The new technology is here and you are now seeing on Fox Ten and fox10tv.com. The Fox Ten Meteorologists have worked hard behind the scenes over the past month, installing new computer systems for graphical forecasts and radar display.

Weather Central is the leading supplier of television weather equipment and our new equipment is the best stuff available. This cutting-edge technology will help us be more interactive as we bring you the weather story each day.

High Resolution mapping, Virtual Sets, and on-camera storm tracking are just some of the capabilities of the graphics display system. We also can integrate live video and upload the latest severe weather information to our website Fox Ten TV dot com.

Expect to see even more new features during severe weather and hurricanes. Our new radar display system refreshes every 30 seconds with Level Two Doppler data. This allows us to show the highest resolution picture available, almost instantly.

We hope you enjoy the new features that we will continue to roll out in the coming weeks, and months.

Predicted Snow Totals as of 2/11 5pm News

 Actual snow totals…

Snow Event Ending by Mid-Afternoon

The low pressure system in the central Gulf of Mexico is sliding to the east, and snow continues over much of the Gulf Coast. We are now seeing the snow bands taper off over southern Mississippi, so we are just a few short hours away from the end of this event.

Snow totals in Greene, Washington, Clarke, and Monroe counties average around 5 inches so far. Citronelle and northern Baldwin County report 4 inches. We have seen lighter accumulations to near I-10 in Mobile County, with only a dusting in the Mobile Metro area. Northern Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties have also seen some snow today.

Expect the snow to taper off by mid afternoon in most areas. The low pressure area will move to our East and snow will melt in many areas that have seen only minor accumulations. Inland areas will continue to experience slushy and slick roads, with icy conditions possible tonight. Lows will drop into the mid 20’s overnight. We will see highs in the mid 40’s on Saturday, with better travel conditions.

We will have a full update on Fox Ten News at 5 & 9 pm.

We will keep you posted on Fox Ten News and fox10tv.com….

The low pressure system in the central Gulf of Mexico is now producing snow over the inland 2/3rds of our viewing area. We are getting reports of snow in Satsuma, North Mobile, Semmes, and in northern Baldwin County. Wet snow and rain will continue for the Mobile areas and across the Gulf Coast along and north of I-10 this morning.

We are seeing significant accumulations of snow in Clarke, Washington, Greene, and George Counties.

Roads are wet in the Mobile metro area, and temperatures will stay above freezing with the snow early this morning. We are seeing air temperatures in the mid 30’s.

The precipitation should change to snow in many areas later this morning as colder air moves in aloft. Snowfall accumulations will range from 1-2 inches along I-10, to 2-4 inches in the inland locations. We could see isolated amounts over 6 inches, especially in George, Greene, Washington, and northern Mobile Counties.

We will keep you posted on Fox Ten News and fox10tv.com….

Winter Storm Warning Continues in effect – Until 6pm Friday – All counties in our viewing area.

The significant winter storm system is tracking across the western Gulf this evening. This low pressure area will track south of us on Friday morning, as colder air pushes into the region.

We saw numerous reports of light sleet across the I-10 corridor Thursday afternoon. Sleet is still being reported in Biloxi at the 7pm hour…

We currently have and air temperature of 38 degrees, and a dewpoint of 30 degrees with light rain here at the Fox Ten News studios. Most areas are seeing rain now. Travel issues are not expected early tonight. Temperatures will stay above freezing before 3am in most spots… The precipitation will begin to change over to snow after midnight tonight to our northwest. George, Greene, Washington, and Clarke counties will be the first to see snow late tonight. Most areas north of I-10 and west of I-65 will see snow by daybreak Friday.

Areas near Dallas, TX, Shreveport, LA, and Jackson, MS are all seeing snow now.

Snowfall accumulations will range from 1-2 inches along the coast, to 2-4 inches in the inland locations. We could see isolated amounts over 6 inches, especially in George, Greene, Washington, and northern Mobile Counties.

Road conditions will be slippery on Friday, especially in areas with heavy precipitation bands. Temperatures could fall to near or below freezing at times Friday morning. Refreezing and black ice could also be an issue Friday night.

We will keep you posted on Fox Ten News and fox10tv.com….

A rare storm winter storm system is developing across the western Gulf. This low pressure area will track south of us on Friday, as colder air pushes into the region. As a result, the Gulf Coast will see our best chance for accumulating snowfall since December 1996.

This afternoon we have had numerous reports of light sleet across the I-10 corridor. We currently have and air temperature of 41 degrees, and a dewpoint of 22 degrees with light sleet here at the Fox Ten News studios. Travel issues are not expected this afternoon or early tonight. Temperatures will stay above freezing.

The precipitation should change to rain this evening in many areas. Then we will see everything begin to change over to snow after midnight tonight. Most areas north of I-10 and west of I-65 will see snow by daybreak Friday.

