Winter Storm — Lee, Alabama

2014-01-28 · Lee, Alabama

Event narrative

A mix of winter precipitation resulted in ice and snow accumulations across Lee county, causing hazardous travel conditions. Freezing rain resulted in ice accumulations on area roadways and Interstate 85 early Tuesday morning, before precipitation transitioned to all snow. Ice accumulations of one quarter inch were reported county wide. Snow accumulations up to 2.5 inches were also reported. One fatality (Indirect, Female, 24) occurred on February 2nd as a result of injuries sustained in a multiple vehicle accident on Interstate 85, Tuesday, January 28th. Icy road conditions contributed to the accident.

Wider weather episode

On Monday, January 27, a very strong arctic front moved through Central Alabama, bringing extremely cold and dry air to the area. Across the north, temperatures dropped through the day and into the 30's shortly after sunset. Temperatures across the entire area continued to plummet overnight and Tuesday morning, bottoming out in the teens across the north and 20's across the south. Within the arctic air behind the front, moisture spread northward ahead of an upper level disturbance. A mixture of winter precipitation fell across the area beginning Tuesday morning, January 28th. With low level cold advection and precipitation falling, surface temperatures did not warm through the morning. Travel conditions quickly deteriorated as snow, sleet and ice began to accumulate. Brief periods of freezing rain resulted in a light glaze of ice on area roadways and bridges Tuesday morning at the onset of precipitation. As precipitation transitioned to all snow, it melted and refroze quickly on area roadways, further deteriorating travel conditions. In many locations across Central Alabama, snow accumulated on top of a layer of ice. Hundreds of wrecks and hazardous road conditions left thousands of people stranded in their vehicles on area roadways for hours; many remained there overnight Tuesday night. Many others abandoned there vehicles in favor of walking to warm nearby shelters. As temperatures remained below freezing through Thursday, January 30th, there was only slight improvement in icy road conditions. Seven fatalities (indirect) were attributed to vehicle accidents on icy roads in Central Alabama. One fatality (indirect) resulted from a male slipping on ice outside his home. One fatality (direct) resulted from severe hypothermia. Due to the high number of vehicle accidents and vehicles abandoned in favor of walking to shelters, there were likely unreported indirect injuries numbering in the dozens across the affected area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 501003. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.