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Convinced a friend to come over for shelter just in case I run out of food

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Donner party....table for one.

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I prefer the Alfred E. Packer Bar and Grill myself, just outside of Lake City, Colorado.

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CanyonAg, I had to look up the reference. I like the Wikipedia entry that it was rumored he became a vegetarian later in life. I have never had a desire to become a vegetarian. However, if I had to resort to eating my companions, I believe that would be one of the few things that would cause me to become a vegetarian.

High for Lubbock tomorrow is supposed to be 30, so you won't get much help from the weather in clearing things up.

Here is a link to photos sent to KCBD TV in Lubbock.

Here is a link to photos sent to ABC7 in Amarillo. Tomorrow's high there is in the 20s.

The link for Amarillo shows photos from TxDOT for what I assume is Hwy 287 near Childress. There was only one lane in each direction open and a wreck had traffic backed up.

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Drive north on 35 to 70 in Kansas and go west that way. It won't be much slower and the interstate will more likely be clear. The problem is that even if the interstate is when you have to get off to get gas or food you end up on side streets that aren't clear.

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We thought about that but everything on the weather map looks like that stretch (OKC to Wichita) is going to ice over at the least or get a lot of snow as well. If that's the case, would it still be a better bet? Or are you just thinking that's a better option now because it isn't snowed in yet?

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I think you will be able to get solid reports on the status of the interstate and have a better chance of it being cleared.

Makes sense.

We're going to start looking at highway reports early tomorrow morning for both routes (and maybe even 20 west and turn north through central NM.....) to see which options seem like the best bet.

So an odd thing I just stumbled across. On Google Maps with the "traffic" indicator on, it's currently showing orange and red on I-27 from Amarillo to Lubbock. I can assure you that there are never those types of slowdowns due to traffic. What you're seeing is how slow traffic is moving due to ice and snow.

Looks like one more good way to check road conditions.

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Makes sense.

We're going to start looking at highway reports early tomorrow morning for both routes (and maybe even 20 west and turn north through central NM.....) to see which options seem like the best bet.

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Yeah, try the Google Maps trick I just mentioned. Traffic starts slowing down before you get to Abilene. And if there is no color (like current I-40) that means it's closed. It uses cell phone data, so very current.

I did look at Google maps earlier, it showed red from Vernon to Amarillo on 287. However, north of Amarillo showed green.

If there is no one on the road, I don't think Google picks up on the fact that the road is impassable.

There was a similar storm in northeast New Mexico a few years ago. They closed all roads out of Clayton and closed I25 from Las Vegas to Trinidad. Those that traveled anyway got stranded. Many ranchers took in those stranded for three or four days. Many ran out of food. One family broke into a stranded semi that was hauling groceries. Those stranded in Spinger slept on the floor in the Brown Hotel restrurant. They to ram out of food. A friend of mine got stuck in Springer. He is friends with Wilford Brimley who ranched just east of Springer. Wilford let him stay at his ranch until they opened the roads. He had two freezers full of beef and a bar full of whisky. He said if those people in town knew what he had, they would broke the front door down.

The state of New Mexico does not mess around when they close roads. If you travel, you are on your own. Don't expect any help or sympathy. As others have said it is very desolate and the wind chills can be brutal.

We are in the nearly same situation as OP. In Plano now trying to get to Red River tomorrow.

Was planning to level here at 4 am but Wichita Falls looks like it's gonna be bad in the morning. Most likely gonna delay until Tuesday morning. Will have two little ones in the truck so want to be cautious.

On the 9pm news just now:

287 between Amarillo and Childress closed

New Mexico: State of emergency declared. National guard mobilized. 16 inches of snow, drifts up to 8 feet tall

Blizzard warning until 3am

Friona area, 18 inches, 10 foot drifts

Clearing skies LATE Monday

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My dad just sent me a text. They have closed all roads out of Seminole. They are warning people that if they get out, they are on their own. Emergency services will not respond.

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Similar announcement in Castro County.

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But but but, the Weather Chanel said that it was supposed to quit snowing by noon tomorrow. Travel should no problem once the snow stops. We have to get on with ski trip. You people that live in the Panhandle don't know what you are talking about. I have Google and a weather app.

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Who has acted like that on this thread?

