The major winter storm moving across the U.S. has reached Alabama.
Sleet and freezing rain were already reported north of Interstate 20 early Saturday morning by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
The storm is bringing a dangerous mix of ice, heavy rain and bitter cold to Alabama, with impacts expected to last through the weekend and into early next week.
Currently, three counties are under an ice storm warning, while an extreme cold watch has been issued for central Alabama.
Here are the latest winter storm updates.
Where are ice storm warnings in Alabama?
The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for Colbert, Lauderdale and Franklin counties, effective from midnight through 6 p.m. Sunday.
Significant ice is expected, with ice and sleet accumulations of up to 1 inch possible. That level of ice can weigh down trees and power lines, increasing the likelihood of power outages and blocked roads.
Extreme cold watch for central Alabama
In addition to ice and rain, NWS forecasters are warning of dangerously cold temperatures following the storm.
An extreme cold watch is in effect for much of central Alabama, including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Auburn and surrounding cities, from late Sunday night through Monday morning.
According to the NWS, wind chills could drop to 3 degrees above zero, posing a serious risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone without adequate protection. Prolonged subfreezing temperatures may also cause water pipes to freeze and burst.
Timeline of the winter storm in Alabama
The storm is expected to change rapidly over the weekend. Here’s what the NWS says:
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Saturday: Temperatures warm by noon, allowing precipitation to transition mostly to rain. Some ice melting is possible.
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Sunday: Colder air returns, changing rain to sleet or freezing rain, especially across northern and central Alabama.
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Early Monday: Precipitation ends statewide, but dangerous cold settles in.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama braces for ice storm. Here’s the latest forecast
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![Cuban president vows defense of island if US invadesCuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, “We don’t want that [confrontation] but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it… and if it were unavoidable, to win it.”
Diaz-Canel made the remarks in Cuba‘s capital Havana during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the US‘s failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion — a CIA-backed operation launched after US-owned properties and businesses on the island were nationalized by Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries.
Diaz-Canel told thousands gathered for the event that the nation is “ready” for another attack as US President Donald Trump continues to threaten the tiny southern neighbor.
Cuba faces economic collapse as US oil blockade hits tourismTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Cuba and the US: A long and contentious history between neighbors
The US and Cuba have been archenemies since the country’s 1959 revolution and Trump has breathed new life into the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, a US policy designed to thwart European meddling in the Western Hemisphere.
Late last year, Trump ordered US warships to the Caribbean to sink what the US has described as drug smuggling boats in the region.
In January, Trump cited the policy when the US military arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and extradited him to the US to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.
After Maduro’s abduction, Trump ordered a blockade of oil and gas to Cuba and began threatening that “Cuba’s next.”
After launching a war against Iran on February 28, Trump has again floated the idea of “taking” Cuba, which has also suffered massive nationwide blackouts as a result of the US oil blockade.
Diaz-Canel: ‘Cuba is a besieged state’
In his Thursday remarks, Diaz-Canel called the current situation “very grave,” yet he also drew on the Socialist ideals espoused by Fidel Castro at the start of the Cuban revolution.
Further, he rejected Trump’s claims that Cuba is “a failing nation,” accusing the US of looking for a pretext for action.
“Cuba is not a failed state. Cuba is a besieged state,” said Diaz-Canel. “Cuba is a state facing multidimensional aggression: economic warfare, an intensified blockade and an energy blockade.”
Recently, talks between both sides — designed to reduce tensions — have been ongoing, yet few details have emerged.
The trade embargo that the US placed on Cuba in response to its revolution remains in place nearly 70 years later.
Is Donald Trump going to take on Cuba next?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
#Cuban #president #vows #defense #island #invades](https://i2.wp.com/static.dw.com/image/76815467_6.jpg?ssl=1 "Cuban president vows defense of island if US invadesCuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, “We don’t want that [confrontation] but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it… and if it were unavoidable, to win it.”
Diaz-Canel made the remarks in Cuba‘s capital Havana during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the US‘s failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion — a CIA-backed operation launched after US-owned properties and businesses on the island were nationalized by Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries.
Diaz-Canel told thousands gathered for the event that the nation is “ready” for another attack as US President Donald Trump continues to threaten the tiny southern neighbor.
Cuba faces economic collapse as US oil blockade hits tourismTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Cuba and the US: A long and contentious history between neighbors
The US and Cuba have been archenemies since the country’s 1959 revolution and Trump has breathed new life into the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, a US policy designed to thwart European meddling in the Western Hemisphere.
Late last year, Trump ordered US warships to the Caribbean to sink what the US has described as drug smuggling boats in the region.
In January, Trump cited the policy when the US military arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and extradited him to the US to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.
After Maduro’s abduction, Trump ordered a blockade of oil and gas to Cuba and began threatening that “Cuba’s next.”
After launching a war against Iran on February 28, Trump has again floated the idea of “taking” Cuba, which has also suffered massive nationwide blackouts as a result of the US oil blockade.
Diaz-Canel: ‘Cuba is a besieged state’
In his Thursday remarks, Diaz-Canel called the current situation “very grave,” yet he also drew on the Socialist ideals espoused by Fidel Castro at the start of the Cuban revolution.
Further, he rejected Trump’s claims that Cuba is “a failing nation,” accusing the US of looking for a pretext for action.
“Cuba is not a failed state. Cuba is a besieged state,” said Diaz-Canel. “Cuba is a state facing multidimensional aggression: economic warfare, an intensified blockade and an energy blockade.”
Recently, talks between both sides — designed to reduce tensions — have been ongoing, yet few details have emerged.
The trade embargo that the US placed on Cuba in response to its revolution remains in place nearly 70 years later.
Is Donald Trump going to take on Cuba next?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
#Cuban #president #vows #defense #island #invades")
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