Snow in Birmingham in 2020. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Cold weather is on its way to The Magic City! Although the possibility of snow is exciting, severe cold weather comes with challenges. Keep reading for information on cold weather resources in Birmingham + how you can make sure you’re ready.

Birmingham opens warming stations ahead of severe weather

When severe weather is in the forecast, Birmingham’s unhoused citizens are the most susceptible to danger. To help, the City of Birmingham and several local entities are offering warming stations and resources to those in need.

The City of Birmingham and Jimmie Hale Mission will be opening the BJCC East Ballroom as a warming station at 6PM on Monday, January 15. The Jimmie Hale Mission will operate its warming station at this location until 7AM Thursday, January 18. Afterward, they will move operations back to their campus and continue to offer warming services as long as temperatures remain below freezing.

What: Jimmie Hale Mission Warming Station
Where: (Jan. 15-18): BJCC East Ballroom (1100 22nd Street North, Birmingham)
Where (Jan. 18-temperatures are above freezing): Jimmie Hale Mission (3420 2nd Ave North, Birmingham)
When: January 15 at 6PM until temperatures remain above freezing

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Bring any donations for snacks, bottled water and blankets (that will fit a twin-size bed or larger) to the Jimmie Hale Mission (3420 2nd Ave North, Birmingham) between 9AM and 5PM. They ask that you do not bring any clothing.

Make sure you’re prepared for severe weather

According to the National Weather Service, all of Alabama could see dangerously low temperatures over the next couple of days. Forecasters anticipate snow and ice in the northern and western areas of the state—up to six inches.

But Birmingham isn’t out of the woods yet. According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, two inches of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice is possible in the Magic City.

When temperatures are below freezing, make sure you leave your faucets (bathtub, kitchen sink, etc.) dripping to avoid bursting pipes.

With ice in the forecast, do your best to limit your time on the road. If you have to drive, follow these tips to stay safe:

Drive slowly and maintain a larger-than-normal distance between you and other vehicles
Make sure your vehicle has at least half a tank of gas before leaving
In case you get stuck, make sure you bring warm clothing, blankets, food + water, an external phone charger and medical supplies
Avoid hilly or dangerous roads

In addition, make sure someone knows when you’re leaving, your route and when you expect to arrive. That way, they can call for help if you get stuck or lost along the way.

BONUS: If it’s too cold for you outside, it’s too cold for your pets. See how you can protect your furry friends from the cold weather in Birmingham.

Governor Ivey issues State of Emergency for 25 Alabama counties

Yesterday, Governor Kay Ivey issued a State of Emergency to over a third of Alabama counties in anticipation of unusually cold temperatures across the state this week.

Counties included in the State of Emergency are: