TEXARKANA - Another six to eight inches of snow could blanket Texarkana on Wednesday. It will fall on top of the previous snow, which will not have a chance to melt due to the frigid temperatures.
A winter storm warning is expected to be in effect through midday Thursday. The storm could produce heavy snow of six to eight inches and winter mix of sleet and rain along and north of Interstate 30, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport.
"This warning includes everybody. It should start before midnight (Tuesday) with snow flurries, then maybe some freezing rain mixed in. Then it should be all snow for Texarkana," said Gary Chatelain, meteorologist with NWS Shreveport.
"The icing should not be too bad, but added on the trees, it could lead to more power outages. Texarkana is looking at five six seven maybe eight inches of more snow," Chatelain said.
A quarter inch of ice is expected across East Texas and north Louisiana. A wind chill advisory also remains in effect until noon today.
The hazardous road conditions will impact travel for days.
The additional sleet and freezing rain on already accumulated ice will make roads worse, according to the weather service.
The below zero wind chills can result in hypothermia without precautions taken to protect the body in this kind of cold air, according to NWS.
Texarkana broke a daily weather record on Monday. The recorded temperature of -1 degrees was the coldest on that date since 1903 when a temperature of 9 was recorded, according to the NWS.
"We shattered that record. It's the coldest its ever been on this date since we started keeping records," Chatelain said.
Weather officials are expecting other low temperature records could be broken this week.
"This is all pretty uncommon," he said.
Traffic is moving on major highways around Texarkana, including Interstate 30, but people are still discouraged from driving.
The Texas Department of Transportation Atlanta District reminds drivers to stay home as crews continue to clear roads of snow and ice. Winter conditions are impacting all roadways in the nine-county Atlanta District.
"Although roads are not technically closed, all our roads have been impacted," said TxDOT Spokesman Marcus Sandifer.
Sandifer said all resources are deployed, with crews working around the clock focusing on clearing higher volume corridors, such as Interstate 30, U.S. Highway 59 and trouble spots as they arise.
"This is a situation where we are not going to be able to clear all roadways until this event is over. Stay home if at all possible," Sandifer said.
Texarkana police are also encouraging people to stay off the streets.
Police did not work any major crashes Monday night but did have to help some drivers who ventured out and then got stuck, said Texarkana Texas Police Department spokesman Shawn Vaughn.
Visit DriveTexas.org or Idrivearkansas.com online for updated road conditions.
If someone has to get out, they should have a flashlight, water and warm clothing in their vehicle.
If stranded on the road, stay in your vehicle and call 911.
The warming trend starts Thursday afternoon and should continue through the weekend.
"It's finally going to get above freezing by Friday," Chatelain said.