A winter storm headed to West Texas just in time for Thanksgiving could lead to travel delays in parts of the region late Thursday into Friday.
The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a Winter Storm Watch for parts of the region, stretching from areas near the Texas-New Mexico border to the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains, including the areas around Marfa, Fort Davis and Alpine.
Forecasters said Wednesday that while there is still some uncertainty in the forecast, rain late on Thanksgiving is expected to transition to snow in parts of the region, particularly in areas near the Texas-New Mexico border.
https://twitter.com/NWSMidland/status/1595447079966343168
Forecasters said an inch or two of snow is possible starting around midnight on Thursday and into Friday.
“It still looks like the heaviest snowfall amounts will probably be around the Guadalupe Mountains, up through southeast New Mexico, possibly the northwestern Permian Basin,” said meteorologist Julie Phillipson.
“The higher elevations of the Davis Mountains could still see some of the heavier snow as well,” she said. “Possibly into the Marfa plateau.”
The National Weather Service said travelers should pay close attention to the forecast as Thanksgiving approaches, as the storm’s track “may change quickly.”
The winter storm could cause travel delays on the interstates and highways in West Texas, particularly with more drivers than unusual on the roadways because of the holiday.
“We are expecting travel issues, but that’s going to be contingent on where the heaviest snow falls,” Phillipson said. “Especially for people who are going to be heading north, because that’s where we’re expecting the heavier snow further north, and then of course across the mountain areas as well.”
North of the Permian, the National Weather Service office in Lubbock had already issued a Winter Weather Watch for parts of that region as of Wednesday afternoon. Parts of the Lubbock area could see up to four inches of snow, forecasters said.
Click here to find the latest road conditions via the Texas Department of Transportation.
