by Chad Thomas (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
Mother Nature will throw just about everything she has in her winter weather arsenal at East Texas this week, but forecasters say conditions may not be as severe as earlier thought.
The Tyler area likely will receive some light sleet and snow much of the day on Thursday, National Weather Service meteorologists said. But because temperatures are predicted to stay above freezing throughout the day, weather experts are not predicting much in the way of accumulation.
"What we expect to see is mostly snow along and north of the Interstate 20 corridor with a mix of rain, sleet and some snow southward through the Lufkin area," said John Adams, KYTX CBS19 chief meteorologist in a release Tuesday.
NWS meteorologist Ken Falk said there is a 70 percent chance the greater Tyler area will see half an inch to 1 inch of snow accumulation, but probably only on grassy areas and rooftops by Thursday night.
Ice and snow could create hazardous driving conditions on bridges and overpasses in colder areas, particularly north and east of Smith County, Falk said.
Thursday's cold front is expected to follow a sunny, warmer Wednesday with temperatures in the upper 40s. Adams and Falk both forecast a rapid warm-up on Friday that will melt any snow or ice accumulation.
