Heavy snowstorm shuts down the Texas panhandle

Drivers experience near white out conditions on December 27, 2015 in Lubbock, Texas. Coming on the heels of several strong tornadoes, some northern parts of Texas are experiencing blizzard conditions with wind gusts up to 50 mph and as much as 13 inches of snow forecast. less Drivers experience near white out conditions on December 27, 2015 in Lubbock, Texas. Coming on the heels of several strong tornadoes, some northern parts of Texas are experiencing blizzard conditions with wind ... more Photo: John Weast, Getty Images Photo: John Weast, Getty Images Image 1 of / 72 Caption Close Heavy snowstorm shuts down the Texas panhandle 1 / 72 Back to Gallery

A heavy snowstorm shutdown roads in the Texas panhandle during a weekend that most of the state dealt with extreme weather.

Entering the weekend, forecasts called for an “historic” blizzard to blanket the area. The Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Transportation warned travelers to stay off the road as snow blew onto the streets.

RELATED: At least 11 die from Texas tornadoes, 13 in Midwest flooding

The precipitation shut down the main east-west thoroughfare, Interstate 40, in the panhandle and some motorists ended up stranded, according to WFAA 8 in Dallas-Fort Worth. The storm left thousands without power in the bitter cold. A 2.7-magnitude earthquake also shook the panhandle Saturday.

In the Dallas area, at least 11 people died and dozens were injured after tornadoes struck the region. Houston – after enduring a record heat of 83 degrees on Christmas Day – spent a large part of the weekend under a tornado watch. By Monday morning, temperatures in Houston had dipped into the low 40s.

READ MORE: The 'Sun' Bowl plays out in snowstorm in El Paso

Snow also carpeted a portion of West Texas. The flurry turned the Sun Bowl, an annual college football game held in El Paso, into a contest played under a hypnotic snowfall.