Blizzard Update - 8:30 AM Friday

The Emergency Operations Center was activated at 5:30 AM this morning to monitor and coordinate resources for the winter storm situation.

Current Situation:

..A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL TEXASAND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY...

SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED IN THEHEAVIER BANDS. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...VERY STRONG NORTH WINDSWILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WINDSPEEDS WILL CONTINUE AT 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 55 MPHAT TIMES. VISIBILITIES WILL BE SEVERELY LIMITED DUE TO THE BLOWINGSNOW...WITH MOST AREAS EXPERIENCING VISIBILITIES OF LESS THAN 1/4 OFA MILE.

Highways are VERY slick and travel is highly discouraged. White-out conditions are occuring throughout the area.

6-8 inches of snow reported over most of the northwest TX panhandle and eastern NM

Major road closures - 287 North & South from Dumas, 87 North from Dumas, 54 North to Oklahoma, I-40 West at Soncy, 287 North at Givens (1719)

Texas Road Conditions - http://www.dot.state.tx.us/travel/road_conditions.htm

Closings:

AISD, WTAMU, Amarillo College - All campuses
Potter County
All Southwest and American Airlines have canceled flights in and out of Amarillo
Numerous other closings
- http://www.newschannel10.com/Global/link.asp?L=211526&nav=menu429_3_10
- http://www.connectamarillo.com/weather/school_closings.aspx
- http://myhighplains.com/content/schoolclosings