A co-worker of mine who lives in Andrews, Texas, woke up to a winter wonderland this morning as snow fell overnight across the area. Widespread accumulations of 1-3 inches have been reported along the I-20 corridor which runs through Midland and Odessa. Temperatures aren’t expected to get much above freezing today and tonight will be very cold with lows dropping into the 20’s. Black ice will definitely be a concern today and tomorrow as temperatures will struggle to get above freezing. Highs tomorrow are only expected to be near 28F with lows by Wednesday morning around 16F.

Snow fell across West Texas overnight. Image: Connie Dunn

Here’s a look outside Connie’s house in Andrews earlier this morning. Image: Connie Dunn

West Texas isn’t the only place seeing snow today as widespread snow can be expected over northern and central New Mexico thanks to a deep upper level low moving across the region. Periods of heavy snow will persist into tonight with the heaviest amounts into the higher elevations. Gusty east to northeasterly winds at 15 to 25 mph will lead to areas of blowing and driving snow. The upper level storm system will move away from the region early tomorrow with snow tapering off.

Snow is falling this morning across parts of NM, the TX Panhandle into OK, while heavy rain is stretching from the Lower MS Valley into the OH Valley. Freezing rain/sleet is also likely today across the Ozarks of AR and MO. Image: ImpactWeather

Moderate to heavy snow is likely across parts of New Mexico today, especially into the higher elevations. Snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches with locally heavier amounts of up to two feet will be possible. Snow will continue into the evening hours before gradually diminishing early Tuesday. Elsewhere, 2 to 6 inches of snow will be possible around both Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Highs in Santa Fe today will only be near 18F with lows dipping into the negative digits, around -2F, overnight. BRRR!

A Winter Storm Warning (indicated in pink) is in effect for parts of New Mexico until 11 am MST. A Winter Weather Advisory (purple) is in effect for parts of AZ, NM, TX, OK and AR. A Flash Flood Watch and a Flood Warning are currently in effect for parts of the Lower MS Valley into the OH Valley as heavy rain continues to fall in association with a strong storm system. Image: NWS

Conditions are expected to improve across the region tomorrow afternoon into the evening hours as the strong storm system moves away from the area and high pressure builds in midweek. Temperatures will also moderate by the end of the week.

Here’s the surface analysis for Monday, December 5th. Image: ImpactWeather

Improving conditions expected tomorrow with snow tapering off during the morning hours and high pressure building in thereafter. Image: ImpactWeather

We’re only about two weeks away from the first official day of winter (December 21st), but some areas are already getting an early taste. Here in Houston we might not be getting snow, but Thursday morning could be the coldest morning so far of the season with lows dipping into the upper 20’s to low 30’s across the area. This is a drastic change from the heat wave we suffered through during the summer. Even just a few months ago back in August we had a record high of 109F on the 27th. Honestly, the cold weather sounds pretty good to me, especially when I think back to the summer heat.

Overnight lows by Thursday morning across the Houston area. Temperatures will be well below average for this time of year as we typically see lows in the upper 40’s and highs in the mid 60’s. Image: NWS

A freeze will be possible Tuesday through Thursday night this week across parts of Southeast Texas. Melodramatic Image: NWS