Blizzard Warning (Texas)

[Tab]

Source: National Weather Service

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1117 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

...A CRIPPLING BLIZZARD WILL CONTINUE UNFOLD ACROSS THE SOUTH
PLAINS REGION...

AN INTENSIFYING STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING THROUGH FAR WEST TEXAS
WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW ABUNDANT MOISTURE NORTH ACROSS WEST TEXAS
THROUGH SUNDAY AND EARLY MONDAY. THIS WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG
NORTHERLY WINDS AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES TO PRODUCE A PROLONGED
WINTER STORM THAT WILL LAST THROUGH SUNDAY BEFORE ENDING EARLY
MONDAY MORNING. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW AND A
MIXTURE OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN AT TIMES WILL CREATE
TREACHEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS AND COULD SUSPEND TRAVEL ALTOGETHER.
MOTORISTS WHO CHOOSE TO TRAVEL IN THESE CONDITIONS WILL RISK
BECOMING STRANDED IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WITH DANGEROUS WIND
CHILLS.

TXZ021>044-271400-
/O.CON.KLUB.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-151228T1500Z/
PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE-
FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING-
YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FRIONA...BOVINA...FARWELL...DIMMITT...
HART...TULIA...SILVERTON...QUITAQUE...MEMPHIS...CHILDRESS...
MULESHOE...LITTLEFIELD...OLTON...PLAINVIEW...CEDAR HILL...
MATADOR...ROARING SPRINGS...PADUCAH...HACKBERRY...MORTON...
LEVELLAND...LUBBOCK...RALLS...CROSBYTON...LORENZO...SPUR...
DICKENS...DUMONT...FINNEY...GROW...GUTHRIE...DENVER CITY...
PLAINS...BROWNFIELD...TAHOKA...O`DONNELL...GRAHAM...POST...
JAYTON...ASPERMONT
1117 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST MONDAY...

* TIMING...A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL
SPREAD INTO THE ROLLING PLAINS THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...WHILE
THE MIX TRANSITIONS TO ALL SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...UP ON THE
CAPROCK. THE ROLLING PLAINS WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION TO ALL
SNOW LATER IN THE DAY ON SUNDAY. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD
EAST THROUGH SUNDAY BEFORE DIMINISHING FROM WEST TO EAST EARLY
MONDAY MORNING. A BRIEF MINIMUM IN WINTRY PRECIPITATION MAY
VISIT PORTIONS OF THE REGION SUNDAY MORNING.

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY...NORTHERLY WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH WITH
GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH. VISIBILITY FROM FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WILL
LIKELY BE ZERO AT TIMES.

* SNOW TOTALS...WIDESPREAD AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 14 INCHES ON THE
CAPROCK...WITH 4 TO 10 INCHES IN THE ROLLING PLAINS. SOME
AREAS COULD SEE MUCH HIGHER AMOUNTS. SNOW DRIFTS UP TO 10 FEET
ARE POSSIBLE.

* ICE ACCUMULATIONS...UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF SLEET AND ICE ARE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE EASTERN SOUTH PLAINS INTO THE ROLLING
PLAINS.

* COLDEST WIND CHILLS...FROM -5 TO 10 ABOVE ZERO.

* IMPACTS...PEOPLE WITH TRAVEL PLANS SUNDAY OR MONDAY ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO CANCEL THEM ALTOGETHER. POWER OUTAGES WILL OCCUR
DUE TO EXTENDED PERIODS OF STRONG WINDS AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS. RURAL RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF
FOOD RESERVES AS THEY COULD BECOME ISOLATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
HAVE A MEANS TO KEEP WARM WITHOUT COMMERCIAL UTILITIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS EXTREMELY LOW VISIBILITIES FROM FALLING
AND BLOWING SNOW ARE LIKELY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER
SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU AND ENSURE YOUR FUEL TANKS ARE FULL. IF YOU
GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1027 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

KSZ074>078-080-084>089-271500-
/O.CON.KDDC.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-151228T1800Z/
STANTON-GRANT-HASKELL-GRAY-FORD-KIOWA-MORTON-STEVENS-SEWARD-MEADE-
CLARK-COMANCHE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JOHNSON CITY...ULYSSES...SUBLETTE...
SATANTA...CIMARRON...MONTEZUMA...DODGE CITY...BUCKLIN...
GREENSBURG...HAVILAND...ELKHART...RICHFIELD...HUGOTON...MOSCOW...
LIBERAL...KISMET...MEADE...FOWLER...ASHLAND...MINNEOLA...
COLDWATER...PROTECTION
1027 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST MONDAY...

