Alabama News

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Snow in Alabama looking more likely, forecasters say: What to know about Friday’s winter weather

The National Weather Service said confidence continued to increase about the probability of winter precipitation affecting the northern half of the state on Thursday into Friday.

One important thing to note: Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency warned on Tuesday morning that “Impacts will likely begin almost immediately on roadways once the winter precipitation starts due to how cold the pavement will become this week.”

Forecasters continued to stress that only a degree or two could separate who gets snow, freezing rain or just a cold rain.

And also remember that the forecast will be evolving each day as the end of the week gets closer and more details come into focus.

Two very chilly days are on tap first, however.

High temperatures on Tuesday will stay lodged in the 30s in north and north-central Alabama, and the rest of the state will stay in the 40s.

Here’s today’s high temperature forecast:

Tonight will be very cold statewide.

Lows will range from the upper teens and low 20s in north and north-central Alabama to the mid- to upper 20s across south Alabama.

Here’s the forecast for tonight’s low temperatures:

Similar temperatures are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, according to weather service forecasts.

The coldest night may be from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, when lows could get into the lower teens in north Alabama.

Here is that low temperature forecast:

Thursday night into Friday is where the possibility of winter precipitation enters the picture.

The National Weather Service offices in both Huntsville and Birmingham said confidence is rising in some sort of winter precipitation affecting the northern half of the state starting as early as late Thursday.

Forecasters expect a storm system to track along the Gulf Coast and spread precipitation across Alabama.

However, that storm system could also help to raise temperatures enough to make it a real challenge to predict who will get snow, ice or disappointment.

NORTH ALABAMA

The weather service in Huntsville said concern of accumulating snow — and possibly freezing rain — is increasing for north Alabama.

Snow could begin over north Alabama possibly as early as late Thursday.

There is a high chance of precipitation across north Alabama on Friday, and it should end from west to east on Saturday morning.

The weather service said the precipitation is most likely to fall as snow north of the Tennessee River, with “an eventual transition to a wintry mix possibly occurring south of the river.”

CENTRAL ALABAMA

The National Weather Service in Birmingham also has increasing confidence in some sort of winter precipitation affecting parts of central Alabama on Friday.

Forecasters said on Tuesday that the “track of the low pressure system as well as depth of the cold air present at the surface will greatly determine location of wintry precipitation, precipitation type (snow, wintry mix, or freezing rain) and potential impacts.”

Forecasters are more certain that the northern part of central Alabama will have impacts from winter precipitation.

As of Tuesday morning, the weather service said snow accumulations of a half-inch to 2 inches are not out of the question — but stressed that there was “significant uncertainty” about that.

There could also be ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch.

Areas along and north of Interstate 20 have the best chances at this point to see accumulations.

“Due to the cold air that will already be in place leading up to Friday, infrastructure and ground temperatures will already be very cold. That could be a contributing factor to closely watch in terms of potential impacts,” forecasters said.

Temperatures should rise above freezing on Friday afternoon for the southern part of the region.

The weather service urged those in central Alabama to “stay tuned as the forecast becomes more refined and details ironed out over the next 36 hours.”

SOUTH ALABAMA

There’s a chance those in south Alabama could see some winter precipitation as well.

The National Weather Service in Mobile noted that the forecast for Thursday night is very challenging and depends on the exact track of the weather system.

Some light snow or a mix of rain and snow will be possible late Thursday for parts of Choctaw and Clarke counties.

Overnight more of the region could see a rain-snow mix, mainly from Evergreen and Luverne northward, forecasters said.

“It must be stressed that some light freezing rain or light sleet could also occur. Some minor accumulation of wintry precipitation is possible. Again, this is a challenging forecast so stay tuned for adjustments to the forecast,” the weather service said.

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General

South Alabama adds portal commitment from former Arkansas safety

South Alabama has picked up a transfer portal commitment from former Arkansas safety Dallas Young.

The 6-foot, 196-pound Young, a 3-star recruit in the 2023 signing class out of Gardendale High School near Birmingham, played in 12 games primarily on special teams for the Razorbacks this past season. He redshirted in 2023, and has three years of eligibility remaining.

Young is South Alabama’s fourth public commitment via the transfer portal in the current cycle, joining linebacker Tre’Mon Henry (Southern Miss), defensive end Tirrell Johnson (Harding) and wide receiver Brendan Jenkins (Samford). The Jaguars are expected to add a few more transfers before spring semester classes begin next Monday.

