Winter storm brings snow

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 21, 2008

DEMOPOLIS &8212; Two days after inches of snow fell on the ground, snowmen and snow creatures still stood in yards all over the city, with temperatures remaining near freezing.

According to Caldwell, the last snowfall produced very slippery roads, even causing several cars to wreck on Walnut Street. This time around, he said, the roads seemed to be less slippery.

At least one roadway in the area, however, was shut down due to heavy snowfall. The bridge on Morgan Street near historic Whitfield Canal was blocked on both sides due to snow and ice.

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The last major winter storm to hit Alabama began March 12, 1993, when up to 16 inches of snow blanketed central Alabama for days, leaving thousands without power. Central Alabama last saw snowfall in 2002 and Montgomery received 1.8 inches of snow. The heaviest reports of snow Saturday stretched from Tuscaloosa and Demopolis, through Selma and Clanton, to Alexander City, Auburn and Roanoke, where early reports totaled around two inches.

Meanwhile, in southwest Alabama, some areas reported snow accumulations of 1 to 2.5 inches as the storm crossed the state. And while snow didn&8217;t fall on Mobile, a cold rain disrupted some Mardi Gras activities.

The Alabama Department of Transportation put crews on standby throughout the state and made sure that sanding equipment, dump trucks and spreaders were loaded with sand.

Road advisories for snow and ice were issued in Chamber, Clay, Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and the Department of Transportation performed an emergency road closure in Clarke County due to snow and ice on bridges and hills in the area.

In Birmingham, snow flurries dusted the tops of cars, homes and grass, but with temperatures just slightly above freezing, the snow melted upon contact with most of the roads.

The snow began tapering off Saturday afternoon and the weather service canceled a heavy snow warning that had been in effect for much of the morning. Colder temperatures into the evening and into Sunday left some snow on the ground through Monday evening.

Associated Press writer Desiree Hunter contributed to this report.