West Alabama Wednesday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. It is Wednesday, January 8, 2024.It is the eighth day of the year with 357 days remaining.

Wednesday Morning Observations:

Temperatures have been near or just below freezing most of the week with even lower winds chills, yet some pet owners are leaving their fur babies out in the cold. Pet owners need to remember, the stress you feel from extreme cold outside, is also felt by your pet.

It was 27 degrees with a wind chill near 19 the other morning as I was driving to work and saw several beautiful cats huddled together shivering in a neighbor's yard. They were not strays.

Our most constant companions—dogs and cats—feel the effects of winter weather as much as we do, only they are often cast outside to weather the cold or a storm owing to a misconception that the fur on their backs will insulate them from suffering.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has the following information for pet owners during extreme cold snaps:

Bring your pets indoors during severe cold weather to avoid risks such as frostbite, disorientation, getting lost, or injury.
Cold weather may worsen some medical conditions in your pet just like it does you, especially those with arthritis.
If you do leave your pet outdoors, make sure they have shelter with bedding along with drinkable water. Water bowls can freeze quickly in extremely cold temperatures.
Never leave your pet alone in a car during winter, as the cold inside a car can be just as dangerous and lead to hypothermia.
You will probably need to shorten your dog's walks in very cold weather to protect you both from weather-associated health risks.

The main message is simple, if cold weather has a negative impact on you, it will on your pet too!

(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Lamar, Fayette and Walker counties northward here in West Alabama tomorrow night into Friday morning. 2 to 3 inches of snow are possible in that area. However, impacts will be felt across all of West Alabama.

From Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties southward one-half to 1” of accumulation is possible before turning to freezing rain. That freezing precipitation well may result in hazardous driving conditions, especially on bridges, overpasses and elevated roadways.

The Forecast:

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 20. North wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

Increasing clouds, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

A slight chance of snow before midnight, then a chance of rain, snow, and sleet between midnight and 3am, then snow, possibly mixed with rain after 3am. Low around 32. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday

Rain and snow, possibly mixed with sleet before noon, then rain, possibly mixed with snow between noon and 3pm, then rain after 3pm. High near 36. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday Night

Get our free mobile app

Topping the News:

Winter Weather Will be the Top news Story the Next Two Days

There is a cold/sleet/snow risk across all of North Alabama according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

The most Extreme (4 in 5) Risk is across the Tennessee Valley area of extreme North Alabama. A Significant (3 in 5) Risk covers most of Lamar, Fayette and Walker counties here in West Alabama. An Elevated (2 in 5) Risk covers Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, northern Greene, Hale and Perry counties. A Slight (1 in 5) Risk exists for Sumter, southern Greene, Hale and Perry counties and northern marengo county.

The risk runs from 6:00am Friday until 6:00am Saturday.

The Tuscaloosa County Warming Station Needs Donations

Freezing temperatures can be deadly for those with substandard housing and the homeless. A Warming Center is open all this week as the area is under risk of a winter storm. However, the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency and the Compassion Coalition need your help.

Donations of non-perishable food items, brand-new twin-size blankets and travel-sized pillows are needed for those staying at the station to escape the freezing temperatures.

A trailer has been placed in the Tuscaloosa County EMA parking lot (7400 Richard M. Pierce Parkway in Northport) between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. this week for people to drop off items for use at the warming station.

Fayette County DA Asks for Delay

A pre-trial hearing had been set for January 15th for the mother and grandfather of missing 1-year-old Kahlib Collins. Windy Bailey and the boy's grandfather James Bailey were scheduled to appear before a Fayette County judge, but District Attorney Andrew Hamlin has asked for a continuance.

Authorities believe the child has been dead for months, His mother faces four felony changes while his grandfather has been charged with failure to report the child's disappearance.

Hamlin's request states that the process of completing the investigative file is still underway and the state needs to re-set to the next available preliminary hearing docket.

The judge has not yet ruled on the request.

Today is the Official day of Mourning for Badawi and Dauphin in Alabama

Today is an official day of mourning in Alabama for UA Freshman Kareem Badawi and recent Auburn grad Drew Dauphin. The two died in the terror attack in New Orleans during the early hours of New Year’s morning.

Badawi and high school friend Parker Vidrine traveled to Bourbon Street to ring in the New Year. Badawi was one of the 14 killed in the attack while Vidrine was critically injured, according to officials at their alma mater Baton Rouge Episcopal High School. Vidrine, a freshman at Ole Miss, was released from the hospital yesterday.

TPD Arrests Fleeing Driver

TPD has arrested the driver of a reportedly stolen vehicle after they led officers on a chase that ended in a crash on Hargrove Road Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department said a patrol officer attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle but the driver of the truck took off with several units following.

Northport Approves New Park Funding

The Northport City Council approved a resolution Monday night to spend a little under $70,000 on playground equipment for Civitan Park on Main Avenue. The 5-acre park, shaded by trees and just up the road from historic downtown Northport will include playground equipment will include playground equipment donated by former Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban and his wife Terry.

Topping Sports News

Former Tider Joined Kalen DeBoer's Staff

Former Crimson Tide defensive back Jason Jones is being added to the football staff at Bama. Jones will be the new assistant defensive backs analyst. He graduated from Alabama in 2001 after playing for the Crimson Tide in the late 1990s. He recently spent two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at North Carolina.

Tide Men Faces Former Player in First Conference Road Game Tonight

The 5th ranked Crimson Tide (12-2, 1-0) will see a familiar face wearing South Carolina colors when they visit Columbia tonight. Nick Pringle transferred to USC after helping Bama to the Final Four last season. He has been a solid addition for the Gamecocks this year.

USC is 10-and-4 overall and 0-and-1 in conference play. They are seeking to end Alabama's nine game winning streak in the series.

A raucous crowd is expected at Colonial Life Arena where Carolina leads Alabama, 12-9 but overall Alabama leads the series, 35-16

If UA can win tonight and again at Texas A&M Saturday night, the stand to move up to at least #3 in the ranking's next week.

Gametime is 6:00pm on ESPN and the Crimson Tide Sports Network on 95.3 The Bear, Tide 100.9 and 1230 AM WTBC.

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.

Enjoy your "hump-day".

Source: West Alabama Wednesday Briefing

Categories: News, Local News