Severe weather over, more important weather coming

Three confirmed tornadoes touched down during the early morning hours today across central Alabama, with the strongest being an EF-2 in Walker county 5 miles north-northeast of Cordova.  The thunderstorms today are hitting parts of Georgia and Florida.  We now turn our attention to another rain storm coming our way along with a pocket of cold air in the upper atmosphere.  Rain will become steadier and heavier later tonight and tomorrow morning looks soaking wet.  Be ready for another slow morning rush hour. 
About once or twice most winters, we face the challenge of forecasting the performance of a “closed-low” in the upper atmosphere.  Besides the fact these features can enhance precipitation, they can also lead to a dramatic cooling down of the atmosphere over a relatively limited area.  That area would appear to include central Alabama tomorrow.  We get the morning rain, then the cooling takes place, and that will mean a changeover to snow in the afternoon and early evening.  The surface streets are warm given the springlike temperatures of late, so accumulations on the streets is not expected.  But I do think there will be accumulation on grassy areas, trees and car tops somewhere in central Alabama.  The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Walker, Winston, Fayette, Pickens, Lamar and Marion.  The NWS could see 1-3 inches mainly on grassy areas there.  I think that is a good forecast, though I could see it occurring almost anywhere from Birmingham on north and northwest.  I expect no snow or ice travel problems during the precipitation, though there is a chance when skies clear late tomorrow night, any leftover moisture could lead to icy patches for Friday morning’s rush hour.
Sunsine returns Friday and the weekend looks better.