* TIMING...LATE SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MIDDAY MONDAY

* SNOW AMOUNTS...4 TO 7 INCHES LIKELY. MUCH OF THE ACCUMULATION
MAY BE IN DRIFTS IN EXCESS OF 3 TO 5 FEET.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...NORTH 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
VISIBILITY FREQUENTLY LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE AND NEAR
ZERO LIKELY AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL
LIKELY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. YOU MAY BECOME STRANDED IF YOU
VENTURE OUT.

&&

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
912 PM MST SAT DEC 26 2015

COZ094-099-271215-
/O.CON.KPUB.BZ.W.0006.000000T0000Z-151228T0700Z/
EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-SPRINGFIELD VICINITY/BACA COUNTY-
INCLUDING...BRANSON...KIM...SPRINGFIELD...WALSH
912 PM MST SAT DEC 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST SUNDAY
NIGHT...

* LOCATION...BACA AND EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTIES...INCLUDING
SPRINGFIELD AND KIM.

* CAUSE AND TIMING...A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL TRACK ACROSS NEW
MEXICO INTO TEXAS THROUGH SUNDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...4 TO 8 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS
AND DEEPER DRIFTS POSSIBLE.

* WIND...NORTH 25 TO 40 GUSTING TO 60 MPH CAUSING BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES.

* WIND CHILLS...0 TO 10 BELOW.

* IMPACT...HEAVY...BLOWING SNOW AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES WILL
CREATE HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. TRAVEL WILL BECOME
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...DEEP
SNOW...AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...POTENTIALLY FORCING THE CLOSURE
OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THIS BLIZZARD WILL IMPACT U.S. HIGHWAYS
287...160 AND 350 ACROSS SOUTHEAST COLORADO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LIFE THREATENING WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED.
SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 35 MPH AND
VISIBILITY REDUCED TO BELOW 1/4 MILE BY FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW
ARE EXPECTED.

AVOID TRAVELING IN THE WARNING AREA. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO
TRAVEL IN THE WARNING AREA DURING THE TIME OF THE WARNING...
LISTEN TO THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND CONSIDER TRAVELING AT
ANOTHER TIME OR BY ANOTHER ROUTE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN THE
WARNING AREA DURING THE TIME OF THE WARNING...TAKE ALONG A WINTER
SURVIVAL KIT. IF YOU BECOME STRANDED IN A RURAL AREA...STAY WITH
YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS DURING
PAST BLIZZARDS...PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF EXPOSURE WHILE TRYING TO
WALK TO SHELTER. TO KEEP WARM IN YOUR VEHICLE...RUN YOUR ENGINE
10 MINUTES EACH HOUR...AND MAKE SURE THE EXHAUST PIPE IS CLEAR OF
SNOW TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

&&

$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
912 PM MST SAT DEC 26 2015

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER STORM TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING...

.BANDS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG TO POTENTIALLY
DAMAGING WINDS WILL ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW
MEXICO AS A POWERFUL UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRACKS
EASTWARD JUST SOUTH OF NEW MEXICO`S SOUTHERN BORDER THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING. NORTH AND NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST ACROSS
THE EASTERN PLAINS...WHERE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH AND
GUSTS OVER 60 MPH MAY DOWN POWER LINES. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPACT LOCALES ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN
CHAIN TO OUR EASTERN BORDER. WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND SNOW DRIFTS
TO 5 OR EVEN 6 FEET WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS AND IMPOSSIBLE
ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN PLAINS. THE WORST TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY ACROSS THE EAST. THE SNOW WILL
DIMINISH ACROSS WEST AND CENTRAL SECTIONS OF THE STATE SUNDAY...BUT
NOT UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN WHERE
PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO WRAP AROUND THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
AS IT EJECTS NORTHEASTWARD INTO OKLAHOMA. FOR THE LATEST NEW
MEXICO ROAD CONDITIONS CALL 511 OR VISIT NMROADS.COM.

