During the morning of January 16th, a band of light snow moved into Northwest Alabama, and then progressed southward towards the I-20 corridor during the afternoon as it trended toward a weakened state. Due to limited moisture content, snowfall amounts were less than one inch for areas along and north of I-20.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
During the morning of January 16th, a band of light snow moved into Northwest Alabama, and then progressed southward towards the I-20 corridor during the afternoon as it trended toward a weakened state. Due to limited moisture content, snowfall amounts were less than one inch for areas along and north of I-20. An upstream 500mb trough continued to dig southward, with a lobe of energy and associated swath of higher moisture content that would move across the southern portions of Central Alabama, especially along the I-85 corridor. For these areas, between two and four inches of snow fell during the evening of January 16th and into the early-morning hours of the 17th.
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 Jan 16, 3:36 PM CST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 336 PM CST Tue Jan 16 2018 .SHORT TERM... Snow is starting to move into the Birmingham Metro here just before 2:00pm. A stronger band of heavier snow is stretching through Pickens and Northern Tuscaloosa County now and should start moving into the Tuscaloosa area in the next hour. Soundings using any of the well-initialized models show completely saturated profiles well into the dendritic growth zone. Temperatures aloft remain well below freezing, which will not allow any melting of the snowflakes. This combined with the saturated profiles not allowing much evaporation is resulting in some fairly large snowflakes that exhibit the "classic" dendrite snowflake shape. One impressive feature is just how quickly the temperatures are dropping as this band of snow approaches. In the last 40 minutes or so, we've dropped 5 degrees here at the Shelby County Airport. Birmingham has already dropped into the upper 20s while Anniston is sitting at 41 degrees. We have gotten some reports of a brief winter mix at the onset of precipitation, but this will quickly transition to all snow as the colder air filter in. The concern continues to be the icing of roads and bridges as the initial snow melts then re-freezes when temperatures plummet. We've already seen this occur in the northwestern counties as the temperature in Hamilton is sitting at 20 degrees now. Travel is highly discouraged throughout central AL this afternoon and evening with some roads in the northwest already being deemed impassable. Overall, the current forecast seems to be on track with the timings across Central AL. Some high resolution guidance still hinting at re-development of the snow bands in the southeastern counties tonight, so will continue mention of impacts through this evening as the system moves south and east of the I-85 corridor. Problem with increasing to wording is two-fold. One the temperatures in this area did get up to the 50s and even near 60 degrees. This likely allowed the ground temperatures to warm up and could possibly melt the initial amount of snow, so confidence to increase to a Winter Storm Warning is not as high as needed at this time, but we will be monitoring the trends very closely to see if the upgrade is needed. Did go ahead and break the Winter Weather Advisory into two sections to discuss the differences in accumulation. The north will see generally an inch with upwards of 1.5, whereas the south could see 1.5 to 2 inches with possibly higher totals. 25/16 .LONG TERM... Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday/Thursday: Strong cold air advection will be in place on Wednesday, on the back side of the upper trough and to the east of a 1042mb surface high centered over the Southern Plains/Ozarks. Clear skies will be present due to the dry Arctic air mass, but midday 925 mb temperatures around -12C and potential snowcover will keep temperatures below freezing across the majority of the area (generally north of US80/I-85). Highs will range from the upper 20s to low 30s north and be in the low 30s south. If the expected band of snow across the southeastern counties materializes then high temperatures there may need to be lowered. With breezy northwest winds wind chills will still be in the upper teens to low 20s even in the afternoon. Another hard freeze is expected Wednesday night as the surface high moves eastward across the Deep South with lows in the teens areawide. The deep layer flow will become westerly on Thursday. This will allow cold air advection to cease. But the air mass being advected in from the west will still be cool initially, coming off an additional area of snowcover over the ArkLaMiss. This combined with shallow mixing due to high pressure overhead will only allow highs to reach the low 40s. Temperatures will rise above freezing by midday. Another cold night is expected Thursday night as high pressure overhead results in ideal radiational cooling conditions. All but the coldest spots in the northeast will remain above hard freeze criteria (15), with lows ranging from the upper teens far north to low 20s elsewhere. Friday/Saturday: The trough currently moving into the Pacific Northwest will split into a couple pieces as it moves eastward, with the southern piece forming a partially cutoff low over the Rio Grande region. These waves will remain moisture starved over our area with just mid/high level clouds at times. Warm air advection kicks in for Friday/Saturday with deep layer west-southwesterly flow, allowing highs to reach the 50s Friday and low 60s by Saturday. Sunday/Monday: A stronger Pacific trough will move across the CONUS during this time period. This allows a Colorado low to deepen as it moves northeast into the Great Lakes with a trailing cold front moving through the area. There could be enough moisture ahead of the front for some scattered showers Sunday. Models/ensembles are showing some usual spread in the timing of the front, but expect a line of widespread showers and at least isolated thunderstorms to move across the area sometime in the Sunday night/early Monday timeframe. Models show 60 dewpoints trying to creep up into our southern counties, but dewpoints could easily underachieve given this week's cold front scouring out moisture across the Gulf, and a southeasterly component to the winds across our area. This will be the main limiting factor for the development of any instability across Central Alabama ahead of a possible QLCS. Will continue to monitor given