By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

The National Weather Service has issued a civil emergency message for several Alabama counties, including Shelby County, warning of “extremely hazardous” roads throughout the area.

In an alert issued at 11:27 a.m., the NWS said “numerous roadways, both major though fares and lesser traveled roadways, are becoming extremely hazardous, and in some cases impassable.”

“The most dangerous areas remain the elevated roadways, bridges and overpasses,” read the alert. “The county emergency management agencies request that travel be limited to emergencies only for your safety and the safety of first responders.”

The alert warned “winter weather will continue through the afternoon and into the evening hours across much of central Alabama with additional winter weather accumulations.”