In addition, South Alabama defensive back Brian Dillard announced this week he was withdrawing from the transfer portal. Dillard, who has one season of eligibility remaining, has totaled four tackles in 16 games for the Jaguars the last two seasons.

Young and Dillard boost a South Alabama secondary that lost All-Sun Belt safety Jaden Voisin to graduation and fellow DBs Rickey Hyatt, Jordan Scruggs and Amarion Fortenberry to the transfer portal. Scruggs has signed with West Virginia and Fortenberry with Kansas State, while Hyatt remains publicly undecided.

South Alabama finished 7-6 under first-year head coach Major Applewhite in 2024, beating Western Michigan 30-23 in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.

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See Monday’s statewide boys, girls high school basketball scores

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Walker Kessler reacts to girlfriend Abbie Stockard named Miss America

No one was more pumped that Abbie Stockard, Miss Alabama 2024, was crowned Miss America 2025 on Sunday night than Walker Kessler.

The Utah Jazz center – and former Auburn star – posted video of his reaction to the news was priceless.

Stockard, from Birmingham, is a student at Auburn University, where she majors in nursing. Her goal is to earn an advanced degree, a doctorate of nurse anesthesia practice, and specialize in pediatrics.

“Congratulations Abbie,” the NBA star wrote in an Instagram post Monday. “I am so proud of you and everything you stand for. Your hard work and trust in the Lord has awarded you with this incredible opportunity! Use your light to shine on others around you!”

Kessler was averaging 10.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in his third season as a starter for the Jazz. The center was originally selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Kessler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night, before being moved to the Jazz in the Rudy Gobert trade in 2022.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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Aubrey Plaza speaks out after husband’s suicide: ‘This is an unimaginable tragedy’

Actor Aubrey Plaza broke her silence Monday on the recent death of her husband, Jeff Baena, saying it was an “unimaginable tragedy” and asking for privacy.

Baena, an independent filmmaker, died Friday at his Los Feliz residence, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which determined the cause of death to be suicide. He was 47.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” Plaza and the Baena and Stern families said in a statement shared with the Los Angeles Times. “Please respect our privacy during this time.”

Baena’s death prompted Plaza to step aside from her duties presenting the 82nd Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

Baena directed Plaza in his 2017 dark comedy film “The Little Hours” and co-wrote David O. Russell’s 2004 comedy movie “I Heart Huckabees.” The pair began dating in 2001 and were married in May 2021.

Baena is also survived by his mother, Barbara Stern; father Scott Baena; stepfather Roger Stern; stepmother Michele Baena; brother Brad Baena; stepsister Bianca Gabay; and stepbrother Jed Fluxman.

_____

(If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.)

_____

©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Archibald: Alabama lawmakers save kids from sex, vaccines and librarians

This is an opinion column.

Thank goodness, with all the evils of this world, Alabama has its heroes.

Oh, sure, our ills plague us like the Joker plagues Gotham. Gun violence and economic stagnation in parts of our state. Prison overcrowding and struggling schools and the crisis of rural healthcare and blah blah blah.

Surely none of those things, not even the offensive nature of the offensive play calling at Alabama’s football powers, can withstand the might and wisdom of our heroes.

Faster than some speeding bull****, more powerful with a loco motive! Able to reach appalled squealing in a single bound.

Is it a bird? A plane? No. It’s the Alabama Legislature.

We can, with less than a month to go before the 2025 Legislative session, look at pre-filed bills to see how our creepy crusaders hope to save us from dangers they see: the perils of librarians and vaccines and drag queens and our own problematic history.

Sen. Gerald Allen, who used to be known as “that fringe guy from Tuscaloosa with the crazy bills” but is now as middle of the Alabama road as a flat armadillo, is very interested in helping young people love America. He wants to pay teachers to learn, well, a happier version of our history.

He is again pushing a bill, SB8, that would set up the “American History and Civics Excellence Initiative” to teach teachers to teach things like “the root foundation of American exceptionalism” and “the success of the United States and the success or failure of other nations’ governing philosophies.”

The head of the initiative would of course have to be confirmed by the Senate, which collectively thinks of Brother John Birch as a leftie. Teachers who complete the online indoctrination, I mean instruction, would receive a one-time stipend of $3,000.