the shear and forcing, and mid-level lapse rates around 6-6.5 C/km. But any low-end severe threat looks far too marginal/questionable to mention in the HWO at this time. 32/Davis && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF Discussion. MVFR to IFR conditions expected this afternoon and evening with light snow at most terminals. Improving conditions expected on Wednesday. An arctic front extended from near Mobile northeast to near Montgomery to near Alexander City at this hour. Winds will shift abruptly to the north upon passage of the front at MGM/TOI in the next few hours. Expect lowering ceilings at our northern sites from west to east as more snow arrives from the west. Our southern sites will experience lowering ceilings later this afternoon and evening as more precipitation develops over southwest Alabama and moves to the northeast. Low level winds will remain out of the north with some LLWS expected in a shallow layer just off of the surface through the next few hours at ANB/ASN/EET. Precipitation and coverage of BKN/OVC skies will subside after 06Z tonight followed by continued improvement of CIG's through the end of the cycle. 05 && .FIRE WEATHER... An Arctic front will slide south of the area tonight with light to moderate snow likely. Dry and very cold conditions are expected Wednesday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 12 29 14 41 17 / 80 0 0 0 0 Anniston 12 29 17 42 20 / 100 0 0 0 0 Birmingham 12 30 15 42 21 / 70 0 0 0 0 Tuscaloosa 13 32 16 43 22 / 70 0 0 0 0 Calera 13 30 18 43 22 / 100 0 0 0 0 Auburn 16 31 18 43 24 / 100 10 0 0 0 Montgomery 16 33 18 44 22 / 100 10 0 0 0 Troy 17 33 18 44 22 / 90 10 0 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... Hard Freeze Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday for the following counties: 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. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Wednesday for the following counties: 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. Wind Chill Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Wednesday for the following counties: 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. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 450 AM CST Tue Jan 16 2018 ALZ011>015-017>050-171400- Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee- Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega- Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa- Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon- Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour- 450 AM CST Tue Jan 16 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook Through Tonight. An Arctic cold front is expected to bring light to moderate snow to all of Central Alabama today and tonight. Snow accumulations are forecast to remain under 2 inches, but temperatures in the 20s as the snow occurs could lead to significant impacts to travel. The cold air mass will result in a hard freeze with temperatures falling into the teens tonight, with single digits possible in a few locations across the north. Hazardous wind chills are also expected, falling into the single digits below zero across the north and into the single digits above zero across the south. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Temperatures in the teens and hazardous wind chills near or just below zero will continue into Wednesday morning. Another hard freeze with temperatures falling into the teens is expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be required today and tonight.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
524 PM CST TUE JAN 16 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0522 PM SNOW CURRY 33.96N 87.21W
01/16/2018 E0.0 INCH WALKER AL PUBLIC
AREAS OF ICY CONDITIONS, PRIMARILY ON
SECONDARY ROADS. SNOW MEASUREMENT NOT TAKEN.
&&
GMSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
525 PM CST TUE JAN 16 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0525 PM SNOW SYLVAN SPRINGS 33.51N 87.03W
01/16/2018 E0.0 INCH JEFFERSON AL PUBLIC
ROADS GOING FROM WET TO ICY. SNOW
MEASUREMENT NOT TAKEN.
&&
GMSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
526 PM CST TUE JAN 16 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0525 PM SNOW CORDOVA 33.76N 87.18W
01/16/2018 E0.0 INCH WALKER AL LAW ENFORCEMENT
ICED BRIDGES REPORTED IN CORDOVA. SNOW
MEASUREMENT NOT TAKEN.
&&
GMSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
527 PM CST TUE JAN 16 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0526 PM SNOW SNEAD 34.12N 86.39W
01/16/2018 E0.0 INCH BLOUNT AL COUNTY OFFICIAL
ROADS IN SNEAD HAVE BEEN DEEMED IMPASSABLE
BY THE MAYOR. SNOW MEASUREMENT NOT TAKEN.
&&
GMSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
530 PM CST TUE JAN 16 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0529 PM SNOW 1 WNW US 80 AND AL 28 32.45N 88.00W
01/16/2018 E0.0 INCH MARENGO AL PUBLIC
ICY CONDITIONS ON THE BRIDGE. SNOW
MEASUREMENT NOT TAKEN.
&&
GMSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
532 PM CST TUE JAN 16 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0531 PM SNOW 2 NNW BROOKSVILLE 34.21N 86.48W
01/16/2018 E0.0 INCH BLOUNT AL COUNTY OFFICIAL
SEVERAL ROADWAYS IN THIS AREA HAVE ICY
CONDITIONS, SOME IMPASSABLE. SNOW
MEASUREMENT NOT TAKEN.
&&
GMSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the eastern portion of Randolph County.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the southern portion of Dallas County.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the southern portion of Autauga County.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the entire county.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the southern portion of Tallapoosa County.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the Chambers County, with locally higher amounts near 3.5 inches along the I-85 corridor.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the entire county, with the higher amounts in the city of Montgomery.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the entire county.
Snowfall totals averaged 2-3 inches across Macon County.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across Lee County with several reports of 3 to 3.5 inches along the I-85 corridor.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the northern portion of Bullock County.
Snowfall totals averaged 2 to 3 inches across the northern portion of Russell County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, January 2018
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: 736842, 736831, 736833, 736835, 736840, 736851, 736837, 736839, 736853, 736848, 736854, 736855.