Boy do I remember January 12, 1982. The day before, on Monday, January 11, the mercury dropped to 2 degrees below zero in Birmingham as the deep south was really in the deep freeze. The ground was frozen solid. That night on the evening newscasts, I knew trouble was brewing as a storm system was expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico, spreading a nasty mix of snow and ice into the southern U.S. Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico was going up and over the shallow layer of bitter cold air near the surface, and freezing rain looked like it was going to be the main problem.
I had the event pegged, but the timing was horrible. I said that the freezing rain and icing problem should begin on Tuesday evening, January 12. As it turned out, the freezing rain started at mid-morning. Within an hour, travel was simply impossible. Roads were covered with a solid sheet of ice, and even if you are a native of Northway, Alaska, you can’t drive on a slab of ice. Schools and businesses closed, but it was too late. Major highways and Interstates became parking lots, and there were hundreds of accidents within the next few hours. With temperatures in the 20s and a steady rain falling, the ice accumulation was serious by midday.
Some people simply abandoned their cars and walked to the nearest shelter they could find. The great ice storm of January 1982 was prolonged by two more systems that brought more ice and snow later in the week. A total of 16,000 people were forced into emergency shelters, and storm damage totaled 78 million dollars. Timber damage was extensive statewide, and some people had no power for over a week. Up on Red Mountain, we were stuck at the station (I was at 13 at the time) for five long days. The WCIQ-TV tower (Channel 7) atop Mount Cheaha collapsed due to the weight of the ice.
That was our last major ice storm; we are overdue but I sure hope another one doesn’t happen anytime soon!
A Bad Forecast 24 Years Ago Today
January 11, 2006, 10:47 pm
by James Spann
in Weather History
Changeable Weather
January 11, 2006, 4:14 pm
The Wednesday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
As advertised this morning, the sky cleared nicely across Alabama this morning and we are enjoying a beautiful afternooon, with sunshine and temperatures around 60 degrees in most spots. With a clear sky, we should drop into the low 40s by daybreak tomorrow. Then, a quick warm-up should push temperatures to near 70 degrees tomorrow afternoon.
FRIDAY STORMS: Another round of showers and storms should roll through here on Friday. The chance of severe weather looks pretty slim at this point with only marginal instability values and wind fields. And, I now expect temperatures to begin falling in northwest Alabama Friday afternoon. Might be a day where Hamilton reaches the low 60s at mid morning, but falls into the low 40s by late afternoon with a brisk northwest wind.
Rainfall amounts of about 1/2 inch look likely Friday.
The pattern remains very progressive, and we now expect sunshine to return on Saturday with the upper trough well to the east. Temperatures will be cooler, and a light freeze is likely early Sunday morning.
NEXT WEEK: Yet another system will roll in here with showers and storms Monday night into Tuesday morning. And, another quick shot of cold air will follow that system. The GFS moves this upper trough a little slower, and Wednesday might be a pretty chilly day if the 12Z run is correct.
BIG TIME COLD: From J.B.'s afternoon discussion over on the seven day page: "The temperature has sunk to 45 below zero at Eureka in extreme North Canada...at the summit in Greenland, it was 77 below at 9 am--way, way far away at Ojmjakon, Siberia they are expecting 67 below during the next couple of days..."
We will pay attention to that cold air... winter is far, far from over and there is plenty of time for the NAO to go negative and a big block to form. Stay tuned!
Sure enjoyed seeing the second graders at Trace Crossings Elementary today in Hoover... they will be featured on the KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. Headed up to Piedmont tomorrow morning for a weather program at the middle school there... I am looking forward to that drive!
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
As advertised this morning, the sky cleared nicely across Alabama this morning and we are enjoying a beautiful afternooon, with sunshine and temperatures around 60 degrees in most spots. With a clear sky, we should drop into the low 40s by daybreak tomorrow. Then, a quick warm-up should push temperatures to near 70 degrees tomorrow afternoon.
FRIDAY STORMS: Another round of showers and storms should roll through here on Friday. The chance of severe weather looks pretty slim at this point with only marginal instability values and wind fields. And, I now expect temperatures to begin falling in northwest Alabama Friday afternoon. Might be a day where Hamilton reaches the low 60s at mid morning, but falls into the low 40s by late afternoon with a brisk northwest wind.
Rainfall amounts of about 1/2 inch look likely Friday.
The pattern remains very progressive, and we now expect sunshine to return on Saturday with the upper trough well to the east. Temperatures will be cooler, and a light freeze is likely early Sunday morning.
NEXT WEEK: Yet another system will roll in here with showers and storms Monday night into Tuesday morning. And, another quick shot of cold air will follow that system. The GFS moves this upper trough a little slower, and Wednesday might be a pretty chilly day if the 12Z run is correct.
BIG TIME COLD: From J.B.'s afternoon discussion over on the seven day page: "The temperature has sunk to 45 below zero at Eureka in extreme North Canada...at the summit in Greenland, it was 77 below at 9 am--way, way far away at Ojmjakon, Siberia they are expecting 67 below during the next couple of days..."
We will pay attention to that cold air... winter is far, far from over and there is plenty of time for the NAO to go negative and a big block to form. Stay tuned!
