Freezing Rain Threat Thursday with Winter Storm Watch Issued

Cold weather is headed back to the Tuscaloosa area on Thursday with the threat of freezing rain. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for a part of West Alabama due to the possibility of significant icing.

The specific counties in the area listed in the Winter Storm Watch by the National Weather Service are:

• MARION
• LAMAR
• FAYETTE
• WINSTON
• WALKER

At this time Tuscaloosa is not included in the watch area, only counties to the north of Tuscaloosa.  This doesn't mean freezing rain isn't possible, rather it may be less significant than the watch area.  Here's the official NWS statement on the watch:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* EVENT...ACCUMULATING ICE IN THE WATCH AREA

* TIMING...FROM 3 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH 3 PM THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* LOCATION...AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM MILLPORT TO
  BERRY TO GOODSPRINGS.

* ACCUMULATIONS...ICE TOTALS OF ONE-QUARTER TO THREE-TENTHS OF AN
  INCH ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

The time range for icy weather has been adjusted from yesterday. The Tuscaloosa area is now expected to be all rain during the overnight Thursday. There remains the threat for a rain changeover to freezing rain or sleet during the day on Thursday, as listed below.

The timing for the temps to fall below freezing are noted below.

We've seen the forecast already adjusted from yesterday, so the update tomorrow may swing in the favor of less ice.  Then again, it could be more.  So, don't take this as the final world, rather a heads up on what is possible.  The roads could get very hazardous.