MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 2326
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1226 AM CST SAT DEC 30 2006
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...NE/CNTRL NM THROUGH NW TX PANHANDLE/OK PANHANDLE/SE
   CO
   
   CONCERNING...HEAVY SNOW 
   
   VALID 300626Z - 301130Z
   
   ...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT WITH HOURLY SNOW
   RATES OF AT LEAST 1-2 INCHES PER HOUR. IN ADDITION...VERY STRONG NLY
   WINDS ACROSS THE NERN PLAINS OF NM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BLIZZARD
   CONDITIONS...
   
   LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOPS SHOW UPPER LOW IS DRIFTING N/NE ACROSS THE
   TX S PLAINS. HEAVY SNOW HAS DEVELOPED WITHIN DEFORMATION BAND
   ORIENTED EAST/WEST PARALLEL TO THE INTERSTATE 40 CORRIDOR. UPPER LOW
   IS NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE MUCH OVERNIGHT...AND STRONG FRONTOGENETICAL
   FORCING WILL BE MAINTAINED ACROSS ERN CO AND NM WITHIN THE 700-750MB
   LAYER THROUGH 12Z. THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE SAMPLED AT AMARILLO FROM
   THE 00Z SOUNDING INDICATED A WARM NOSE AROUND 800 MB...AND THIS IS
   RESULTING IN A MIX OF PRECIPITATION TYPES ACROSS THE OK/TX
   PANHANDLES. SFC FREEZING LINE HAS MOVED EAST OVER THE PAST 3-4
   HOURS...NOW EXTENDING FROM NEAR AMA JUST WEST OF BGD TO LBL. 
   
   BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE ERN PLAINS OF CO AND
   NERN NM. LATEST PROFILER AND VAD WIND DATA INDICATE VERY STRONG NLY
   FLOW NEAR 30-45 KT...AND THIS WILL SUPPORT SUSTAINED WINDS AT THE
   SFC OF 25-40 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO 50 MPH. REPORTS FROM EMERGENCY
   OFFICIALS FROM KIOWA AND BACA COUNTIES IN SE CO INDICATE 8-10 FOOT
   SNOW DRIFTS. MANY ROADS REMAIN CLOSED AND TRAVEL IS DISCOURAGED AS
   CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE OVERNIGHT.
   
   ..TAYLOR.. 12/30/2006
   
   
   ...NOTICE...
   SPC WINTER WEATHER MESOSCALE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE ISSUED ON A
   SCHEDULED BASIS FROM DECEMBER 1 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28...FOUR
   TIMES A DAY...AROUND 00 UTC...06 UTC...12 UTC...AND 18 UTC
   FOR SIGNIFICANT SHORT RANGE WINTER WEATHER EVENTS.
   
   ATTN...WFO...DDC...LUB...AMA...PUB...ABQ...
   
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