More than half of Alabama’s 67 counties go under a state of emergency today because of the forecast of severe winter weather.

Gov. Kay Ivey cited the threat of ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and prolonged temperatures below freezing in her proclamation declaring the emergency. She encouraged people to stay off the roads, if possible, in the affected areas, and to make preparations today.

Ivey named 37 counties in the state of emergency: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston.

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“Cold temperatures have persisted in Alabama this week, and we are anticipating the potential for winter weather to impact our state, particularly our driving conditions,” Ivey said. “As we all know, winter weather is challenging in a state like Alabama due to forecast uncertainties.

“That being said, I encourage Alabamians to make any needed preparations today, and if you are in an impacted area and do not have to be on the road, try to avoid it. Keep an eye on your local forecasts and stay weather aware.”

The state of emergency goes into effect today at 1 p.m. The declaration means that a state law against price-gouging takes effect in the emergency areas. The law bans unconscionable prices for the sale or rental of any commodity or rental facility.

Alabama law specifies that a state of emergency ordinarily will last 60 days but can be terminated earlier by written proclamation.

A winter storm warning will go into effect at midnight for all of north Alabama.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for central Alabama roughly south of the Interstate 20 corridor. It will go into effect at midnight.

Forecasters said that temperatures will be at or just below freezing in the warning and advisory areas and will cause difficult travel conditions for the Friday morning commute, especially across north and north-central Alabama.