FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The same weather system that can help keep tropical storms and hurricanes in check has had a role in a rare coastal occurrence. El Niño is one of the factors that contributed to the rain, sleet and snow that fell in the area Thursday night, and continued well into the day Friday.

Keith Williams, a forecaster with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mobile, said, “It’s just the right conditions, including moisture and temperature. Everything kind of came together.”

NWS meteorologists said a low pressure system coupled with deep moisture on its north side moved across the central Gulf of Mexico yesterday. A cold air mass in place across southeast Mississippi, southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle brought sleet to the Alabama coast Thursday afternoon, before it turned into rain and then snow on Friday.

At press time, snow was expected to blanket much of the county, with Bay Minette and other northern communities seeing accumulations of one to five inches. Fairhope, along with the central and possibly even the southern parts of the county were expected to receive up to two inches of the white stuff.

Although the forecast calls for sunny skies today with highs in the upper 40s, there is a slight chance of light sleet returning after midnight on Sunday.

Williams said any snow that remained on the ground here Friday was expected to turn into ice pellets and slush because the ground was already wet from overnight rainfall.

“It could get a little bit further south with little accumulation, but it will be wet snow,” Williams said. “There could be some slushy spots in south Baldwin County.”

The formation of ice on roads and bridges was expected to be a problem for motorists late Friday because of the resulting dangerous driving conditions. Ice also was projected to form on trees and power lines in some areas, possibly causing outages.

Although thermometers registered above 32 degrees early yesterday, the snow continued to fall. Freezing temps further up in the atmosphere enable snow to form, Williams said. But, ground temperatures must be colder for accumulation.

The last significant snow accumulation occurred in Baldwin County in 1996, he said. Pensacola’s last major snowfall event was in 1977.

We are experiencing the effects of a moderate El Niño. Williams said, “It helps us with hurricane situations, but produces more rainfall on the other side of that.” He pointed out there is a remote possibility snow could return before winter fades into spring.

There was a possibility early Friday that the Maids of Jubilee parade through downtown Fairhope would be cancelled, but as of press time city officials and mystic society members expected to roll as planned last night.

The Fairhope K-1 Center children’s parade, which was expected to hit the streets in the early afternoon, was postponed until Monday at 1 p.m.

Baldwin County public schools were closed Friday due to the winter weather, but will be open Monday for a hurricane make-up day. They will be closed again Tuesday for Mardi Gras.

Athletic events that were scheduled for Thusday and Friday nights are to be held today.