As crews work to clear snow-covered roads from Winter Storm Cora, local leaders are urging residents to limit travel to essential trips due to deteriorating conditions.

The National Weather Service forecasting office in Huntsville said sleet and freezing rain are expected to fall throughout Friday afternoon, which will make clearing roads more difficult.

Precipitation is expected to end around 8 p.m.

“That may be the most dangerous time of this storm,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “That’s not a time you want to be on the road.”

Mayor Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon, and Madison Mayor Paul Finley praised the cooperation between their governments in working to minimize the effect of snow and ice on roadways.

“Thank you to all the agencies that have been working this,” Mayor Battle said. “They have been preparing all week. Now it’s action time and everyone is doing a great job.”

Officials asked residents to look after their neighbors and others who may be vulnerable during this time.

“It’s very important the public understands the conditions out there and they try to help each other,” Chairman McCutcheon said. “We’re anticipating that ice could be a drastic change in conditions so we just encourage people to help each other.”

The cities of Huntsville and Madison are seeing the benefits of their efforts to plan and prepare for winter weather.

“It’s great having people focused on this all the time and then when something like this happens, they put the plan into action,” Mayor Finley said. “We have phenomenal teams from both the City and the County.”

Warming centers

Huntsville-Madison County EMA Director Jeff Birdwell asked residents to only call 911 in instances of a true emergency.

Those needing a ride to a warming center should call the Huntsville Police Department’s non-emergency number at 256-722-7100.

Warming centers remain open across Huntsville to provide shelter for individuals in need.

Approximately 335 people took advantage of the warming centers overnight Thursday and another 144 people benefited from services at First Stop.

Community Warming Center – The Livin’ Room (2820 Governors Drive SW): Call 256-427-5400 or email rvealeby@nativity-hsv.org
First Stop (206 Stokes St.): Open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 256-533-3391
Downtown Rescue Mission (1400 Evangel Drive NW): Open 24/7. Call 256-536-2441
Salvation Army (305 Seminole Drive SW): Open Monday-Sunday, 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Call 256-536-9147

Heed road barricades

Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles reminded drivers that it is illegal to go around road barricades. He said roads that are still open could be treacherous for drivers.

Huntsville Fire & Rescue Chief Mac McFarlen said yellow tape will be placed on mirrors, antennas or door handles of disabled vehicles on roadsides to mark that the incident has been investigated and to reduce calls to the 911 Center.

For real-time information about road conditions and closures, signup to receive notifications through the City Alerts system.