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Aw just joking. Although it seems like a lot of justification going on to do something not very wise. I did the same thing years ago. Me and a couple of buddies were at Durango skiing. We decided to to go to Telluride for the day. They talked me into going north through Silverton and Ouray instead south through Cortez. I knew it was a bad idea. After we left and started up the passes, it began snowing. They closed the Million Dollar Highway and we were they only ones on it. We had to follow a snow plow from Silverton to Ouray and from Ouray to Ridgeway. We were extremely lucky. Had those two snow plows not been on the highway, we would have been camping.

Fair enough.

It's not justification (at least in my mind). We're not trying to figure out a way to go through the panhandle if the panhandle isn't passable. I'm trying to figure out when/if it's passable, and if not, what my other alternatives are. I don't mind driving the long way around to get there, I don't mind leaving later, I don't mind driving half speed, and I'm not going to be stupid with my wife and kids.

That's why I've come here asking lots of questions, seeking alternatives, and getting feedback from the guys that actually live in the area and can give feedback for likely time frames on traffic, highways and weather.


I'm leaning towards going up through OK and KS right now. It will add 3-4 hours to the trip but at this point in time, seems like the most passable option for tomorrow. I may wake up here in 6-7 hours, check again, and the story be different, but that's where things stand right now.

Midland caught some rain as the cold weather was moving in. Pretty icy under the snow.

If you try to drive through west Texas tomorrow, you're a fool.

We live south of Midland about 40 miles. I was just out driving the road in front of our house and it is easily a foot to 18 inches deep in a lot of places. There are no clear spots, because the road is completely covered. It is icy below the snow and I kept it under 25 the whole time. I wouldn't even try to make it to Midland from here. If you're going to Colorado, skip west Texas.

I-27 Amarillo to Lubbock now closed. Expected to be open either noon or 4 pm tomorrow depending on section

I'll be chiseling ice off of my car in the morning...KC area. Not sure 70 is going to be much better tomorrow.

In Gruver, the drifts are nearly an eighth inch deep.

I need to drive to Spearman tomorrow to pick up some medicine. I don't expect any problems.

During this storm, I've twice seen snow blowing a few inches off of the ground. Hardly any of it was sticking to anything. It just kept blowing. It's cold and very windy. There are patches here and there with a fraction of an inch of snow, usually behind something that interferes a bit with the blowing wind.

We could have used some of that snow.

Don't forget that in the 40 days and 40 nights of Noah's Flood, we only got a quarter of an inch here.

My parents live in Clovis and said this is the worst blizzard they've had in at least 40 years. Drifts have pretty much all the roads shut down in Eastern New Mexico. As long as the wind keeps blowing, the drifts will keep reforming, even if new snow isn't falling any more.

From Curry County Sheriff Wesley Waller: Throughout the county, there are currently 20 vehicles with occupants that are disabled and we are unable to reach. Law enforcement and national guard vehicles, as well as county, state and privately owned tractors have all become stuck during rescue attempts. We are currently awaiting the arrival of a Department of Homeland Security snowcat (a fully tracked all-terrain vehicle) from Albuquerque to assist with the rescue attempts. We are not aware of any fatalities at this point.

All roads in Curry County are closed and impassable due to very large snow drifts. The blowing snow creates very low visability and disorientation. All travel is strongly discouraged.

We just returned from OK--eastern side through the Rainpocolypse, but have family that were headed west to OKC. The news was full of how much sand/salt the crews would be spreading throughout the storm, so that may help if you are sticking to the major highways through the metroplex (if you are going that way). Be safe and good luck.

http://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/2-clovis-newspaper-carriers-rescued-after-being-trapped-in-car-for-20-hours

UPS just called. They aren't making pickups and deliveries today.

http://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/medi-park-office-complex-has-roof-blown-off-during-blizzard

Planning on leaving tomorrow morning from Dallas to Colorado Springs. Hopefully this stuff has blown over by then. My current plan is to take 287 through Amarillo and Dumas, all the way to Lamar, CO. Then across to Pueblo and up to the Springs.

Anyone ever taken this route? Like others have mentioned, I'm not wanting to experience that desolate stretch before Raton and I'd prefer to stay off mountain passes as much as I can.

I wonder if Spearman got it any worse than Gruver. I need to run over to Gordon's Drug for some medicine sometime today.