The Clanton Walmart was quite busy on the afternoon of Jan. 5 after a winter storm watch was issued for Chilton County.(Photo by Steven Calhoun)

By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Chilton County grocery stores reported seeing an increase in customers on Thursday, Jan. 5 in anticipation of the winter weather forecast for Jan. 6.

The prediction of snow appears to have increased the demand for bread and milk at multiple county stores. The Walmart in Clanton had a busy parking lot, and extra staff members were working checkout lanes in the early afternoon.

“I really didn’t think we were going to get a lot of the snow,” Michael Wilbur, the store’s co-manager, said. “We’re feeling the impact of the forecast. We’ve got supervisors and managers out trying to help handle the surplus of customers.”

Wilbur said many shoppers were stocking up on staple items like milk and bread.

Tracey Dempsey, assistant manager at Piggly Wiggly in Jemison, said his store was “not really a panic, but people are buying more milk and more bread.”

“Usually it’s more of a panic, but for two days they’ve been forecasting it, so it’s been just a steady flow of people buying more groceries,” Dempsey said. “Luckily, we did have a knowledge of it, so we still have plenty of milk and bread.”

Jeff Wax, store manager at Winn Dixie in Clanton, said, “Every time when they holler that ‘s’ word it drives people. Also, it’s coming a little more south than they expected.”

Jake Sim, assistant manager at Sav-mor Associated Foods Clanton, said his store saw a “small influx today and yesterday, but nothing too intense yet. People are getting their milk, eggs, bread and toilet paper.”

The wintery mix is expected to fall starting the morning of Jan. 6 and continue through the following morning. Officials say the weather could impact driving conditions, which is why many citizens are stocking up on food beforehand.

Weather.gov maintains an up-to-date weather map for those who wish to follow weather conditions.