It’s a small price to pay to make people say America is great. Again.

Allen, a Republican from Tuscaloosa, has another bill that would require schools to broadcast the national anthem at least once a week. He’s tried that one for years. He’ll file it until he gets it.

It’s all about liberty, you know. And the children.

A group of Republican House members led by Rep. Arnold (not Marvin K) Mooney will again go to the House with HB4, a modified version of a bill attempted last year that would apply anti-porn laws to public libraries and school libraries.

The bill seeks to root out displays of “sexual conduct,” which it defines broadly as any act of sexual intercourse, masturbation, urination, defecation, lewd exhibition of the genitals, sadomasochistic abuse, bestiality, or the fondling of the sex organs of animals” and so on. But of course that’s not what it’s about. They just want to link drag queens to the sex organs of animals.

For libraries specifically, the bill defines sexual conduct as “any sexual or gender-oriented conduct, presentation, or activity that knowingly exposes a minor to a person who is dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, who is stripping, or who is engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing.”

It is unclear what “gender-oriented conduct” means. But read Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” or watch “Tootsie” somewhere else.

Another bill, unrelated but not, would make it easier to get rid of library board members. SB6, by Baldwin County’s Sen. Chris Elliott, makes clear that board members can be removed by the politicians who appointed them.

Because history shows that art and literature and ideas are best regulated by politicians.

Heroes, these guys are. They are very interested in the health and well-being of Alabama’s children.

I guess that’s why Rep. Chip Brown, R-Mobile County, is again pushing a bill to require parental consent before minors can get a vaccination. That’ll probably pass this time.

Then again, Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, is pushing HB13 to ban the sale of assault weapons to a minor.

We’ll have to trust our heroes to show us what’s more dangerous, an AK-47 or a polio vaccine.

It’s a bird!

It’s a pain!

No, it’s just a stupor, man.

John Archibald is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

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Alabama sends two Black lawmakers to Congress for the first time after historic election

Alabama has elected 190 members to the U.S. House for over 205 years, but it achieved a first last week: Two Black residents from Alabama took the oath of office to serve in the U.S. House at the same time.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham; and U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile; were sworn in as members of the 119th U.S. Congress, a historical moment recognized during the Congressional Black Caucus swearing-in event Friday in Washington, D.C.

“I think it’s always significant and worth noting when we have first, such as this occurring, especially given the history of the State of Alabama, the South and this country,” Figures said in an interview with AL.com Monday.

“But at the end of the day, it’s all about representation. We got elected to not just represent Black people and Black people in District 2, but we were elected to represent the people of this district and that is what we’re going to do.”

Figures and Sewell join a short list of only seven Black Alabama residents elected to serve in the U.S. House.

No Black Alabamian has ever been elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. And only four Black lawmakers have been elected to represent the state since Reconstruction.

The caucus recognized the historical moment along with another first as it’s the first time two Black women are serving together in the U.S. Senate — Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware.

The congressional term is starting off with a record of 62 elected Black officials, up from 13 who were the founding members of the Black Caucus in 1971.

Sewell, the longest serving Black member of Congress from Alabama, is also the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s board of directors.

Speaking at the event on Friday, she said that Black lawmakers “stand on the shoulders of giants.”

“We are now a powerful voting bloc who can move public policy, can elect vice presidents, and now have our first African American to lead the party, Hakeem Jeffries,” Sewell said, referring to the House Minority Leader from New York.

Sewell is the only Black woman to be elected to Congress from Alabama.

Figures was elected to serve the 2nd district in November, defeating Republican Caroleene Dobson by a 54.6%-45.5% margin.

Wayne Flynt, professor emeritus at Auburn University and an Alabama state historian, said the significance of having two Black members serving in the U.S. House from Alabama was “by no means a historical footnote.”

“As often happens in historical periods of significant transition, the most courageous, confident and competent leaders tend to be push forward by their followers in the early stage of upheaval and change,” Flynt said.

“Usually movements get their most passionate, aggressive, fearless well-known leaders in this early stage who, as a result, become legendary figures in history.”

Reconstruction era

The first three Black members of the U.S. House from Alabama were each elected in the 1870s, but none them served concurrently. None of the first three Black members also served beyond a single term.

The first Black federal lawmaker from Alabama was Benjamin Turner, as Dallas County tax collector, who represented Alabama’s 1st congressional district from March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873.

