cold weather protection

The dairy aisle at a Publix supermarket in Tuscaloosa looked bare as people throughout the southern U.S. stock up on water, food, and generators as they prepare for the storm.

Alabama Power Company crews are on standby for power outage repairs in north Alabama this weekend.Nearly two thousand utility crews are for deployment to portions of north Alabama this weekend.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville says the Tennessee Valley, including the Huntsville area and the Shoals, could be in for a winter emergency starting as soon as Friday night. A cold front from the north combined with moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico could lead to roads left impassible by snow and ice.

Charity groups and municipal agencies in Jefferson County and Decatur are announcing that they will have warming stations open ahead of Monday night’s forecast with lows in the lower twenties along the Tennessee Valley. Below freezing overnight conditions are expected to continue until Thursday.

The cities of Montgomery and Birmingham and the Jimmie Hale Mission will have warming stations open night as some of the first blasts of winter weather hit Alabama. Low twenties are in the forecast from the Tennessee Valley to Tuscaloosa and the Magic City. The Gulf coast is expected to be closer to thirty.

The City of Birmingham and the Jimmie Hale Mission are extending overnight shelter services in the wake of the extreme cold. The warming station hours at 1569 Cooper Hill Road will be offered through 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. Donations are also needed to help protect attendees from the weather.

Alabama schools, cities and towns are shutting down in anticipation of freezing rain, ice and snow in the forecast. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports the winter weather will impact the northern and central portions of Central Alabama late Thursday night through Friday evening.

With winter weather in the forecast for Alabama, Huntsville Animal Services is urging pet owners to take extra precautions to ensure their pets stay safe and comfortable. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports freezing rain, ice and snow are predicted along with extreme arctic air.

Cities, towns and residents are gearing up in anticipation of freezing rain, ice and snow forecast for Alabama, the bulk of which is predicted for Thursday night through Friday evening and into Saturday morning. As icy temperatures and arctic air continue to hit the state, warming stations are keeping their doors open, as they have all week.

The Alabama National Guard has been activated for the anticipated wintry weather, which is expected to bring ice and snow to much of the Yellowhammer State. The Guard will be operating Mobility Support Teams across north and central part of the state. That's in addition to assisting the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.