National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in Amarillo, Texas, delivered an update regarding the chances of snowfall hitting later this week as a storm encroaches on Texas.
Meteorologists have been warning of the storm since the start of this week, with the NWS sharing that parts of Texas and surrounding states are experiencing a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday as the storm treks east. Although much of Texas is expecting precipitation in the form of rain, the panhandle of Texas has a strong chance of up to 5 inches of snow.
“Chances for snowfall across the combined Panhandles are increasing as we approach Friday,” NWS Amarillo said in a forecast on its webpage on Wednesday. “Here are some preliminary probabilities to see 1 inch and 5 inches. Stay tuned for updates!”
The map included with the update showed a 60 to 90 percent chance of at least 1 inch of snow in parts of Texas, specifically Stratford. Perryton, Gruver, and Dalhart had a 30 to 60 percent chance, with Amarillo and surrounding areas having a 10 to 30 percent chance.
It’s not unusual for parts of North Texas and the Texas Panhandle to experience winter weather conditions. However, the forecast comes as Amarillo is far behind on its average snowfall so far this year. Typically by early January, the city has seen 7.6 inches of snow, but NWS Amarillo meteorologist Christian Rangel told Newsweek that only .2 inches has fallen so far this winter, which occurred during one snow event in early December.
Currently, there are no NWS alerts, watches, or warnings regarding winter weather conditions in place for Texas, although NWS Amarillo has issued a hazardous weather outlook.
“A winter system [will] bring snow to the panhandles late Thursday through Friday,” the outlook said. “Snowfall is most likely to occur and be heaviest in the NW panhandles and lighter to the SE. Gusty winds will further increase impacts from the snow by blowing it around. Hazardous travel conditions may occur with this snowfall both from icy conditions and low visibility. Black ice may form Friday night into Saturday from any wet areas caused by melting snow or rain.”
The highest chance of snow will be on Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Light snow could also fall in the southwestern Texas panhandle, the NWS office in Lubbock warned.
“Temperatures will fall quickly after sunset Friday, with a possibility for the development of black ice in areas that previously received wetting precipitation come Saturday morning,” NWS Lubbock said in a hazardous weather outlook. “Wind chill values between 5 and 10 degrees are forecast across the far southwestern Texas Panhandle Saturday morning.”