Huntsville, Alabama – A high-impact winter storm is set to hit northern Alabama starting Friday evening, with widespread power outages and treacherous travel conditions likely through Sunday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, areas including Huntsville, Florence, and Decatur face a 90% chance of winter weather impacts, while Birmingham and Gadsden could see lower—yet still significant—risks at 60% to 80%. Temperatures are expected to stay below freezing into early next week, extending the hazards long after snowfall stops.
The biggest concerns are slick roads, black ice, and scattered outages from downed power lines. Residents are urged to avoid non-essential travel and stock up on essentials such as flashlights, extra batteries, baby formula, and medications. Officials recommend filling up gas tanks and placing winter kits—blankets, chargers, jumper cables—inside vehicles now.
Pets should be brought indoors, and neighbors, especially elderly ones, checked on. Any use of space heaters should follow strict safety guidelines to avoid fire risk.
Impacts may linger into early next week as temperatures remain dangerously cold. Additional advisories may follow depending on storm track and ice totals.
