When was Mobile’s biggest snowfall? South Alabama faces rare winter storm
A rare southern winter storm will target south Alabama on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Winter storm watches have been issued for much of south and south-central Alabama starting on Tuesday morning in anticipation of what could be several inches of snow.
There’s also the possibility of sleet and some ice.
Here are the areas in Alabama under winter storm watches as of Sunday morning:
The Alabama counties in blue will be under winter storm watches on Tuesday.Alabama Emergency Management Agency
The National Weather Service in Mobile said south Alabama could get several varieties of winter precipitation, but most of it could come in the form of snow.
Here’s the forecast for snow (which could change) as of Sunday morning from the National Weather Service:
A winter storm is expected for parts of Alabama on Tuesday. Above are the expected snow totals for Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the National Weather Service noted that these numbers could change. Very cold temperatures are expected statewide from today through at least Thursday.National Weather Service
Snow is not unheard of in south Alabama, but it’s a very rare thing for sure.
According to the weather service Mobile has had 3 inches or more of snow 10 times since 1895.
However, you have to go all the way back to 1963 for the last time the city got that much.
What’s the most snow Mobile has ever gotten?
According to the weather service the record is 6 inches on Feb. 15, 1895.
According to weather service data the city also had 5 inches in late January of 1881.
A woman walks in the snow in Mobile, Alabama on February 9, 1973. Alabama Media GroupAlabama Media Group/ADAH
Five inches of snow was also recorded on Feb. 9-10 of 1973.
Mobile most likely will get less than those amounts on Tuesday, though with Alabama winter storms you can never totally rule anything out.
As of Sunday morning the weather service said there is a high chance (70-80 percent) of accumulating winter precipitation on Tuesday, with amounts of 1 to 3 inches the most likely.
Forecasters added that there is a low (10 percent) chance of 3 to 5 inches of snow.
Snow falling on a float in the Crewe of Columbus parade in downtown Mobile, Alabama in Feb. 1968.Alabama Department of Archives and History/AMG
It’s been a while since south Alabama has seen significant winter precipitation.
The last major brush with snow, according to the weather service, was the winter of 2017-2018, when the Mobile area had not one but two winter weather events.
The first was on Dec. 8-9, 2017, and the second on Jan. 16-17, 2018.
The Mobile area got about 1 inch of snow in early December, while other areas to the north got more than 5 inches:
Parts of south Alabama got an inch or more of snow on Dec. 8-9, 2017.NWS
According to the weather service Mobile got 0.1 inch or sleet and snow in January of 2018.
That was only the second time in recorded history that two measurable snow events were recorded in the same winter (December through February) in Mobile.