Counties in north Alabama shut down travel as snow, ice cover roadways
Following several days of sub-zero temperatures, a winter-like mixture of snow and ice Monday afternoon led to road closures in several northern Alabama counties due to unsafe travel conditions.
On U.S. Route 431 heading south from Huntsville, traffic jammed for hours, forcing some drivers to choose between waiting or hiking into the mountains.
High altitude road conditions continue to deteriorate in the Huntsville area…this is Hampton Cove…photo by Emily Hernandez pic.twitter.com/uVfUgpnLSQ
— James Spann (@spann) December 26, 2022
From @kearstynhailee “Hwy 431 Southbound Huntsville closed overnight. We’re stuck here for 3 hours. Currently hiking downhill.” pic.twitter.com/eCrpWK1nj2
— James Spann (@spann) December 27, 2022
Other travelers who were lucky enough to pass through the area when the snow first started reported driving times increased dramatically.
I drove another Snowmageddon similar to 2014 today. This time I visited family in Huntsville. His normal 40-minute trip from one house to another took almost two hours. pic.twitter.com/9WWVFYKi4D
— Jim Page (@jimpagejr) December 26, 2022
By that night, Huntsville police asked citizens to stop reporting minor accidents and reduce the volume of calls, according to WHNT. Madison Police Department also asked residents not to drive unless it was an emergency.
This is why we closed in Huntsville with dust or a few inches of snow. people laugh at us It can not be helped. No powder snow here. I got to my apartment complex and slid back up the hill in my car. Southern snow is nothing but slush and ice. https://t.co/DVUdH6J49E
— Jarvis 🏳️🌈 (@artsyboy1985) December 27, 2022
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for widespread black ice in the Tennessee Valley area. Road closures were also issued in several surrounding counties, including Jackson, DeKalb, Marshall, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, and other parts of Madison County.
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