There’s a hard freeze warning in effect for the northern portions of Middle Alabamaland, according to the National Weather Service, where temperatures could drop below 15 degrees.

Record breaking cold temperatures are expected to continue through Sunday, and forecasters are predicting a chance of snow on Thursday when the Alabama Crimson Tide will be taking on the Texas Longhorns for the national championship in sunny Pasadena, California.

There’s also a fire watch in effect due to dry conditions in Middle Alabamaland, where the low temperature Monday night is expected to hit 16 degrees.

Rare ice formed on some area lakes and ponds, including the lake on Edwards Lake Road near St. Vincent’s Hospital East.

Some skeptics of global warming might say this is evidence of global cooling, but climate models indicate a general cooling trend in the Southeastern U.S. over time with a shorter growing season and more days below freezing.

© 2010, Glynn Wilson. All rights reserved.