Holiday Snow Storm Could Hit I-20 in the Big Country Early Friday

SAN ANGELO – The Thanksgiving Holiday season is one of the busiest travel times of the year and extreme weather could affect driving conditions as close as I-20 in the Abilene area early Friday. 

According to Accuweather, "A general 6-12 inches of snow with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 15 inches will blanket northwestern Texas and eastern New Mexico. It is possible that the heaviest snow may end up falling west of Amarillo, Texas. Motorists planning on traveling along I-40 in this area should expect delays and slippery conditions.

Despite the snow for the southern High Plains, a massive sweep of cold air is not expected to follow the storm across the South Central and Southeastern states."

  The National Weather Service office in San Angelo says Thursday night a strong upper level system of low pressure will dive down into West Texas creating conditions allowing for rain and drizzle. At about the same time, a cold front will bring much cooler temperatures and models show snow or freezing rain will be possible as far south as Sterling City and Robert Lee early Friday.  Not all models agree and the area might not see any precipitation at all. 

NWS meteorologists put it this way, "..although the chance is slim for any snow at this time, it is not zero."  Any snow could create very hazardous driving conditions.  

Motorists are urged to monitor changing weather conditions and be prepared to adjust travel plans. 

The wet weather should clear out of this area by Saturday and driving conditions should be much better. 

In the Concho Valley, there is a 40% chance of rain Friday with a high temperature of 45 degrees. By Saturday, the rain chances are gone and temperatures will rise to the mid 60s.