A significant winter storm was just getting started in south Alabama early Tuesday morning, with several inches of snow possible across parts of the region before the day is over.
The National Weather Service said this has the potential to be a "historic" winter storm for south Alabama.
Light sleet was being reported in a few areas of southwest Alabama early this morning, and the weather service thinks that accumulating snow or winter precipitation will begin in earnest later this morning and last on and off through the day.
The National Weather Service thinks that Alabama's southernmost counties could see 3 to even 4 inches of snow.
Snow is even expected along the beaches, according to forecasters.
The rest of south Alabama will likely get 1 to 3 inches of snow as well.
The weather service cautioned that "travel is expected to become dangerous or impossible within the winter storm warning area" in both south and central Alabama.
Winter storm warnings will be in effect today across south Alabama, and winter weather advisories have been extended as far north as the southern part of the Birmingham metro area (Shelby County), where just a little winter precipitation could cause travel issues, according to the weather service.
In addition to the snow, it will continue to be very cold today and especially tonight across the entire state.
High temperatures today won't make it out of the 30s for much of the state.
Tonight could be the coldest night of the winter for many areas, with single digits possible in north Alabama and the low teens possible as far south as Mobile.
Here's more on what to expect by region:
The National Weather Service in Mobile said a "historic" winter storm will be possible for south Alabama today.
A winter storm warning will be in effect until 6 a.m. for all of southwest Alabama, and a winter storm warning will go into effect at 9 a.m. CST and last until Wednesday for the southeast corner of the state.
The weather service in Mobile said 1 to 3 inches of mostly snow are likely for much of the region, but some areas could get 4 to even 5 inches.
Accumulating snow will really begin later this morning and will last through the afternoon.
The weather service in Tallahassee, which covers southeast Alabama, said there are hints that a heavier snow band could develop later today and affect parts of southeast Alabama as well as Georgia.
The southern half of central Alabama remained under a winter storm warning on Tuesday morning, and a winter weather advisory has been extended northward a bit to include Shelby, Talladega, Calhoun and Cleburne counties.
Counties in the winter storm warning area could get up to 3 inches of snow, the weather service said.
The National Weather Service doesn't think those areas will get a lot of snow, but just a little could have big impacts to travel, forecasters said.
Travel is expected to become dangerous or impossible within the winter storm warning area.
Forecasters added that difficult travel conditions will also be possible within the winter weather advisory area.
The weather service said it will "continue to watch developments closely through the morning, especially along the I-20 corridor.
Due to the presence of very dry air across the northern half of central Alabama, it will be much harder for snowfall to reach the surface before evaporating north of the I-20 corridor."
Very cold temperatures are again expected tonight and through Wednesday morning -- potentially hitting the single digits in places.
No snow is expected in north Alabama today but it will continue to be very cold.
The National Weather Service in Huntsville said a cold weather advisory will be in place across much of north Alabama, and wind chills tonight could range from 2 below zero to 5 degrees.