Winter Weather Awareness Week

November 29 - December 3, 2004

The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama is conducting Winter Weather Awareness Week from Monday, November 29, through Friday, December 3, 2004 .  The purpose of this week is to call attention to the winter weather that we experience in central Alabama.  Below are some facts concerning winter weather:

• The average annual snowfall amount for Birmingham and Montgomery is 1.4 inches and 0.5 inches, respectively.
• Maximum snow depth ever recorded for Birmingham was 13.0 inches in March of 1993.  Maximum snow depth ever recorded for Montgomery was 6.0 inches in January 1997.
• Probability for snow in Central Alabama is highest in January.

Despite being in the southeast, where winter seems rare, Central Alabama has experienced some amazing winter weather including:

• 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:

• Alabama Winter Weather Awareness Week Brochure (PDF file, 700 kilobytes) : Brochure containing facts about winter weather in Alabama, as well as safety tips.
  
• National Winter Weather Information Page : More information from the National Weather Service on blizzards, wind chill, ice, snow, and other winter weather issues.