The first significant winter storm of the year threatens Alabama with heavy snow, a coating of ice, and dangerously cold weather. A State of Emergency and a Winter Storm Warning have been issued as Alabama prepares for winter weather.

Alabama is gearing up for winter weather. Forecasters say moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico and cold temperatures from the west could combine here to create freezing rain, snow, and ice. The cold conditions could hit from the Tennessee Valley to the central part of the state.

At least 50 million people were under a winter storm warning as of Thursday as the storm spreads along the Gulf Coast Friday, according to the weather service. The storm should weaken by Saturday, bringing lighter snow between 1 and 3 inches to parts of the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the Ohio Valley before exiting off the Carolinas.

Alabama's forecast stays very cold and includes snow, sleet, and ice on Friday