Gene Autry, Oklahoma

An ongoing winter storm had already produced three to seven inches of snow across northern and western Oklahoma...and up to three inches in western North Texas. Early this evening...the storm was beginning to intensify toward its mature stage. This means that heavier snowfall and lower visibility was yet to come...and conditions are expected to deteriorate from south central Oklahoma...up through Oklahoma City...and to the Kansas border near Blackwell and Ponca City. At 530 PM...radar and surface observations depicted a band of moderate snow east of a line from Medford to Anadarko to Wichita Falls. The band extended east to near Perkins...Shawnee...and Ringling. This band will produce accumulation between 1 and 3 inches by 8 PM. Meanwhile...satellite and radar observations showed the primary upper level low developing a closed circulation in southern Oklahoma near Healdton. This evidence...along with short range forecast models...suggest the low was intensifying and slowing its eastward progression. The result will be greater lift to the north of the low. Moderate to locally heavy snow is expected to develop this evening from south central Oklahoma...up through Oklahoma City...to near Ponca City. At the same time...winds will remain strong...at 20 to 30 mph...with frequent gusts over 35 mph. With several inches of new snow accumulation during the evening hours...blowing snow will become a greater hazard for people traveling or even walking outdoors. Especially as night falls...it will be easy for people to become disoriented during periods of heavy falling and blowing snow. The storm will reach peak intensity well after dark...as it moves very slowly into southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas. Light to moderate snow will continue to wrap around the storm...reaching areas along and east of Interstate 35 well into Sunday morning.