The Texas Panhandle could see up to 10 inches of snow and dangerously low temperatures this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologists advise Winter Storm Fern is heading our way, with arctic level cold and a mix of winter precipitation expected in West Texas.
“Confidence in the potential for impactful snowfall across the Panhandles is increasing, especially in the eastern and southern combined Panhandles, from Friday morning into Saturday night. With that said, some details of this forecast may still change as we are still 2-3 days out from the event,” NWS Amarillo said in a Facebook post Wednesday. “In addition to the snow, we’re looking at dangerously cold temperatures from Friday night through Sunday morning. Wind chills between -10°F to -20°F is expected Saturday morning, and as low as -5°F to -15°F Sunday morning. Some areas are forecast to see 24-36 consecutive hours with wind chills below 0°F!”
A winter storm watch and extreme cold watch have been issued for the area, with 5 to 10 inches of snow and/or a mix of wintry precipitation starting Friday and continuing into Saturday, making travel difficult. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous, and conditions could impact the Friday evening commute.
In addition, cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero degrees are possible, which could quickly lead to frostbite or hypothermia for those outdoors, as well as freezing pipes. Gov. Greg Abbott activated state resources from multiple agencies Tuesday ahead of the arctic cold front.
What counties are included in the winter storm watch?
The Texas Panhandle counties included in the NWS Amarillo winter storm watch are:
The Texas Panhandle counties included in the NWS Amarillo hazardous weather outlook from Thursday through Tuesday are:
Shelters, warming stations to open
In Amarillo, the Code Blue Warming Station activated for day 10 of the season Monday night into Tuesday, and the shelter opens on days with expected 18 degree wind chills or lower. If you see someone out in the cold during this time, you can text 806-414-2243 with a location and description, and their mobile teams will check on them and offer a ride to safety. The City of Amarillo has noted multiple warming locations and services are available during the winter season.
Red Cross, DPS, utilities offer safety tips
American Red Cross Panhandle Plains volunteers are also on standby this week due to the increased potential of extreme winter weather conditions, with disaster teams prepositioning canteen and shelter supplies and working with local agencies for readiness awareness.
The American Red Cross offers these tips for people to stay safe:
For those who need to travel, the Texas Department of Public Safety urges Texans to take safety precautions ahead of the winter weather, including checking the following:
Having a well-stocked emergency kit with warm clothes, food, water, cell phone battery/charger and first aid items is also encouraged.
Atmos Energy will communicate regularly with customers and communities before, during, and after extreme weather events with text alerts, social media updates on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and via their website at atmosenergy.com for the most up-to-date safety and weather preparedness information, as well as more safety tips.
If you experience loss of natural gas service or low gas pressure, contact the Atmos Energy emergency line at 866-322-8667 where agents are ready to assist 24/7. As Atmos Energy closely monitors the weather take these important measures to keep you and your family safe and use energy wisely:
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 5 to 10 inches of snow, extreme cold expected in Texas Panhandle
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