The district included Selma, Mobile, and the state’s rural Black Belt region. Turner was a political moderate who refused to make patronage appointments while serving in Congress and ended up losing re-election after one term in office.

James Rapier, the first Black newspaper publisher in Alabama, was elected to serve the 2nd congressional district in 1873.

He is best known for supporting a port bill for Montgomery, which led to its economic growth at the time. Rapier lost re-election to a former Confederate Army Major following an election that included armed mobs and intimidate from the Ku Klux Klan.

Jeremiah Haralson, an influential Alabama State senator, represented the 1st district from March 4, 1874-March 3, 1877.

While in Congress, he sought to gain amnesty for the former Confederates. He lost re-election after redistricting redrew his Selma home into the 4th congressional district. An armed mob attacked him in 1878, and he was ordered to leave the state.

Redistricting

In modern times, the addition of Black lawmakers in Alabama has come mostly due to redistricting.

Figures won the new 2nd congressional district redrawn by a three-judge federal panel in 2023, following a lawsuit contesting Alabama’s congressional map as a violation to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The district was redrawn to provide a second “opportunity district” to give Black voters a chance to select their preferred candidate.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling by a 5-4 vote in June 2023, which led to the creation of a 2nd district that is over 47% Black, compared to 45% white.

“The lawsuits (that created) this district was about giving people the opportunity to have a legitimate voice and selecting the representation in their state,” Figures said. “African Americans make up less than a third of the population under the maps that existed (before 2023) and could only influence one of seven congressional districts. The more you can make your representatiton reflective of the community make up of the State of Alabama, the better off we are all. I’m incredibly blessed and humbled to do just that.”

Redistricting created the state’s first majority-Black district in Alabama’s 7th congressional district in 1992.

Earl Hilliard, a former state legislator and chair of the first Alabama Black Legislative Caucus, won the 7th district seat that included Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery. It was redrawn after the 1990 Census to be a 65% majority non-white district.

Hilliard held onto the seat for a decade until he lost to Artur Davis in the 2002 Democratic primary.

The contest between the two was bitter, and Davis ended up winning the race after criticizing Hillard for voting against a bill increasing funding to Israel and for opposing the criminalization of Palestinian politicians.

Davis, an assistant U.S. attorney from 1994-1998, served in the seat from 2003-2011. He was the first Democratic politician outside of Illinois to endorse Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy in 2008.

Davis opted not to seek re-election in 2010 but instead ran for governor. He lost to Ron Sparks in the Democratic primary.

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Kalen DeBoer, Hugh Freeze named in ESPN hot-seat list

The college football season may be over and it may be early in their coaching stints, but both Kalen DeBoer and Hugh Freeze have targets on their backs.

Both the Alabama and Auburn coaches are named in ESPN’s “way-too-early” coaching hot seat.

Granted, the list is tiered:

• Don’t do that again
• We want this to work
• It’ll cost us
• Need progress
• Don’t backslide
• Retirement watch
• Group of 5

Both made the “We want this to work” list.

“DeBoer’s first season seemed to confirm fears about whether he could succeed in a different region, especially while replacing a legend,” ESPN states.

DeBoer and the Tide (9-4, No. 11 CFP) fell 19-13 to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The loss ended Alabama’s string of 16 consecutive seasons with double-digit wins. DeBoer inherited the streak from seven-time national championship-winning coach Nick Saban, who retired after last season.

“After missing the CFP and losing to undermanned Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl, DeBoer will need to deliver more in Year 2, even with an athletic director (Greg Byrne) firmly in his corner. He ultimately might be a better fit elsewhere, such as USC,” ESPN writes.

Meanwhile, with Freeze, ESPN states, “Auburn’s personnel had dropped off, and Freeze had the roots and results in the deep South to turn things around. But Tigers fans are still waiting.”

The Tigers finished Freeze’s second year 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the SEC and is 11-14 in his first two years on The Plains.

“A manageable 2025 schedule could lead to a breakthrough, which Freeze needs despite a contract that runs through the 2028 season,” ESPN writes.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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General

Early predictions for Alabama QB battle: Will Keelon Russell win the job?

Gentlemen, start your quarterbacks.

The race to win the starting job for Alabama football in 2025 is about to begin.

Right now, there are three contenders. Two have already been on campus. One arrived this week. And now Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell will battle to see who can take the job left vacant with the departure of Jalen Milroe to the NFL Draft.

