A low pressure system tracked east across the northern Gulf of Mexico producing a swath of snow across the Tennessee Valley on Christmas Day 2010.   For Huntsville, this event resulted in a record snowfall for December 25th, and was the second White Christmas on record.  The previous one was in 1989 when 0.3 inches of snow fell.
A mixture of rain and snow began in northwest and north central Alabama between 3 and 5AM CST, and between 5 and 7AM in northeast Alabama.  The mixture rapidly changed to all snow and became moderate to heavy at times during the morning hours.  Visibility fell to 1/4 to 1/2 mile at times, with snowfall accumulating at a rate of one half to one inch per hour in some areas.  All told, snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches on average occurred, with a few locations in the higher elevations of northeast Alabama receiving between 4 and 7 inches.  Many locations in valley areas remained just above 32 degrees much of the day, thus roadways were mainly wet and slushy through the day. However, the higher elevations remained below freezing which resulted in hazardous driving conditions.   As colder air filtered into the region during the overnight hours, additional snow showers developed as an upper level low dropped southeast across the region.  This system produced an additional dusting to up to one inch of snowfall.

Heavy Snow in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 05:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cullman County received 2 to 4 inches of snow.  3.5 inches was reported in West Point.

Heavy Snow in MADISON, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 05:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Madison County received 2 to 7 inches of snow.  The highest amounts occurred across central and eastern Madison County, especially in the higher elevations on the Cumberland Plateau.  3.5 inches fell in Madison, 4.5 inches fell in Meridianville, and 6 to 7 inches were reported on Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville.

Heavy Snow in LAWRENCE, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 04:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lawrence County received 2 to nearly 4 inches of snow.  3.5 inches was reported in Moulton.

Heavy Snow in FRANKLIN, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 03:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Franklin County received 3 to 4 inches of snow.  4.0 inches was reported in Phil Campbell.

Heavy Snow in LAUDERDALE, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 03:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Lauderdale County received from an inch or less in northwest portions of the county up to 2.5 inches in Anderson.

Heavy Snow in COLBERT, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 03:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Colbert County received 2 to 3 inches of snow across central and eastern portions of the county.  3.0 inches of snow was reported in Littleville.

Heavy Snow in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 04:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Limestone County received 2 to nearly 4 inches of snow.  3.8 inches was reported in Athens.

Heavy Snow in MORGAN, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 04:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Morgan County received 2 to 3 inches of snow.  2.5 inches was reported in Hartselle.

Heavy Snow in MARSHALL, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 07:30:00 to 25-DEC-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Marshall County received 2 to nearly 4 inches of snow.  3.5 inches fell in Boaz.

Heavy Snow in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 07:30:00 to 25-DEC-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

DeKalb County received 3 to 4 inches of snow.  4.0 inches fell in Ider, Peeks Corner, and Valley Head.

Heavy Snow in JACKSON, ALABAMA
From 25-DEC-10 04:00:00 to 25-DEC-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall began in northwest portions of Jackson County around 4 am, then spread eastward during the next few hours.  The snowfall persisted longest in southeast portions of the county, ending by around 3 pm.  Jackson County received 3 to nearly 6 inches of snow, with the heaviest in northwest portions of the county.  5.5 inches fell in Skyline, and 3.0 inches fell in Scottsboro and Stevenson.