Oklahoma braces for snow, heavy rain during holiday weekend

A blizzard warning is in effect for northwest Oklahoma, with much of the rest of western Oklahoma under an ice storm warning.

A blizzard warning is in effect for northwest Oklahoma, with much of the rest of western Oklahoma under an ice storm warning and parts of central Oklahoma under a winter storm warning.

Friday’s storms hit areas where Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant had issued a state of emergency Thursday following the tornadoes. We expect the snow to start late this evening or early Sunday.

“Take the time Saturday morning to get whatever supplies you may need”, Gittinger said.

A tornado was reported about 2 p.m. about 7 miles northeast of Byars in McClain County, but no damage was reported. And, the El Paso area is looking for three to eight inches of snow by Monday.

The National Weather Service says Saturday that widespread rain from four to 11 inches are forecast over the weekend in the area, and those accumulations are capable of flooding rivers and creeks.

Those traveling to the Houston area might not see the freezing precipitation, but there is a chance for strong to severe storms, including showers and thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail, through Sunday.

Into Sunday, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain were likely in eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, north-central Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, with more flooding possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Parts of Interstate 40 west of Amarillo, Texas, and into Santa Rosa, New Mexico, were shut Sunday.

On Monday, the temperature is expected to hover around the freezing mark and drop into the teens overnight, the weather service said.