Huntsville prepares for icy cold blast

Published on January 11, 2024

The City of Huntsville and its community partners are preparing for the coldest temperatures so far this winter, including the opening of warming centers. Temperatures are expected to drop into the teens on Monday and Tuesday nights. There is a chance of snow flurries starting Sunday night and continuing into Tuesday, though the National Weather Service said no accumulation is expected.

The City will also monitor the impact weather conditions have on roads. Public Works will have crews on standby along with a large quantity of dry material to use in case black ice is reported. “At this point, we aren’t anticipating precipitation and hoping roads will be clear, but we’ll be monitoring the weather and roads with Huntsville Police and will be prepared to respond,” said Chris McNeese, director of Public Works.

James Gossett, Director of Parks & Recreation, said no changes are planned to City recreation center schedules because of the cold weather. That could change should road conditions deteriorate due to snow and ice, Gossett said.

Warming Centers

Three warming centers will be available to provide shelter for those who need to escape the cold weather.

• The Downtown Rescue Mission at 1400 Evangel Drive NW is open 24/7.
• The Salvation Army at 305 Seminole Drive will operate its day shelter Monday through Wednesday from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its overnight shelter will be available Monday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
• The Livin’ Room at 2820 Governors Drive will be open Monday at 4 p.m. until Wednesday. Community partners are City of Huntsville, The Livin’ Room, Church of the Nativity, First Stop, R.O.S.S. Recovery Center, Greater Huntsville Humane Society, His Way Recovery Center and North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (NACH).

Huntsville police will provide transportation to the warming centers on Monday. To request a ride, individuals can call the non-emergency number at 256-722-7100. For the rest of the week, public transit will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. After 9 p.m., call Huntsville police at the non-emergency number for transportation.

Bring pets inside

Pets will also need special attention in the cold weather. Virgie Graham, Animal Services Chief for the City, said pets should be brought indoors. If pets can’t be brought inside, Graham suggested bringing pets indoors for short periods to warm up before going back outside.

No matter what precautions are taken, owners need to check in on their outdoor pets to make sure they are not in distress. Graham reminded owners to make sure water for pets is not frozen in the cold weather and that they provide fresh food. (Read: Take extra care of furry friends during frigid cold.)

Stay up-to-date

For emergency notifications on road closures and severe weather, check out HuntsvilleAL.gov and make sure to sign up for City Alerts from the Huntsville/Madison County Emergency Management Agency and Huntsville Police. You can also follow the police department on Facebook and X for road condition updates.