Northwest Alabama will be under a freezing rain advisory from midnight until 9 a.m. Friday as a weak winter weather system passes through the area, forcing many local school systems to delay opening.

  The National Weather Service office in Huntsville issued the notice today, stating icy accumulations of less than one-fourth of a inch are possible.

  This could bring some light icing on bridges and overpasses and cause slick spots on roads.

  The overnight low is expected to be 33 degrees. That, coupled with a 60 percent chance of rain, could bring freezing rain, according to the weather service office.
The chance of precipitation increases to 70 percent Friday, but it is expected to all be in the form of rain by 9 a.m. Friday’s high will be near 49 degrees.

  Some Shoals area schools have announced they are delaying their opening Friday, due to the threat of icy road conditions.

• Colbert County schools will open at 10:30 a.m., with buses running at 9:15 a.m.
• Lauderdale County schools will open at 10:30 a.m. Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Russellville and Franklin County schools along with Covenant Christian School will open at 10 a.m.
• The University of North Alabama and Kilby Laboratory School will delay opening until 10 a.m. UNA classes this evening will meet as scheduled.
• Florence schools will delay opening two hours.
• Lawrence County schools will open at 10:30 a.m.
• Riverhill School will open at 10 a.m.
• St. Joseph Regional Catholic School will have a two-hour delay.
• Northwest-Shoals Community College will open at 10 a.m.