Jackson, Harmon and Tillman counties were the only Southwest Oklahoma counties left out of a winter storm watch Tuesday morning, but Altus and the rest of the state is hunkering down for what promises to be the first significant snow of the season.

The National Weather Service says light rain or very light snow is likely Friday afternoon, with a 60 percent chance of snow Friday night with a possible accumulation

up to 1 inch in

Altus.

"We will be prepared," said Ron Langham, district superintendent for the Department of Transportation in Altus. "We have five trucks used for snow and ice removal, four sanders and one motor patrol to help plow any snow that accumulates," said Langham. "We will be on 24-hour emergency

call."

Altus Street Commissioner Holmes Willis warns residents not to follow the sand spreading trucks too closely, both for safety reasons and to avoid sand damage to automobiles. "Stay 200 feet back," said Willis. "When we know its coming-- we stay on top of it."

Willis said that there is not enough sand and equipment to take care of the residential streets. Should snowfall occur or ice accumulate, the heavily traveled thoroughfares such as Falcon Road, A Street, Park Lane, Tamarack and Ridgecrest will receive the most attention. Roads around the schools and the hospital take priority, according to Willis.

"We are retiring old equipment," Willis said "We have one new sand spreader and just ordered another one due in next week."