Amarillo recovers from arctic blast affecting the community over the holiday break

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read
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Like much of the U.S., Amarillo and the surrounding area has faced subzero temperatures and wind chills over the past week. Although these temperatures were just a few degrees shy of breaking the days' former records for coldest temperature, the city did face several other adjustments due to the arctic blast sweeping the nation.

According to meteorologist Brett Muscha with the National Weather Service of Amarillo, last week's coldest day on Thursday, Dec. 22, was a temperature of -2 degrees — just 6 degrees shy of the record for that day, which was set at -8 degrees in 1989.

The reservoir at John Stiff Park with snow on ground is seen Thursday during a winter storm, which had temperatures around zero all through the Texas Panhandle.
The reservoir at John Stiff Park with snow on ground is seen Thursday during a winter storm, which had temperatures around zero all through the Texas Panhandle.

However, in true Amarillo fashion, this week the area is facing warmer temperatures, averaging with a high of 50 to 51 degrees.

"Even though we didn't break any records for last week, we did come close, both on the 22nd and 23rd. Our records for those days are -6 and -8. We were close, and it was cold. And it did affect the community, but it did not break any records for those days," Muscha said.

Temperatures in downtown Amarillo Thursday were close to zero with sub-zero wind chill factor from the high winds.
Temperatures in downtown Amarillo Thursday were close to zero with sub-zero wind chill factor from the high winds.

To help one another through the frigid temperatures, the Amarillo Housing Frist Code Blue Warming Station opened their center for four nights in a row, offering unhoused individuals a place to keep warm before the holiday. Including the four days due to the recent arctic blast, the warming station has been open for 12 nights so far during the 2022-23 winter season.

According to a Facebook post made by the warming station on Dec. 24, the center opened their doors to a total of 94 individuals and four dogs.

The frozen ground at a church off of Hillside Road in Amarillo during Thursday's cold winds and near-zero temperatures.
The frozen ground at a church off of Hillside Road in Amarillo during Thursday's cold winds and near-zero temperatures.

Virginia Williams Trice, Executive Director of Amarillo Housing First, stated that last Thursday, on the coldest day, the warming station opened up an hour early to help accommodate and housed 108 individuals and five animals over the night.

Amarillo Housing First assists chronically unhoused people with obtaining and maintaining housing, putting an end to their homelessness cycle. Their seasonal Code Blue Warming Station program is a lifesaving outreach, which helps connect people experiencing homelessness, and their pets, to their housing program and other local resources they need to change their life circumstances. Providing monetary donations helps support operations and bulk purchasing of supplies. Directly donating supplies for housing clients, such as household cleaners, furniture, and other household goods, helps their housing clients make their new housing units into their homes. Donating needed supplies to the Code Blue Warming Station program helps meet unsheltered people's and their pets' immediate, basic needs.

A member of the homeless population secures his belongings Thursday afternoon prior to heading to a warming shelter in downtown Amarillo.
A member of the homeless population secures his belongings Thursday afternoon prior to heading to a warming shelter in downtown Amarillo.

As many individuals did all they could to stay warm during the arctic blast, unfortunately this led to a few house fires over the past week.

On Friday, Dec. 23, the Amarillo Fire Department's "C" shift responded to a call of a house fire located on the corner of 3rd Street and Mississippi Avenue. The fire is reported to be caused by a space heater being placed too close to combustibles. No injuries were reported.

The Amarillo Fire Department's "C" shift responded to a call of a house fire located on the corner of 3rd Street and Mississippi Avenue on Friday, Dec. 23.
The Amarillo Fire Department's "C" shift responded to a call of a house fire located on the corner of 3rd Street and Mississippi Avenue on Friday, Dec. 23.
The Amarillo Fire Department's "C" shift responded to a call of a house fire located on the corner of 3rd Street and Mississippi Avenue on Friday, Dec. 23.
The Amarillo Fire Department's "C" shift responded to a call of a house fire located on the corner of 3rd Street and Mississippi Avenue on Friday, Dec. 23.

The Randall County Fire Department responded to two structure fires Dec. 22, including the burning of a mobile home located at 12400 Lazy 2 Road near Lake Tanglewood. Firefighters received the call around 5 a.m. and battled the flames for approximately two hours before getting it under control at approximately 7:30 a.m. According the RCFD, the damages are unrecoverable. No injuries were reported.

The home owner's granddaughter created a GoFundMe to go toward a new home. To make a donation, visit them online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/u6wnc2-house-fire-3-days-before-christmas?qid=c65c9ea73f82d93f41d131e61b8e257f

In addition to the inclement weather, some local businesses have faced water main breaks, leading to road closures. The Texas Department of Transportation stated in a Facebook post on Monday: "Our Texas Travel Information Center at I-40 eastbound and Airport Boulevard is closed today for repairs to a water main break. We apologize for the inconvenience and wish everyone safe travels."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo recovers from arctic blast, subzero weather before Christmas