ630>635-650-655-670-675-090015- Northern Mobile Bay-Southern Mobile Bay-Mississippi Sound- Perdido Bay-Pensacola Bay System-Western Choctawhatchee Bay- Coastal waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL out 20 NM- Waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL from 20 to 60 NM- 601 PM CST Thu Dec 7 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Tonight Strong northerly winds will create hazardous conditions for small craft through the period. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Strong northerly winds will likely continue to create hazardous conditions for small craft over most of the marine area through Saturday night before the winds subside.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter weather, 4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total of 7.5-8 inches in Butler, 7.5 in Needham, 7.5 in Toxey, 7 in Wimbly, 6.5 in Gilbertown, 6.5 in Lusk, 6 in Yantley and 2.5 in Cullomburg. Reports came from a mix of Public, Coop, CoCoRaHS and Social Media. Many roads across the county were impassable.
Storm total of 2.5 to 3 inches in Millry, 1.5 to 2 in Leroy and 0.75 to 1.0 in Sunflower. Reports came from a mix of Public, Coop, CoCoRaHS and Social Media.
Storm total of 4 inches in West Bend, 3 inches in Jackson, 5 inches in Thomasville and 2 to 3 inches in Grove Hill. Many roads across the northern half of the county were impassable.
Storm total of 4 inches in Camden, 3.3 near Pine Hill and 3 inches in Pine Apple. Many roads across the county were impassable.
Storm total accumulations of 2 inches in Evergreen and 1.5 inches at I-65 and AL Hwy 41.
Storm total accumulations of 1 inch in Excel and 1 inch in Monroeville.
Storm total snowfall of 2 inches in Loxley, 1.4 in Robertsdale, 1 in Rosinton, 0.5 to 1 in Malbis, 0.4 to 1 in Fairhope and a trace in Foley. Reports came from a mix of Public, Coop, CoCoRaHS and Social Media.
Storm total snow amounts of 2 inches in Bay Minette and 1.25 in Phillipsville.
Storm total snowfall of 1 inch at Mobile Regional Airport, 1 inch in Tillman's Corner, 0.3 in Wilmer and 0.5 near the Fowl River.
Storm total snowfall of 0.2 inches on Dauphin Island.
Storm total snow amount of 1.25 to 1.5 inches in Greenvile.
Storm total snow amount of a trace to 0.5 inches across Covington County..
Storm total snow amount of 1 inch in Luverne.
Storm total snow amount of 2.5 inches in Brewton. 1.5 inches in Appleton and 1 inch in Atmore.
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: 727302, 727303, 727714, 727785, 727776, 728981, 727304, 727305, 728979, 728980, 727306, 727777, 727778, 727790.