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; 5 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. Inland sections of the western Florida panhandle received from near a trace to as much 2 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 8, 7:03 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
703 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017
.DISCUSSION...See updated information for land areas below.
&&
.UPDATE...The Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory for
southeast Mississippi was allowed to expire at 6 pm. There may be
some lingering light snow over that area this evening, especially
over George and Greene counties, but no additional accumulations
are expected. Futher east into interior southwest Alabama, light
to occasionally moderate snow continues over parts of Washington,
northern Clarke, western Wilcox county and parts of Choctaw
counties, but accumulations are less than earlier today. A Winter
Storm Warning continues for those counties through midnight, with
an additional 2 inches of snow possible. snow is expected to
gradually move east out of those counties after midnight. Eslewhere
across the remainder of of southwest and south central Alabama
and the interior western Florida panhandle, a Winter Weather
Advisory is in effect until at least 4 am. An additional band of
light to moderate snow is likely to develop and move east across
those areas late this evening and into the early morning hours.
Snow accumulations up to around 1 inch will be possible. Updated
forecast package is out and will be issuing refreshed Winter
Warning and Advisory product soon. 12/DS
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 557 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017/
DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below.
AVIATION...
09/00Z issuance...Current TAF forecast package will be ruled by a
slowly eastward shifting band of rain, sleet and light snow.
Currently, winter weather remains generally just to the northwest
of KMOB, although there have been a few reports of sleet in the
vicinity over the past hour or so. In general, prevailing visibilities
at TAF locations no lower than low end MVFR overnight. Ceilings on
the other hand will be quite low most of the overnight, often at
IFR criteria (around 700 feet or so). VFR conditions developing
west to east through sunrise, continuing across the entire
forecast area on Saturday. Precipitation, a mixture of rain,
sleet and snow, will move east out of southeast Mississippi and
across southwest Alabama and the western Florida panhandle through
the early predawn morning hours. Snow intensities inland are
expected to be much less than during the day on Friday.
Precipitation in the form of light rain near the coast early this
evening, possibly changing over to all light snow between around
09/03z and 09/08z. Some additional accumulations possible,
generally less than 1 inch, but some localized slightly higher
amounts possible. Surface winds out of the north and northwest
through the period, generally around 10 to 15 knots, but a few
higher gusts near the coast this evening. 12/DS
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 359 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017/
NEAR TERM /Now Through Saturday/...The rain-snow line is forecast to
gradually move southeast late this afternoon through late tonight
as colder air filters in from the north. The snow is expected to
spread to the I- 65 corridor by 10 pm, and through the remainder
of the forecast through late tonight. The high resolution near
term models have been consistent with a slow moving band of snow
setting up across much of the forecast area through much of the
night.
Therefore the Winter Storm Warning has been expanded to now include
Wilcox county Alabama where a rain and snow mix is expected to
change over to snow late this afternoon and evening, with total snow
accumulations of up to 3 inches expected. The Winter Storm Warning
has been extended in time to expire at midnight across inland
southwest Alabama, but is set to expire across inland southeast
Mississippi at 6 PM CST.
The Winter Weather Advisory has been expanded east and south for
tonight to now include much of southwest Alabama and the western
Florida Panhandle, except for the immediate coastal sections. Total
snow accumulations of up to 1 inch are expected across the advisory
area, but will need to be monitored closely for possible localized
higher amounts within the main band. The Winter Weather Advisory has
been extended in time to expire at 4 AM CST for southwest Alabama
and the western Florida Panhandle, but is set to expire across
inland southeast Mississippi at 6 PM CST.
A Freeze Warning remains if effect for the southern half of the
forecast area for tonight, with sub-freezing temperatures expected
just north of the beaches.
Much below normal temperatures will persist with low temperatures
tonight ranging from 23 to 28 degrees northwest of I-65, and from 29
to 33 degrees to the southeast. Localized colder temperatures could
occur over the snow fields across our northwest zones as skies clear
by late tonight. High temperatures Saturday will manage to increase
to between 46 to 52 degrees. Localized colder temperatures could
occur over the snow fields across our northwest zones. /22
SHORT TERM /Saturday night Through Monday night/...The shortwave
energy moving through an upper trough over the eastern Conus that
brought the weather in the short term moves off, as more
shortwave energy dives into the trough. An upper ridge builds over
the western Conus as the upper trough deepens. This ridge will
help to build a surface ridge east over the northern Gulf, whilst
the energy diving into the upper trough helps to keep the surface
ridge from building to far north. For tonight, with this first
period in the short term being the transition day, cold advection
continues to push cold air south over the area, with the result
being another below freezing night over most of the forecast area.
As the surface ridge builds east, westerly flow moves in, cutting
off the cold advection and allowing temps to moderate upward into
Tuesday. By Monday/Monday night, temps will moderate upward to
around seasonal.
/16
LONG TERM /Tuesday Through Friday/...Tuesday into Wednesday
night, the piece of energy diving into the eastern Conus upper
trough pushes a re-enforcing front across the Lower Mississippi
River Valley and Southeast. Tuesday and Tuesday night remain
around seasonal, with Wednesday seeing the greatest effect from
the return of cooler air with temps dropping back below seasonal
levels. With no moisture return ahead of the fropa, no precip is
expected for the forecast area.
Temps moderate upward Wednesday night as another surface ridge
builds west from over the Southern Plains to over the Lower
Mississippi river Valley. This will bring a return of dry
westerly flow, and seasonal temps to the area.
