Winter weather expected Friday, Saturday
Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 5, 2017
- The courthouse is shown in this 2014 file photo from that year's ice storm.
Light accumulations of snow could be possible for the northern portions of the Mobile Weather Service territory, which includes portions of Covington County.
Tuesday morning forecasters said that there is a chance of a wintry mix over those portions with a period of snow, sleet and freezing rain possible with light accumulations.
Light accumulations means there would be a tenth of an inch or less of ice and well less than an inch of snow.
Forecasters are expecting it late Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning.
They are calling it a “very fast moving system.”
Forecasters are still saying the weather is uncertain.
“Still several questions regarding the timing of the precipitation and the arrival of the colder air,” forecasters said Tuesday. “(It’s) too early to talk specific accumulation and impacts.”
NWS is expected to brief local EMA officials at 11:30 a.m., today.
EMA Director Susan Harris advises locals to plan to stay home and off the roads Friday night and Saturday, and to make sure they are prepared for the worst.
“Get prepared by having multiple ways of getting weather information,” she said. “Check battery-powered equipment and stock extra batteries for flashlight and communication equipment. Check your food/water supply and stock extra, if needed.”
Harris said that supplies should include food that does not need cooking or refrigeration in case of power failures.
“Winterize your vehicles and have them fueled,” Harris said. “Check your supply of heating fuel and back up heating sources. Keeping warm during power outages should be a concern and it is your responsibility now to get prepared if that situation does occur. Make plans now with a family member, local churches, or your work place to see if that could be an alternative place to stay warm if you lose power.”