WINTER WX ADVISORY AND WINTER STORM WARNING: SE TX

[WXBUFFJIM]

A winter weather advisory is now in effect for the greater Houston, Galveston, and Victoria areas effective tonight through early XMAS morning until 7 AM CST. Snowfall totals of around 1 inch with locally higher amounts will likely occur in this region. This coupled with falling temperatures will cause water covered roads to freeze over in a sheet of ice overnight. Folks in this region are discouraged to go out in this stuff overnight as conditions will only go downhill overnight for southeast Texas.

Further south into deep south Texas including Brownsville and south Padre Island, a winter storm warning is now in effect, which is an upgrade from a winter weather advisory to a winter storm warning. 1/4 inch of ice is likely and snowfall rates of over a half inch an hour is likely for a few more hours in this portion of south Texas. Travel in this area is also strongly discouraged overnight tonight into XMAS morning.

Also watch out in Buffalo where 10" of snow fell in the city. Snowfall rates of 2-3" an hour has occurred for the past few hours courtesy of a heavy lake effect snow band over Buffalo. Make it a safe holiday and be careful in the above mentioned areas if travel is neccessary.

MERRY XMAS folks!!!

Jim

[JenBayles]

Heya Jim! Still in shock here in Houston. My sister and family took off for early church services around 5:00 and it was sleeting so hard they turned around and went home and had a snowball fight.

[WXBUFFJIM]

You're under a winter storm warning now as of last report. Expect a 3-5" snowfall from I 10 in Houston south to Galveston. 1-3" is likely from Houston up to the Mongtomery County area. This has a good shot of surpassing the '89 storm with twice as much snowfall and then some. Traveling is strongly discouraged tonight in Houston and Galveston. In fact stay off the roads PERIOD until after daybreak tomorrow and enjoy that snowman making snow!!!

Jim