Let’s take a closer look at each contender, in no particular ord

Contender: Austin Mack

Year: Redshirt sophomore

Measurables: 6-6, 236 pounds

He was the fourth quarterback on the depth chart this season behind Milroe, Simpson and Dylan Lonergan, but Mack is viewed as someone with long-term upside. He will be in his third season with DeBoer, having spent one year at Washington before transferring to join DeBoer in Tuscaloosa. Mack is young, though. He was supposed to be a senior in high school during the 2023 season in which he redshirted. Mack is known for his hard work, including the important role he played in the prep for LSU.

Contender: Keelon Russell

Year: True freshman

Measurables: 6-3, 175 pounds

He went from an SMU commit to an Alabama signee while rocketing up recruiting rankings through the process. Russell, whose primary recruiter was offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, rose to the No. 2 prospect overall in the 2025 recruiting rankings, per the 247Sports Composite.

Russell was named Gatorade Player of the Year after he passed for more than 3,000 yards and almost 50 touchdowns in 2024. He also was part of back-to-back state championships at Duncanville in 2022 and 2023.

Simply put, he’s a winner and an elite athlete and passer.

Contender: Ty Simpson

Year: Redshirt junior

Measurables: 6-2, 215 pounds

Simpson didn’t win the job two years ago when he battled with Milroe and Tyler Buchner to replace Bryce Young. But Simpson was only heading into his second season of college football then.

He now has three seasons of experience. And the former five-star quarterback brings plenty of intrigue. The son of a coach, Simpson can make any throw. He can’t run like Milroe; no one can. But Simpson can make plays with his legs.

Early prediction for Alabama quarterback competition

So how does this play out?

At this juncture, before Alabama has gone through spring practices and fall camp, Simpson sits in pole position. He will have to win it; it won’t be handed to him. But the belief is he’s capable.

Simpson is the most experienced, and his year in DeBoer’s system is valuable. In fact, it gives him an edge. Just look at past DeBoer quarterbacks in their second years in his system: Michael Penix Jr. was the Heisman Trophy runner up in 2023 at Washington in his second year. At Fresno State, Jake Haener improved his stats from 2,021 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first year to 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns in his second year. Fresno State only played six games the first year because of COVID-19, but it was still a jump nonetheless for Haener.

Simpson wasn’t the starter in his first year in the DeBoer system, but he was working with the playbook, play calls and more in practice and some game action. So a second season in the system could still lead to a strong year.

The question is, can Russell’s raw talent somehow supersede Simpson’s experience and specifically, experience in the system? It’s not impossible, but true freshmen don’t exactly start every day at quarterback for a program such as Alabama. Even one as talented as Russell. His future is incredibly bright, but it’s still no small task for a true freshmen to come in and lead an offense right away. Don’t rule it out completely. Just don’t necessarily bank on it happening.

For all of those reasons, we’ll give the edge to Simpson in this early prediction.

As for Mack, he could start at some point in his career, but it might still be too early. He probably has the longest odds to win the starting job with just under eight months until the 2025 season.

Prediction on Jan. 7: Ty Simpson will win Alabama starting quarterback job at start of 2025 season.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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Miss Manners: The great pie a la mode debate – plate or bowl?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Should pie a la mode be served on a plate with a fork, or in a bowl with a spoon?

I am always frustrated when I am served a dessert topped with a scoop of ice cream on a flat plate with a fork. The ice cream invariably melts and is impossible to eat, especially if the pie is warm!

When I suggest that it should be served in a bowl with a spoon, I am told that is not how pie should be served. What says Miss Manners?

GENTLE READER: That the fork and spoon are not like a couple who had a nasty divorce and are forcing their friends to choose between them. Rather, they are like a couple who should be invited together, unless there is an obvious reason to ask only one of them.

For people, such an occasion might be a ladies’ spa day, where the husband would not be invited. In the case of flatware, the analogous dish might be ice cream alone, where the fork would be superfluous. (Miss Manners will refrain from the case of ice cream forks, because she hasn’t seen a lot of them around lately.)

So both fork and spoon should be provided when the dessert has both gooey and dry elements. They may be used separately or together, with the fork in the left hand and the spoon in the right. You might want to eat the ice cream before it collapses, because you should, indeed, use a plate for pie — to avoid squishing it into a bowl.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

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