The Shoals likely will avoid snow accumulations Thursday, with meteorologists anticipating northwest Alabama will receive only a dusting.

The National Weather Service office in Huntsville told emergency management officials during a briefing this afternoon that accumulations are likely east of the Shoals, possibly as close as Lawrence County, where 1 to 3 inches are expected.

“They have Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties under the lowest amount of snow, which is a dusting, which is why we’re not included in the winter storm watch,” said Mike Melton, director of the Colbert Emergency Management Agency. “Our temperatures will probably be a little bit too warm for accumulations.”

Officials are concerned about black ice forming Thursday night into Friday morning, due to temperatures that are expected to dip into the mid-20s overnight, Melton said.

Flooding concerns continue, as the Tennessee River at Florence has surpassed the 18-foot flood stage and is expected to crest at 20.7 feet Friday at McFarland Park, Lauderdale EMA Director George Grabryan said.