Winter Weather Awareness Week
Monday, November 16th - Friday, November 20th 2009
Ice Storm in Randolph, 2005
 

Alabama Governor Bob Riley, The National Weather Service and The Alabama Emergency Management Agency have proclaimed the week from Monday, November 16th - Friday, November 20th 2009 , as Winter Weather Awareness Week in Alabama . Winter Weather Awareness Week highlights the need for being prepared for the potential dangers of a severe winter weather episode.

Here are the topics we will be covering this week:

Winter Weather History in Central Alabama

Winter Weather Terminology

Winter Weather and YOU

Winter Weather and Your Home

Winter Weather Safety

Here are just some of the winter storms to affect the NWS Birmingham forecast area in the past:
  • March 1, 2009 Central Alabama Snow Event of 2009:  Snow piled up across almost all of central Alabama, with 5+ inches in Lee County.
  • January 19, 2008 Central Alabama Heavy Snow: Snow fell across Central Alabama and added up to several inches from Demopolis to Clanton.
  • January 28-29, 2005 East Alabama Ice Storm: Ice accumulations of one quarter to one inch caused significant icing and widespread power outages across Randolph and Chambers counties.
  • March 12-13, 1993 "Storm of the Century": A foot of snow blanketed Central Alabama.  Strong winds that accompanied the heavy, wet snow downed trees and power lines, leaving many people without power for days. 14 people died across the state with unknown number of people injured.  Property damage exceeded 50 million dollars.  During the winter storm, the American Red Cross in Alabama sheltered over 12,000 people in 108 facilities and served over 36,000 meals.
  • December 22-25, 1989  Severe Cold Outbreak :  This outbreak killed five people in Alabama.  Low temperatures for two consecutive nights dropped to the 0 to -5 degree range over the northern third of Alabama and into the single digits along the Gulf Coast.  Daytime high temperatures reached only into the teens.  Brisk northerly winds created wind chills ranging from 0 degrees to 15 degrees below zero across the entire state.
  • January 10-18, 1982  Severe Cold Outbreak:  One of the most tragic outbreaks of cold weather in Alabama caused the death of 20 people and resulted in at least 300 injuries. 16,000 people were forced into emergency shelters and storm damage totaled 78 million dollars.
Central Alabama does experience Winter Weather--and now is the perfect time of the year to check your winter preparedness plans. Make sure your NOAA Weather Radio has fresh batteries in it. Make sure you have a means of receiving winter weather information, and be prepared in case you have no way to travel.
Additional information is available through the following brochures and links:
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