Early shoppers to brave the cold

Shoppers planning to spend tonight camped out in a retailer's parking lot to secure a spot near the head of the line for Friday's shopping bonanza might want to pack extra clothes.

"It's going to be pretty chilly Thursday night, with lows in the lower 30s. The temperature could drop below freezing in some areas," said Dan Proch, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Huntsville. "Anybody who plans to camp out in a parking lot might want to wear a heavy winter coat."

Some Shoals residents take pride in being first in line for Black Friday's bargains and will show up hours before stores open. At some retailers, such as Best Buy, shoppers will forego holiday celebrations today to camp out so they can become one of the first people to enter the store.

Proch said brisk winds will make it seem even colder for shoppers who spend today camped out. The temperature is expected to be in the mid-50s, with winds gusting up to 20 mph.

Brenda Bryant, manager of Kmart in Muscle Shoals, doesn't expect the chilly forecast to deter shoppers Friday.

"I don't think it will make any difference if it is cold," she said. "Customers will stand in line in the cold if there is something they really want."

Bryant said Kmart shoppers often begin lining up in front of the store shortly after midnight to prepare for the store's 6 a.m. opening.

"I get to work at 4:30 or 5 in morning and people are already lining up every year," she said.

"If it's really cold, some will wait in their car until just before we open, but we will have a big crowd no matter what the weather is like."

Retailers count on sales the day after Thanksgiving to jump-start the holiday shopping season. After a slow year for holiday sales in 2008 for many stores, retailers are hoping Friday is the start of a busy shopping season.

Temperatures are expected to warm into the lower 50s under sunny skies during the day Friday.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.