Local relief coordinators are making plans to ensure that public warming stations will be open across Cullman County, ahead of a sustained winter chill expected to set in Monday, Jan. 6 and remain in place at least through next weekend.

The Cullman County Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the Cullman County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), have announced Monday openings for warming stations in Cullman, Hanceville, Fairview, Vinemont and Dodge City, with information continually updating on the agencies’ social media platforms.

Forecasts call for a round of rain and potential storms amid mild daytime temperatures on Sunday, followed by a drastic cooldown that will plunge nighttime temperatures into the teens for the remainder of the upcoming week. The sub-freezing temperatures pose the greatest safety hazard associated with this week’s weather event: Though a slight chance of snow is forecast for Monday (and, possibly, again on Friday), no accumulation currently is expected.

The immediate forecast follows a longer-term January weather assessment by the National Weather Service (NWS) that anticipates “much below normal” temperatures throughout north Alabama beginning Monday and extending into the middle of January. NWS advises that there is “a medium chance (40-60%) of morning low temps dropping to 19-22 degrees F or lower” during this period, posing risks to property and safety that include burst water pipes, danger to outdoor pets, and frostbite or hypothermia for those who remain exposed to the cold outdoors.

Shelter locations include:

Vinemont

Follow Cullman County VOAD on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CullmanCountyVOAD/) for current information about warming shelter locations, as well as each shelter’s operating policies. Follow the Cullman County EMA on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CullmanCountyEMA/) also for shelter information, as well as current weather-related alerts for Cullman County.