Texas gets rare snow fall

HOUSTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A rare snow fall in eastern Texas Wednesday night sent children scurrying outside to make snowmen and motorists sliding off roadways.

KHOU-TV in Houston said the National Weather Service had issued a winter weather advisory for a wide swath off the region until 4 a.m. with up to 2 inches of snow forecast by morning. It was the first snow the area has seen in three or four years.

"It's a perfect night to get a Christmas tree," Gina Nall told Houston TV station KTRK. "How often does it snow when you get to go pick one out?"

Native Houstonian J.T. Thomas also looked at the bright side of the wintry weather.

"I can't build a snowman, but I can go around tell people how it snowed in Houston, Texas," Thomas said.

It wasn't so perfect for others. Ice covered parts of Houston-area bridges, bringing traffic to a standstill in some locations and to a 5-mph crawl in others, the TV station said. A few minor accidents were reported, including one involving a Houston police officer, who hit a slick spot and crashed into a wall. The officer wasn't hurt, KHOU said.

State road crews were out sanding some highways trying to provide a little traction.

While the adults were trying to drive from Point A to Point B, Texas children were out making snow angels, throwing snowballs and even building snowmen, the TV station said.

The misery and fun are not expected to last long, however. The forecast is for temperatures in the 50s Thursday afternoon.