NMZ522>524-527>540-271230-
/O.CON.KABQ.BZ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-151228T0700Z/
ESTANCIA VALLEY-CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-
RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY-HARDING COUNTY-
EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY-QUAY COUNTY-
CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-
EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY-
912 PM MST SAT DEC 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST SUNDAY
NIGHT...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...STORM TOTALS OF 14 TO 22 INCHES ACROSS THE
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS WITH GENERALLY 8 TO 15 INCHES ELSEWHERE...
EXCEPT 4 TO 8 INCHES NEAR THE COLORADO BORDER. SNOW DRIFTS OF
AT LEAST 3 TO 5 FEET NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 40
CORRIDOR.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS THIS
EVENING WELL INTO SUNDAY. SNOWFALL INTENSITY AND WIND SPEEDS
WILL TREND DOWNWARD LATER SUNDAY AS THE STORM SYSTEM EXITS
NORTHEASTWARD. HOWEVER...WINDY CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST WITH
CONTINUED BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS...NORTH AND NORTHEAST 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 50
AND 65 MPH. WINDS WILL WEAKEN SOME AND PERSIST OUT OF THE NORTH
SUNDAY EVENING WITH SPEEDS FROM 20 TO 35 MPH AND GUSTS FROM 40
TO 50 MPH.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL IMPOSSIBLE
ACROSS MUCH OF THE WARNED AREA WITH ROAD CLOSURES LIKELY. VERY
STRONG WINDS MAY DOWN POWER LINES. LARGE SNOW DRIFTS MAY BURY
VEHICLES PARKED OUTSIDE AND BLOCK ENTRY TO BUILDINGS.

Read more: http://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=ama&wwa=all

---

Since it was the NWS, I quoted more than usual (but not all the way - it went on and on).

I've dealt with blizzards all my life, but down in Texas not everyone is used to driving in snow, or even equipped for it, or judging how safe something like passing a car might be. Plus, they'll also have to figure out how to get rid of all this damn snow, because I'm pretty sure the snowplows and blowers are few and far between.

And, of course, wishing everyone there to be safe and warm, and that your power stays on.

[seabeyond]

1. This is ME!!! It is just moments from hitting us. We have been waiting for a couple days,

and it is just about here. We are excited.

[Tab]

2. How prepared do you think people are down there?

I imagine the stores are out of generators, batteries, and snow shovels.

[seabeyond]

8. True that. My son works at Sams. He was telling me today, within two hours they were out of

snow shovels and generators was a big sell today.

I am in the panhandle and only about 3-4 ours from Colorado. We get plenty of snow in our area. Not like the parts of Texas further south. 2001 we had a 22" dump. It was a blast. we get the big ones periodically. And our mayor is pretty good dealing with this. People have pretty much decided we would shut down most of work and business Monday if we really got the amount they are stating we may.

I think we will be fine.

[Hortensis]

25. Like your attitude, Seabeyond. Preparation is a major

lemonade-maker. Enjoy. Our kids are in northwestern Arkansas and very disappointed the big snow isn't coming their way. They have a new front lawn with a long, beautiful slope that's just perfect for the boys' snowboards.

Tab, there'll be some sad stories and we all hope they'll be few. We're in the Atlanta area, and during the storm with all the videos of people trapped in cars on freeways, our son and DIL were locked into their neighborhood because of two steep, icy dips on the roads on the way out. It was no surprise to them, though, so they had the popcorn and generator all ready too.

I really think we need to EXPECT that we and others be sensibly prepared as a matter of course. That is how we can serve them best. Thousands of subdivision homes are unsustainable for living when temperatures drop (or peak in the southwest) and the power goes out. Millions of people are faced with evacuating (!) their own homes at the worst, or genuinely suffering for days in them at best, and that's totally unacceptable.

