A low developed in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico early on the 9th and tracked east along the Gulf Coast late on the 9th into early on the 10th.  A large area of snow spread northeastward during the early to mid evening hours on the 9th, reaching south of the Tennessee River before 8 pm, and along and north of the Tennessee River shortly after.  Snowfall rates jumped quickly to 1 to 2 inches per hour and visibility dropped to 1/4 mile or less.  Thunderstorms produced very heavy snowfall bursts of up to 4 inch per hour between 10 pm and 1 am with many social media sources and the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) reporting several strikes and rumbles of thunder.   Weather observers at the Huntsville International Airport reported a 4 inch snowfall between 11 pm and Midnight.  Snowfall was mixed in with sleet at times initially as well.  The snowfall tapered off to light snow and flurries between 2 and 5 am.  Patchy freezing rain mixed in with some of the remaining light snow showers during the morning hours of the 10th, mainly in northeast Alabama.
Snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 14 inches, with heaviest amounts in northwest and north central Alabama, and lessor amounts in central and northeast Alabama generally south of the Tennessee River.  The snowfall basically shutdown normal activities and travel across the region with many roads declared impassible or closed.  Schools were closed on the 10th and 11th.  Temperatures climbed in valley areas to 32 to 34 degrees during the late afternoon and early evening hours, allowing for some main streets to become wet, while rural county roads remained very treacherous or impassible.  Black ice became a problem during the nighttime hours of the 10th into the 11th as temperatures either remained below or dipped back below freezing.  This was especially the case on mountain roads and rural county roads.  In fact, the icing issues were so significant and widespread, that local area emergency situation was declared by emergency management officials for Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Marshall, Dekalb, and Jackson counties.

Heavy Snow in MADISON, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 18:30:00 to 10-JAN-11 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Between six and ten inches of snowfall fell across the county. In fact at the Huntsville airport 8.9 inches of snowfall was recorded.  This was the third highest snowfall total on record at this site.  Overall across the county, the heaviest amounts were mainly in the western portion of the county, including the Huntsville Metro area.  In these locations eight to ten inches of snowfall occurred.  The remainder of the county, mainly east of a line from Meridianville to Farley, received six to eight inches of snowfall.  The snow ended as a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the tenth, producing minor accumulations of ice over the deep snowfall.

Heavy Snow in JACKSON, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 19:00:00 to 10-JAN-11 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Four to ten inches of snowfall occurred across the county.  The heavier amounts from six to ten inches were along and north of a line from Stevenson to Trenton.  Widespread amounts from four to six inches were common south of this line.  The snow ended as a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the tenth, producing minor accumulations of ice over the deep snowfall.

Heavy Snow in LAWRENCE, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 17:30:00 to 10-JAN-11 04:50:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to twelve inches of snowfall occurred across the county.  The highest totals occurred on the extreme northwestern tip of the county, where some amounts topped off around ten inches.  Much of the central and northern portions of this county received eight to ten inches. Six to eight inch totals were common in southern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow in FRANKLIN, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 17:45:00 to 10-JAN-11 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Most locations across the county received six to ten inches of snowfall. The heaviest  amounts of eight to ten inches fell northwest of a line from Phil Campbell to Hodges.

Heavy Snow in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 18:30:00 to 10-JAN-11 07:50:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Most locations across the county received eight to ten inches of snowfall fell.  Even some amounts between ten and twelve inches fell in extreme northwestern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow in LAUDERDALE, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 19:45:00 to 10-JAN-11 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to fourteen inches of snowfall was reported cross the county.  Especially hard hit was an area in eastern portions of the county extending from Center Star to Anderson.  In fact, the highest total from the storm system (14 inches) was reported in Center Star.

Heavy Snow in COLBERT, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 19:10:00 to 10-JAN-11 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Eight to ten inches of snowfall was reported across the county.  Most of the heavier amounts of ten to twelve inches were reported in northeastern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow in MORGAN, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 17:30:00 to 10-JAN-11 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to ten inches of snowfall was reported across the county. Most of the heavier amounts occurred north of Hartselle up to the Tennessee River.  South of these areas reports received generally ranged from six to eight inches.

Heavy Snow in MARSHALL, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 17:30:00 to 10-JAN-11 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to eight inches of snowfall was reported near and west of a line from Arab to Mr Hebron. Further east in the county snowfall amounts of four to six inches were common.
The snow ended as a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the tenth, producing minor accumulations of ice over the deep snowfall.

Heavy Snow in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 17:40:00 to 10-JAN-11 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Many locations across the county received between four and six inches of snowfall.  Heavier amounts totaling six to eight inches fell in the central portions of the county, mainly from Henagar to southwest of Fort Payne. The snow ended as a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the tenth, producing minor accumulations of ice over the deep snowfall.

Heavy Snow in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 09-JAN-11 16:45:00 to 10-JAN-11 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A trace to seven inches of snowfall fell across Cullman county. Most of the county received between four and six inches of snowfall.  However, totals were four inches or less in southern portions of the county near a line from Hanceville to locations south of Crane Hill.  The snow ended as a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the tenth, producing minor accumulations of ice over the deep snowfall.