/16
MARINE...As the driving upper dynamics move off, with the very
strong offshore flow continuing to weaken. As a surface ridge over
the Southern Plains builds west, winds over the marine portion of
the forecast area become more westerly early in the coming week,
but a re-enforcing front moving over the forecast area late
Tuesday through Tuesday night returns the winds to a moderate
offshore through mid week.
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for ALZ051>054.
Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM CST Saturday for ALZ055>060-
261>264.
Freeze Warning from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Saturday for
ALZ059-060-261>266.
FL...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM CST Saturday for FLZ201-203-
205.
Freeze Warning from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Saturday for
FLZ201>206.
MS...Freeze Warning from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Saturday for
MSZ078-079.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM CST Saturday for GMZ631-632-650-
655-670-675.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mobHazardous Weather Outlook...Updated National Weather Service Mobile AL 630 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-091130- 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- 630 PM CST Fri Dec 8 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 is in effect until midnight for Choctaw, Washington, Clarke and Wilcox counties in southwest Alabama. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until midnight tonight for Stone and George counties in southeast Mississippi, and for Wilcox, Monroe, inland Mobile, Conecuh, Butler, Escambia and inland Baldwin counties in southwestern Alabama. Motorists are urged to check road conditions overnight and Saturday morning as any liquid remaining on the roads will freeze tonight. A Freeze Warning is in effect tonight for extreme southeast Mississippi, extreme southwest Alabama, extreme south central Alabama and the western Florida panhandle where the first freezing temperatures of the season are expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of SkyWarn severe spotter networks is not expected through Thursday. GMZ630>635-650-655-670-675-091130- 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- 630 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Tonight Hazardous conditions for small craft will continue through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Hazardous conditions for small craft are expected for most of the area Saturday morning and may continue well offshore into Saturday night before northerly winds subside.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
438 PM CST FRI DEC 08 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM SNOW Camden 31.99N 87.29W
12/08/2017 M2.8 INCH Wilcox AL PUBLIC
REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OF 2.75 INCHES OF SNOW IN CAMDEN
&&
RROGERSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
740 PM CST FRI DEC 08 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0737 PM SLEET ESE Rabun 30.68N 88.24W
12/08/2017 M0.00 INCH MOBILE AL NWS EMPLOYEE
TRACE OF SLEET AND SNOW AT THE MOBILE NWS OFFICE
&&
RROGERSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
848 PM CST FRI DEC 08 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 PM SNOW Mobile Airport 30.68N 88.24W
12/08/2017 M0.1 INCH Mobile AL NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED A TENTH OF AN INCH OF SNOW AND SLEET AT THE NWS
MOBILE OFFICE
&&
RROGERSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 905 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 ALZ051>060-261>264-FLZ201-203-205-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-090515- Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw- Escambia-Covington-Mobile Inland-Baldwin Inland-Mobile Central- Baldwin Central-Escambia Inland-Santa Rosa Inland-Okaloosa Inland- Wayne-Perry-Greene-Stone-George- Including the cities of Butler, Lisman, Silas, Chatom, Millry, Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville, Camden, Pine Hill, Homewood, Monroeville, Evergreen, Greenville, Brantley, Luverne, Atmore, Brewton, Flomaton, Andalusia, Opp, Citronelle, Saraland, Stockton, Mobile, Prichard, Theodore, Bay Minette, Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Spanish Fort, Century, Molino, Walnut Hill, Jay, Milton, Crestview, Waynesboro, Beaumont, New Augusta, Richton, Leakesville, McLain, Wiggins, and Lucedale 905 PM CST Fri Dec 8 2017 A band of light to moderate snow continues to fall across much of southwest Alabama, extending from Wilcox county southwestward to Mobile county. Further to the south and east, an mixture of rain, sleet and snow was noted along I-65 from near Evergreen and southward into much of interior Baldwin county. The band of light to moderate snow will gradually spread east of I-65 and into south central Alabama and the inland portions of the western Florida Panhandle through 4am Saturday morning. This band of snow could result in accumulations of up to 1 inch. Road conditions have become somewhat hazardous in the areas that have received snow, and will likely remain hazardous overnight. Even after the precipitation ends from west to east tonight, areas of black ice will continue on roadways, especially bridges and overpasses, as temperatures drop below freezing and bottom out in the mid to upper 20s toward sunrise. Black ice will be most likely in areas where snow accumulated over parts of interior southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama, and interior western Florida panhandle. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
909 PM CST FRI DEC 08 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0705 PM SNOW Ladd Stadium 30.93N 88.59W
12/08/2017 E1.5 INCH GEORGE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 1.5
INCHES OF SNOW FELL OVER GEORGE COUNTY THROUGH THE EVENT
&&
RROGERSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
936 PM CST FRI DEC 08 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0935 PM SNOW Mobile Airport 30.68N 88.24W
12/08/2017 M0.6 INCH Mobile AL NWS EMPLOYEE
JUST OVER A HALF INCH OF ACCUMLATION AT THE MOBILE NWS
OFFICE
&&
RROGERSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snow amounts of 2 inches in Century and 0.1 in Gonzalez.
Storm total snow amounts of 0.25 in Ferry Pass and a trace in Pensacola.
Storm total snow amounts of 0.25 to 0.5 near Whiting Field.
Storm total snow amounts of 0.5 in Crestview.
One person died due to ice on the Highway 29 bridge between McDavid and Century. There were multiple other crashes in the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, 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: 728982, 728983, 728984, 728985, 731149.