AMARILLO – A snowstorm slammed into the Texas Panhandle early Thursday, leaving at least three people dead and causing a pileup that shut down Interstate 40 for several hours, officials said.

Pileup: An Amarillo man was killed and at least two people were injured when 42 vehicles crashed into one another in the blowing snow that limited visibility on the slick interstate just before dawn.

A firetruck also rolled over while approaching the accident scene, causing minor injuries to one firefighter.

More fatalities: Another man was killed on the north side of the city when he ran into the roadway and was struck by a pickup about 7:15 a.m. And a third victim died in an accident in Castro County southeast of Amarillo. No details were available.

Surprise: Snow had been forecast, but no winter storm advisories had been issued by the National Weather Service, according to officials in the southern region office in Fort Worth. Amarillo received 2.6 inches of snow, and Silverton in Briscoe County got 2 inches. Lubbock recorded a trace at the airport, but some places got as much as an inch.

Other severe weather: The cold front that moved across the state prompted tornado watches in the Houston area.

Wildfires: The drier air and high winds behind the cold front kept wildfire danger extreme in the Hill Country and south-central Texas near San Antonio. No one was injured in wildfires that burned in Goliad, Kerr, Hays, Coleman, Winkler and Young counties Thursday. Fire danger was forecast for the Panhandle today.