Ralls, TX

... Wintry weather returns to the South Plains...

Arctic air will settle across the South Plains area today and
remain through Sunday. As a result high temperatures today are
expected to only be in the lower to middle 30s with sundays highs
from the upper 20s to lower 30s. In between look for overnight lows
in the teens.

An upper level disturbance approaching from the west will create
precipitation that will fall into this cold air... the result being
wintry weather. Due to a narrow band of warm air above the
surface... the type of precipitation remains uncertain. However
confidence is growing that snow will be the primary form...
especially during the day Sunday... before warming of the warm air
aloft may result in freezing rain and sleet being preferred as the
precipitation moves onto the rolling plains Sunday night.

Should the precipitation Sunday fall mostly as snow then 1 to 2
inches of accumulation will be possible... primarily for areas on
The Caprock. If freezing precipitation is favored then ice
accumulations up to 1/10 inch will be possible.

Light snow accumulations will be possible Sunday night across the
rolling plains... but if ice is favored there then ice accumulations
of 1/10 inch or more will be possible.

Temperatures at the surface and aloft Sunday and Sunday remain
uncertain. As a result forecast precipitation type and amount may
change between now and Sunday. Tune to NOAA Weather Radio or your
favorite media source for weather information later today for
updates on this upcoming winter weather event.

346 PM CST Fri Feb 10 2012

... Much colder temperatures arrive tonight and linger through
Sunday along with the chance for winter weather Sunday...

An Arctic airmass will start to settle over the region late
tonight through early Saturday morning bringing much colder
temperatures. This cold airmass will remain in place through
Sunday night. At the same time... a storm system will push east off
the Pacific coast and move towards the region arriving during the
day Sunday. As this storm system approaches... warm and moist air
will start to push over the cold airmass setting the stage for a
possible winter weather event during the day Sunday.

Unfortunately... there remains considerable uncertainty as to what
conditions in the atmosphere will be like Sunday afternoon. The
entire range of winter weather precipitation types could be
possible which means freezing rain... sleet... snow... or a mix of
all these types are possible. A few areas across the rolling
plains may see temperatures stay warm enough that rain could also
mix in with the various types of precipitation. It remains too
early to tell what amount of frozen precipitation will fall.

It does appear that the most favorable time for winter weather
will be from mid-morning Sunday through Sunday evening... with the
most favorable locations being southeast of a Denver City to
Silverton line. Precipitation will gradually taper off from west
to east through Sunday night into early Monday morning as the
storm system pushes east of the region.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of
weather information to keep informed for any watches... or
warnings that may be issued in the next 24 hours.