BITTERLY COLD AIR GETTING CLOSE: While most of Alabama is overcast this afternoon, the sky has cleared temporarily over some of the western counties at mid-afternoon. Temperatures are mostly in the 50s, but the coldest air in several years will invade Alabama tonight. The Arctic front is approaching Memphis as I write this.

Here are important notes on the bitterly cold air that will roll into Alabama:

• Some light rain will develop ahead of the front this evening, but amounts will be very light, less than one-tenth of an inch for most places.
• Temperatures will drop very quickly after the frontal passage. Some places will go from 45 degrees to 15 degrees in only two hours.
• A brief period of light snow is likely in the cold air over the northern third of the state after the front passes. Deeper moisture will be exiting the state rapidly as the cold air arrives, and no meaningful accumulation is expected. But there might be a few spots where the grass gets white, especially across higher terrain of northeast Alabama.
• Strong northwest winds of 15-30 mph, with gusts to 40 mph in spots, will bring the wind chill index down into the minus 10- to minus 15-degree range after midnight and into Friday morning over north Alabama. The wind chill index will remain below zero through much of the day. Wind chill warnings have been issued for much of the state.

• The strong winds will dry the roads quickly, and widespread travel problems are not expected. However, if there are any spots with standing water, it will turn to ice quickly, so watch for icy spots if you are driving tonight or Friday.
• Air temperatures will dip into the 5- to 12-degree range over the northern half of the state early Saturday morning; lows will be in the teens down to the Gulf Coast.
• It will likely be Monday of next week, Dec. 26, before temperatures rise above freezing over the northern half of Alabama, meaning many communities will experience more than 72 consecutive hours of subfreezing temperatures. This will be the coldest Christmas for most of Alabama since 1989.

PEOPLE: It will be dangerously cold, especially for those without adequate shelter and safe sources of warmth.

• Wear layers and have extra blankets on hand.
• Check on neighbors.
• Ensure loved ones and neighbors have a safe and reliable heat source.
• Arrange for emergency heat in case of power failure.
• Practice home heating safety. Keep heating equipment at least 3 feet from anything that can burn; do not plug space heaters into an extension cord or power strip.
• If traveling, make sure you are ready to handle any surprises that may leave you stranded. Have supplies such as water and food, warm clothes and blankets, and a charged cellphone. Don’t let your gas tank get too low so that you can periodically run the engine for heat.

PETS: Not all furry family members are equipped to handle the bitter cold. They can die if left exposed to extreme temperatures.

• Bring pets indoors with a source of food and water.
• Ensure pets will not be able to gain access to hazardous materials or items.

PIPES: They can burst, leaving you without water and damaging your home.

• Cover/insulate or drain exposed pipes before Thursday.
• Drip faucets.

NEXT WEEK: The week will be dry with a warming trend; temperatures reach the 60s by Friday, Dec, 30.

NEXT WEEK: The week will be dry with a warming trend; temperatures reach the low 60s by Friday, Dec. 30.

ON THIS DATE IN 1989: Between Dec. 22 and Dec. 24, deepening low pressure pulled a frigid Arctic air mass into the southeastern United States. This sequence of events produced a historic snowstorm and a rare white Christmas across the region. At Charleston, South Carolina, the storm deposited 8 inches of snow – the greatest snowfall in modern history. At Savannah, Georgia, the storm total accumulation of 3.6 inches tied the greatest snowfall in modern history.

BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.