Grownups prepare for the totally foreseeable.

[trillion]

3. That's good to be cheerful about it. Stay safe.

[seabeyond]

10. A good snow is awfully beautiful and we do not get the large amounts often. We can get the snow

and the temperatures go up the next day and takes care of stuff. That is another upside. Never really shuts stuff down for too long.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Hope you've got food, candles, & some way to keep warm if your electricity goes off!

Charge your phones, etc. before the storm hits.

Good luck!

[seabeyond]

11. We are set. Thanks. Nt.

[Marrah_G]

17. Also, LED lights, fill the car with gas to charge phone

And buy a bunch of blocks of ice for the fridge and freezer. And buy or download some books.

[TexasTowelie]

6. You don't want to go to work on Monday, do you?

[seabeyond]

9. I mean, we are talking a five day weekend, Lol. Nt.

[JustAnotherGen]

19. Enjoy it sweet pea!

I love a good snow too - but I'm so happy we are flying through Miami and not Houston to get to Costa Rica tommorow!

[icymist]

15. holy crap! stay safe!

[Warpy]

28. It lived up to advance billing in NM, although much worse on the other side of the Rockies.

I just stuck my head out and it's still snowing here on the "dry" side. Here's what to expect:

http://www.koat.com/weather/snowdrifts-reach-10-feet-in-se-new-mexico/37151182

[starroute]

4. Meanwhile, it's supposed to be 68 here in Pennsylvania tomorrow

My husband calls it global warping. As in, everything's twisted.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Great term, there. n/t

[happyslug]

14. Watch yourself the worse storms for western PA starts in Texas.

These storms tend to do a U. From Alberta to Texas then to Western PA. Such storms produce little snow once over the mountains but can dump a lot of snow in Western Pa. Such storms can cause problems in Pittsburgh and the mountains, but Philadelphia gets nothing but rain.

The opposite occurs when a major storm hits Eastern PA, such storms rarely reach over the mountains to Western PA. Thus Philadelphia gets two feet of snow and Pittsburgh get a trace.

Remember both Eastern and Western PA gets about the same amount of snow each year, but Western PA has twice as many snow days each year. Western PA tends to be either a very cold snow OR a huge dump from Texas.

[mnhtnbb]

20. Global warping. That's a good one.

We are still having weather 20 degrees warmer than normal here in Chapel Hill. But it looks like the seasonal
weather will return after New Year's.

Enjoy your big snow and long weekend, seabeyond!

[rusty quoin]

12. Wow. I've gone through that.

But I lived in the north.

[Duckfan]

13. I almost got stuck in a similar situation in Oregon.

Driving down the mountain to Eugene and a trooper pulled me over and actually navigated for me to nearest town. I had no chains and could have been cited. It was nasty. Wipers didn't do squat for seeing. But I was young and stupid then. But the trooper? An Awsome dude. Will never forget that there are some awsome law enforcement people out there. I found one of them. And I didn't get cited either. And if you're from Oregon, I'm referring to the McKenzie highway 126 coming down from Bend.

[Marrah_G]

16. Meanwhile in New England, I have had my windows open for a week.

I suppose these events are now the new normal.

[JustAnotherGen]

18. Central NJ

I had my windows and doors open on Christmas Eve. That's insane.

[mnhtnbb]

21. People here in the south have been running their a/c!

I have been sleeping at night with the windows open! I refuse to turn on the a/c, but
have had the ceiling fans on.

[greymattermom]

22. I turned mine on at night

on Dec. 26. Just to help with the humidity. I'm in Atlanta.

[SmittynMo]

23. Don't they want to secede?

Yeah I thought so....... So who gives a shit if they get a few inches of snow with drifts.


NEXT!!!!!

[valerief]

24. There are loads of Texan ammosexuals who can shoot away the bad weather.

Good guys with guns and all.

To the normal people in Texas, I feel for you. I remember our winter hell here in Massachusetts last year.

[chillfactor]

26. I live in New Mexico....

in the mountains..we have two feet of snow here from that same storm system.