By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

A possible half inch to more than an inch of snow and sleet is expected for Chilton County Friday, Jan. 6.

Tara Goggins, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said there is “definitely still looks like a mixture for the Chilton County area.”

The precipitation was projected to be in Chilton County mid-morning and continue into the evening.

Goggins said freezing rain was still possible. Sleet occurs when precipitation falls to the ground as pieces of ice. Freezing rain is rain that freezes when it hits the ground.

Goggins said this has the “potential for some significant travel impacts.”

Drivers were encouraged not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary, and reschedule plans when possible.

The precipitation is expected to turn to flurries around midnight on Friday, Jan. 6 and end before sunrise on Saturday morning.

The city of Clanton has prepared for the weather event by having employees on standby to put sand on bridges in the area.

On Jan. 28, 2014, Chilton County saw 2- 3 inches of snow, according to NWS. The winter storm had produced a mixture of snow and freezing rain throughout the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast States.

According to NWS, “In the end, Alabama State Troopers responded to 731 vehicle accidents across the state during the period Tuesday through Friday.  Sadly, there were nine deaths attributed to accidents that occurred due to the icy road conditions.”