It’s rare that any part of Alabama gets snow, but even rarer for those of us in the Black Belt region. Maybe that’s why so many of us get so excited about it any time there’s even a small chance that some of it will fall here.

On Friday, we’ve got a real chance of seeing some type of snow, although ice and sleet may be more likely. Many have already run to the store to stock up on bread and milk and those that haven’t have spent their afternoons laughing at Facebook statuses about snow in the south.

It’s rare for it to happen, but when it does, many of us love it. For those dreaming of a yard full of snow, we hope it happens for you Friday.

Many others aren’t looking forward to the snow, or specifically some of the problems winter precipitation could bring. We encourage drivers to watch out for icy spots on Friday, especially as temperatures drop in the afternoon.

All areas schools will be closed Friday. Although they’ll get some flak if no snow falls, we appreciate school leaders ensuring the safety of our children by making the decision to close their doors. It’s never easy for superintendents and school boards to make those decisions.

The real truth is that nobody is real sure what to expect on Friday.

We could see up to ½ inch of snow, but we also may not get much at all. The National Weather Service in Birmingham has done its best to read all of the different models this week and to keep everyone in Central Alabama up to date on what to expect, but it’s not easy to predict the weather, especially winter weather in the south.

No matter what happens Friday, we hope everybody stays safe. Our advice is this: Be prepared just in case conditions do deteriorate and enjoy the snow — if any falls.