Metro Area Prepares For Cold Valentine's Day Weekend

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Valentine's Day weekend may be the perfect time to snuggle up by a warm fire, but not just because it is a day for lovers. After some spring-like weather during the week, Alabama is expected to get cold this weekend.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said Friday will be mostly cloudy and cold with temperatures in the 30s over the northern portion of the state, and in the 40s for Birmingham.

Friday and Saturday will also include cold rain in the Tennessee Valley, and near the Birmingham metro. "For now no major impact is expected, but watch for any forecast changes," said meteorologist James Spann.

Spann said the rain will end Saturday afternoon from west to east and the day will be cloudy and cold with temperatures in the 30s for the northern third of the state, 40s for central Alabama and 50s for the southern counties. Spann said Sunday will be dry with similar temperatures.

Monday poses a freeze alert as a major winter storm moves out of Texas and heads east.

"It now looks like freezing rain will be possible for north and west Alabama Monday and Monday night," Spann said. "It is still too early for a very specific impact forecast, but for now it looks like the greatest chance of ice accumulation will be north of I-59. This certainly will have potential to bring icy roads and other impacts; once we get within 60 hours of the event we can nail down the timing, placement and impact with much greater confidence."