Lubbock closes COVID-19 clinic ahead of wintry weather; caution urged on roads
A potent cold front bringing a chance for freezing precipitation prompted the city of Lubbock Public Health Department and LRN Laboratory to close its COVID-19 operations on Wednesday and has officials urging drivers to be cautious while travelling on area roadways.
The city testing site as well as the vaccination clinic at the Mini Hub located at 2721 50th St. will be closed Wednesday.
The Mini Hub will reopen Thursday with modified hours:
The testing site will operate from noon to 3 p.m.
The vaccination clinic will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Mini Hub is scheduled to resume normal hours of operation on Friday.
Wednesday's Coffee with the Mayor community event at United Supermarkets on Parkway Drive has been canceled due to potentially icy roadways.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday in Lubbock County and across the South Plains as the National Weather Service expects snow and areas of freezing drizzle to develop.
Total snow accumulations could range from a dusting up to 2 inches. A light glaze of ice is also possible, according to the weather service.
The highest snowfall amounts will likely be in the southern Panhandle.
"Snow chances should increase first in the southwest Panhandle and then spread across the area during the day, ending in most areas by late afternoon," reads a statement from the weather service. "Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes."
Dianah Ascencio, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation in Lubbock, told the Avalanche-Journal on Monday that TxDOT crews would begin taking precautionary measures to pre-treat bridges, overpasses, roadways, and other critical areas with brine on Tuesday.
“The brine will only aid in the prevention of ice forming on the roads,” Ascencio said. “It won’t stop the ice from forming, so please be careful.”
Additionally, TxDOT will have 24-hour crews on the ground until weather conditions improve by Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock closes COVID-19 clinic ahead of wintry weather; caution urged on roads
