A winter storm affected northern Alabama on January 14-15, 2024, producing over an inch of sleet (ice pellets) in some areas mixed with freezing rain. Because the city is not accustomed to major snow/ice events and also because of temperatures falling into the single digits (highly unusual this far south), the road network-- including major roads-- were effectively turned into an ice rink for the next three days until a brief warmup allowed for some treatment on January 18. Schools and many businesses have been closed all week long as a result.