National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

Snow of January 16-17, 2018
Overview Satellite/Surface/Upper Air Videos
Photos Snow Totals Other Links
 

Overview

The January 16th, 2018, snow-maker was another installment of an active winter season across Central Alabama, including surges of arctic air and frozen precipitation. This event was a rather uncommon snow setup for Central Alabama, with temperature profiles favorable for snow arriving just ahead of the precipitation vs. cold air chasing the last bit of departing precipitation. The main uncertainty with this system was with the extent of accumulating snowfall; however, it was evident that even light snow accumulations would result in travel impacts given temperatures falling into the 20s and then 10s across Central Alabama. Due to arctic origins, snow to liquid ratios were on the higher side for this region of the country, at least 15:1 with this event.

During the morning of January 16th, a band of light snowfall moved into Northwest Alabama, and then progressed toward the I-20 corridor during the afternoon as it trended toward a weakened state. Due to limited moisture content, a trace to less than 1” of snow resulted from the band on average. At the same time, an upstream 500mb trough continued its trend of digging southward, with a lobe of energy and associated swath of higher moisture content that would ultimately be aimed on areas along and either side of the I-85 corridor. For these areas, between 2” to 4” of snow fell during the evening of January 16th and into the early-morning hours of the 17th.

Interestingly, the upper trough was still driving periods of banded snowfall as far northwest as the I-20 corridor into the evening. Here, the leading edge of drier low-level air was advecting into the area, but sufficient moisture aloft remained. Higher tilts of RADAR scans showed relatively enhanced echoes, but nothing was reaching the surface until snow broke through the dry layer. This happened very suddenly near the I-20 corridor, resulting in a quick burst of accumulating snowfall with snow rates near 1”/hour. These bands then advanced southeast toward the I-85 corridor, combining with the ongoing shield of snow.

Some portions of Central Alabama ended up bottoming out in the single digits on the morning of the 17th, and northerly breezes behind the front pushed wind chill values into the single digits and even just below zero across the board. The most significant travel impacts were along and either side of the I-85 corridor and along a stretch of I-65 in Chilton and Autauga Counties, where ice-covered roadways resulted in road closures and stuck vehicles and big rigs. Elsewhere, icy roadways were reported as well, though lighter snow totals and blowing of snow from road surfaces helped limit the overall scope of impacts.

 
Snow Totals
Alabama Snow Totals Central Alabama Snow Totals
Here is a complete list of storm reports for this event.
 

Satellite/Surface/Upper Air

Satellite

MODIS Visible Satellite Jan 17th

MODIS Visible Satellite Jan 17th

GOES-East Visible Loop Jan 18th

 

 

Surface Charts

Surface Chart

6 AM Jan 16th

Surface Chart

12 PM Jan 16th

Surface Chart

6 PM Jan 16th

Surface Chart

12 AM Jan 17th

Surface Chart

6 AM Jan 17th

 

KBMX Upper Air Soundings

KBMX Sounding

6 AM Jan 16th

KBMX Sounding

6 PM Jan 16th

KBMX Sounding

6 AM Jan 17th

Upper Air Charts

250mb Chart

250 mb Chart at 6 AM Jan 16th

500mb Chart

500 mb Chart at 6 AM Jan 16th

850mb Chart

850 mb Chart at 6 AM Jan 16th

250mb Chart

250 mb Chart at 6 PM Jan 16th

500mb Chart

500 mb Chart at 6 PM Jan 16th

850mb Chart

850 mb Chart at 6 PM Jan 16th

250mb Chart

250 mb Chart at 6 AM Jan 17th

500mb Chart

500 mb Chart at 6 AM Jan 17th

850mb Chart

850 mb Chart at 6 AM Jan 17th

 
Photos
 

Clanton (Chilton Co)
Courtesy of Kevin Henderson

Co Rd 40 (Coosa Co)
Courtesy of @Chris80079731

Dexter Ave (Montgomery Co)
Courtesy of Jenn Horton

State EOC Clanton (Chilton Co)
Courtesy of Yasamie Richardson

Hwy 223 (Bullock Co)
Courtesy of WSFA 12 News

I-65 (Autuaga Co)
Courtesy of AL Law Enforcement

Jemison (Chilton Co)
Courtesy of Michael Ray

Livingston (Sumter Co)
Courtesy of Levi Dorsett

Montgomery (Montgomery Co)
Courtesy of WSFA 12 News

Millbrook (Elmore Co)
Courtesy of Stuart Peters

Opelika (Lee Co)
Courtesy of Clay Williford

Oxford (Calhoun Co)
Courtesy of @DanielnEAlabama

Seale (Russell Co)
Courtesy of Red Gowins

Tallassee (Tallapoosa/Elmore Co)
Courtesy of Michael Bird

Wares Ferry Rd (Montgomery Co)
Courtesy of Griffin Hagler

Wilsonville (Shelby Co)
Courtesy of Kim Lawley

Auburn University (Lee Co)
Courtesy of Todd Van Emst

Emerald Mtn Pkwy (Elmore Co)
Courtesy of Griffin Hagler

Montgomery (Montgomery Co)
Courtesy of Jason Davis

MGM Airport (Montgomery Co)
Courtesy of Bethany Davis

Troy University (Pike Co)
Courtesy of Judy Fulmer

Pike County
Courtesy of AL Law Enforcement

Calera (Shelby Co)
Courtesy of Mercedes Stewart

Eclectic (Elmore Co)
Courtesy of @kanzaz

Ashridge (Winston Co)
Courtesy of @RegParamedics

Auburn (Lee Co)
Courtesy of Hannah Hinson

Baker Hill (Barbour Co)
Courtesy of @SASWweather

Chambers Co
Courtesy of Five Points AL VFD

Haleyville (Winston Co)
Courtesy of Shannon Lollar

I-65 @ I-459 (Jefferson Co)
Courtesy of Billy Recknor

I-65 exit 158 (Montgomery Co)
Courtesy of AL Law Enforcement

Prattville (Autauga Co)
Courtesy of @prattvillesball

Selma (Dallas Co)
Courtesy of Christopher Steele

Wetumpka (Elmore Co)
Courtesy of Rachael Morgan Spivey

Winfield (Marion Co)
Courtesy of @mollyparks205

 

 

 

Videos

Snow in Valley, AL (Chambers County) - Courtesy of @cealwx

Snow at the Shelby Co Airport (Shelby County) - Courtesy of NWS Birmingham

Icy Conditions on Atlanta Hwy in Montgomery - Courtesy of AL News Network

Snow at Blount Cultural Park in Montgomery - Courtesy of Hunter Lewis

 

Other Links