Parts of Alabama will have two chances to see snowflakes just this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Both chances are still far from slam dunks, but there’s an increasing chance for various forms of winter precipitation on Friday.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville said on Monday morning that “concern for accumulating snowfall is increasing” for areas in north Alabama.

The weather service in Birmingham also noted that confidence about some form of winter precipitation is rising for central Alabama, but there’s a big question of what kind of precipitation.

Forecasters in Mobile haven’t ruled out a snowflake or two for inland areas but think it may be too warm for much else.

The first chance for snow will be today thanks to a very cold airmass that is taking over the state in the wake of a cold front and storms last night.

The back side of that weather system could generate snow flurries or even a snow shower over parts of north and central Alabama.

Forecasters think the better chances of seeing any snowflakes today will be north of the Interstate 20 corridor.

No accumulations are expected, according to forecasters.

Weather watchers will also be keeping an eye on north Alabama bodies of water in case the cold air and windy conditions could generate an Alabama version of lake-effect snow.

Speaking of wind, it will continue to be blustery at times today, and wind advisories will be in effect for the northern two-thirds of the state through the afternoon today.

The flurries are expected to last on and off through the afternoon, according to the weather service.

Today is expected to be very cold, with highs in north and north-central Alabama only expected to make it into the 30s.

Here’s today’s forecast:

Today marks the first day of a prolonged cold period — even for January. Below-average temperatures will be the story through the week and possibly into the weekend, according to the weather service.

This week high temperatures will be similar to today, only making it into the 30s and 40s. Lows will be in the teens and 20s.

The weather service thinks the coldest night could be Wednesday into Thursday. Here’s the low temperature forecast for that timeframe:

Then comes Friday, and the potential for what forecasters call “impacts” from winter precipitation.

The weather service expects an area of low pressure to develop near the Gulf Coast and slide eastward Thursday into Friday.

That low will generate precipitation, and with cold air in place that precipitation could fall over Alabama as rain, freezing rain or snow.

The weather service thinks the time to watch for winter precipitation will be late Thursday night through the day on Friday.

Areas in north and central Alabama could end up with travel issues, but that’s not certain just yet. South Alabama may be warm enough to just see rain, but a little wintry mix is still possible for inland areas.

The big question, as it typically is with winter precipitation in Alabama, is what form will it take?

According to the weather service, as of Monday morning, thinks that many areas in north and central Alabama may see precipitation start out on the frozen side (freezing rain or snow) and then transition to rain as temperatures warm during the day on Friday, then it could transition back toward freezing later in the day on Friday.

But the weather service stressed that it’s just a matter of a few degrees:

“I want to stress that all of this hinges on a very thin margin of error for hour by hour temperatures,” the weather service in Birmingham said in a Monday morning forecast discussion. “Any shift in the guidance or eventual observations of temperatures 2-3 degrees warmer or colder can lead to significant changes in the forecast. Therefore, details in this forecast will undoubtedly change in the next few days.”

Here’s more from the National Weather Service:

NORTH ALABAMA

CENTRAL ALABAMA

SOUTH ALABAMA