Metro Birmingham slowly begins to recover from Tuesday’s surprise snowfall, but frigid temperatures have made that process difficult.

The Alabama Department of Transportation continues to advise people to stay off roads, as most are covered with ice and snow. Temperatures throughout central Alabama are still in the upper teens despite the brilliant sunshine, so there’s no ice and snow melting on roadways — it’s too cold for salt or brine to have any effect.

Jefferson County Schools have already announced that Thursday classes will be called off, as will Tarrant and Birmingham schools. No word as of 11:15 a.m. from Blount County or from Tabernacle Christian School in Gardendale, though the latter usually follows Jefferson County’s lead.

The Burkett Center for the Multi-Handicapped in Morris had 17 students stranded overnight, many with special needs. But after a call for help from Gardendale Council President Stan Hogeland (among others), all students were taken home late this morning. Mayor Othell Phillips said via Facebook on Tuesday night that about 40 students were stuck in local schools because parents couldn’t get there to pick them up.

Electrical service remains largely intact throughout the area, as ice buid-up on power lines was not an issue in metro Birmingham.

Many businesses in north Jefferson County are closed, including most restaurants. Those that we know are open include Jim ‘N’ Nick’s Bar-B-Q on Odum Road in Gardendale.

If you have photos of your experience in the winter weather that you would like to share with The North Jefferson News, send them by email to njnsports@gmail.com. We’ll posted selected photos on our website and Facebook page.