National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

National Weather Service, Mobile-Pensacola

 

New Year Brings Ice and Snow to
southeast Mississippi & southwest Alabama

January 1, 2002

 

As a developing surface low pressure system moved slowly across the southern Gulf of Mexico during the late evening of January 1st, a rain and sleet mix changed to snow over inland portions of our area, while a mixture of rain, sleet and freezing rain fell over coastal counties of Alabama. A cold rain fell over the northwest Florida panhandle overnight.

Ending at 8am on January 2nd, National Weather Service Cooperative observer reports along with numerous emergency management and law enforcement agencies reported that snow fell roughly north of a line from Wiggins, MS to Deer Park, AL to Chrysler, AL and then to Evergreen and Luverne, AL.

 

Jan 1 and 2 Snowfall amounts over southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama

 

Snow Reports:

Southeast Mississippi

Location Amount (inches)
Beaumont 1
State Line 2
Waynesboro 1-2
 Northern Perry County 2-3
Southern Perry County 1-2

 

Southwest Alabama

Location Amount (inches)
Andalusia None
Butler 1
Camden 2
Chatom 1
Chilton (near Grove Hill) 2
Evergreen Trace
Greenville 1.5
Highland Home 2
Jackson 3
Luverne 1/4
Peterman 2
Thomasville 1
Whatley 3

 

Additionally, rain and sleet fell overnight south of the above mentioned snowfall line. By sunrise, the precipitation had changed to a mixture of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle. The southern extent of the significant icing appears to have been from a line from Saucier, MS to west Mobile, AL to Brewton, AL to Andalusia, AL.

 

Mixed Precipitation Reports:

Southeast Mississippi

Location Amount (inches)
Northern Stone and George Counties 1/10 -1/4 inch of sleet and freezing rain
with a dusting of snow on rooftops
Southern Stone and George Counties > 1/4 inch of sleet and freezing rain
with dusting of snow on rooftops

 

Southwest Alabama

 Location Amount (inches)
Bates Field, Mobile approx. 1/10 inch freezing rain
Seven Hills approx. 1/10 inch freezing rain
Mount Vernon 1/10 to 1/4 inch sleet and freezing rain

 

 

Radar Derived Precipitation Totals Jan 1-3
Radar Derived Precipitation Totals: January 1-3, 2002
 

 

Forecast 30 Hours Prior to the Event
Winter Storm Warning now in Effect.
 4 AM Wednesday January 2, 2002

 

 


Acknowledgements: Page initially created by Jeff Medlin (Meteorologist In Charge) and Alan Campbell (Forecaster). Page updated by Morgan Barry (Forecaster).

LAST UPDATED: October 2016