Snowfall accumulations will range from 1-2 inches along the coast, to 2-4 inches in the inland locations. We could see isolated amounts over 6 inches, especially in George, Greene, Washington, and northern Mobile Counties.

Road conditions will be slippery on Friday, especially in areas with heavy precipitation bands. Temperatures could fall to near or below freezing at times Friday morning. Refreezing and black ice could also be an issue Friday night.

We will keep you posted on Fox Ten News and fox10tv.com….

 Here is the NWS Mobile bulletin:

...WET SNOW IS POSSIBLE FROM MID MORNING FRIDAY AND DURING THE AFTERNOON ALONG
COASTAL SECTIONS OF ALABAMA AND THE EXTREME NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

DUE TO A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASSING EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF
OF MEXICO...AND WITH COLD AIR POURING INTO OUR REGION TO THE NORTH OF THE LOW...
RAIN WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE OVER TO WET SNOW FROM MID MORNING FRIDAY AND WILL
CONTINUE DOING SO PROGRESSIVELY FURTHER SOUTHWARD DURING THE COURSE OF THE
AFTERNOON AS THE SURFACE LOW PASSES TO OUR SOUTH. SOME SLEET MAY BRIEFLY MIX
IN WITH THE WET SNOW AND RAIN...BUT WILL BE SHORT-LIVED.

ALTHOUGH COASTAL RESIDENTS OF ALABAMA AND THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE
WILL LIKELY SEE WET SNOW FALLING FROM THE SKY ON FRIDAY...

ANY SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION WILL LIKELY BE AN INCH OR LESS AND MAINLY ON
GRASSY SURFACES.

GIVEN CURRENT FORECAST UNCERTAINTIES...THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THE NORTHWEST
FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND ESPECIALLY THE TWO ALABAMA COASTAL COUNTIES MAY RECEIVE
A LITTLE MORE OR A LITTLE LESS. THESE AREAS ARE NOT OFF THE HOOK JUST YET AND
 FURTHER MONITORING WILL BE REQUIRED.

SLICK SPOTS ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WILL BE PROBLEMATIC AND WILL MAKE FOR
 POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

EVERYONE IS URGED TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST FORECASTS CONCERNING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WINTER STORM.

After a very cold start to the month of January, the weather pattern has shifted considerably across the Gulf Coast. A slight risk of severe weather is expected tonight an unusually strong area of low pressure develops. The primary threat will be damaging winds and large hail. Isolated tornadoes are possible, as the western edge of the forecast area is under a Tornado Watch until later Thursday morning.  

The storm system has already dumped 4-5” of rain over parts of the area. Street flooding and flooding of low lying areas is expected as heavy rain continues to develop. Parts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties have already been under flash flood warnings, with more rain expected overnight. We have had reports of street flooding and stalled vehicles in the Mobile Metro area.

Severe storms are still possible early Thursday morning, and then we will see clearing by the afternoon. Temperatures will remain warm with highs near 70 on Friday and Saturday. Storms return late Saturday and early Sunday, followed by colder conditions.

Gulf Coast residents are urged to protect exposed pipes. Let the faucets run in a small steady stream. this is especially important in the older homes that are not well insulated and do not have a concrete foundation. Sensitive vegetation will be subject to damage. Pets should have a warm place to spend the night, preferably indoors. Check on the elderly.

The next system arrives on Thursday with a chance of wintry precipitation in our viewing area. Temperatures will be above freezing with a mix of sleet, rain, and snow in the inland locations in the afternoon. Greene, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, and Conecuh counties are most likely to see mixed precip Thursday. The precip may change to all snow briefly, before ending Thursday night.  

Most folks in Mobile, Pensacola, and the communities along and south of I-10 will see rain, perhaps mixed with some sleet. Significant accumulation and travel problems are not expected in our area.

Cold air will return for the weekend, and the lows Friday and Saturday night could once again be in the teens!

540 line

It’s the lowest blue line on the chart.  The “540″ line is in reference to a 5,400 geopotential meter thickness between 1000 and 500 millibars.  Thickness is a primary function of the temperature of the air and a secondary content of the moisture of the air.  The following website explains the “540″ line in alot more detail:  http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/97/

As meteorologists, we look at that as a rain/snow line.  Normally, if you’re above the line you see snow, below the line would be rain.  Although, the temps will be cold enough to support snow, if you don’t have the thickness values in place it just won’t happen.  So, i think those of you in our northern counties have the best chance for seeing a couple of flurries mixed in with the rain, but if you live in the Mobile or Pensacola metro, don’t count on it.

One thing’s for sure.  The cold air will certainly be here to stay through the week.  The Arctic Air looks to finally move out on Monday of next week.

Michael