Sure enjoyed seeing the second graders at Trace Crossings Elementary today in Hoover... they will be featured on the KIDCAM today at 5:00 on ABC 33/40 News. Headed up to Piedmont tomorrow morning for a weather program at the middle school there... I am looking forward to that drive!
Nice Bill Murray Article
January 11, 2006, 8:53 amA Fast Moving Weather Pattern
January 11, 2006, 6:59 am
The Wednesday morning map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
A quick check of my rain bucket here in northern Shelby County shows 0.59" since the rain started last night around 10:00. NEXRAD suggests some parts of Walker and Winston counties received a little more than one inch from this fast moving weather system.
The sky will clear from west to east today, and most places will enjoy sunshine this afternoon. Temperatures today will be about ten degrees cooler than yesterday, but still ten degrees above normal. Tomorrow should be a very nice day with lots of sunshine and afternoon temperatures near 70 degrees.
NEXT STORM SYSTEM: Another fast moving storm system will bring another round of showers and storms on Friday. SPC has a slight risk of severe weather over much of Alabama on Friday, but I am not very impressed with the severe weather potential with marginal instability and wind fields. Looks like rainfall totals of about 1/2 inch will be the norm statewide on Friday with isolated amounts to one inch.
Yesterday I was bashing the GFS, but it now looks like the NAM and the ECMWF are coming around to agree with the GFS. So... we will trend toward the quick solution. Temperatures will probably begin to fall over Northwest Alabama Friday afternoon, and Friday night should be brisk and chilly with lows well down in the 30s.
We will revise the forecast to now include a mostly sunny sky on Saturday as the upper trough should well to the east. We also have bumped temperatures up with the expected sunshine.
NEXT WEEK: The parade of waves will continue. The next round of showers and storms is due in here late Monday night and Tuesday, followed by another quick hit of colder air. Looks like we will have a storm system about every three to four days for the next couple of weeks.
The GFS is still advertising a neutral NAO... colder air does seep into the northern U.S. in coming weeks, but the pattern doesn't favor any prolonged attack of Arctic air into the deep south. We do note some -30s (F) up in north central Canada this morning... that air has origins in Siberia and came over the pole. We will keep an eye on it.
2006 SEVERE WEATHER DVD: Don't forget you can pick up your free copy of the 2006 ABC 33/40 Severe Weather DVD at these locations:
America's First Federal Credit Union
Sonic Drive In
Bedz Express
Med Center Mazda
Trussville Mazda
Trinity Contractors
AND... check out the ABC 33/40 "virtual tour" on the main ABC 33/40 page:
http://www.abc3340.com/
I think we threw away over 10 tons of stuff to clean up our office for those pictures.
Looking forward to seeing the kids at Trace Crossings Elementary School in Hoover today... I will have the next map discussion video posted by 3:30 this afternoon!
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
A quick check of my rain bucket here in northern Shelby County shows 0.59" since the rain started last night around 10:00. NEXRAD suggests some parts of Walker and Winston counties received a little more than one inch from this fast moving weather system.
The sky will clear from west to east today, and most places will enjoy sunshine this afternoon. Temperatures today will be about ten degrees cooler than yesterday, but still ten degrees above normal. Tomorrow should be a very nice day with lots of sunshine and afternoon temperatures near 70 degrees.
NEXT STORM SYSTEM: Another fast moving storm system will bring another round of showers and storms on Friday. SPC has a slight risk of severe weather over much of Alabama on Friday, but I am not very impressed with the severe weather potential with marginal instability and wind fields. Looks like rainfall totals of about 1/2 inch will be the norm statewide on Friday with isolated amounts to one inch.
Yesterday I was bashing the GFS, but it now looks like the NAM and the ECMWF are coming around to agree with the GFS. So... we will trend toward the quick solution. Temperatures will probably begin to fall over Northwest Alabama Friday afternoon, and Friday night should be brisk and chilly with lows well down in the 30s.
We will revise the forecast to now include a mostly sunny sky on Saturday as the upper trough should well to the east. We also have bumped temperatures up with the expected sunshine.
NEXT WEEK: The parade of waves will continue. The next round of showers and storms is due in here late Monday night and Tuesday, followed by another quick hit of colder air. Looks like we will have a storm system about every three to four days for the next couple of weeks.
The GFS is still advertising a neutral NAO... colder air does seep into the northern U.S. in coming weeks, but the pattern doesn't favor any prolonged attack of Arctic air into the deep south. We do note some -30s (F) up in north central Canada this morning... that air has origins in Siberia and came over the pole. We will keep an eye on it.
2006 SEVERE WEATHER DVD: Don't forget you can pick up your free copy of the 2006 ABC 33/40 Severe Weather DVD at these locations:
America's First Federal Credit Union
Sonic Drive In
Bedz Express
Med Center Mazda
Trussville Mazda
Trinity Contractors
AND... check out the ABC 33/40 "virtual tour" on the main ABC 33/40 page:
http://www.abc3340.com/
I think we threw away over 10 tons of stuff to clean up our office for those pictures.
Looking forward to seeing the kids at Trace Crossings Elementary School in Hoover today... I will have the next map discussion video posted by 3:30 this afternoon!
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