El Paso Shivers During Frigid Winter Storm

EL PASO, Texas (AP) – The latest winter storm to hammer Texas moved into the far west corner of the state Friday, dropping temperatures to near freezing and prompting schools, businesses, roads and government offices to shut down in anticipation of snow and freezing rain.

Gov. Rick Perry activated 90 Texas Army National Guard troops, who will be stationed in Lubbock, Amarillo and El Paso, spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said. “They’re all going to be in the projected path ready to assist as necessary,” she said.

The governor also authorized the use of 30 support vehicles. Army officials at Fort Bliss, just outside El Paso, sent all nonessential personnel home about 10 a.m., and some federal court hearings were canceled.

The few people on the streets of this city on the Mexican border – which typically gets small amounts of snow a few times a year – were bundled tight.

County inmates, handcuffed together, shivered in the cold as they trudged in short-sleeved blue jumpsuits and orange canvas shoes from the jail toward the court building.

At a downtown plaza where large crowds are usually gathered near bus stops and restaurants, only a few people braved the biting winds.

“We prepared, getting all our winter clothes out, but it’s difficult because the bus is late,” said 62-year-old Alicia Lozano, who kept warm at a bus stop with a jacket, a blue plastic rain poncho and a purple scarf wrapped around her head.

The National Weather Service predicted a high of 34 degrees with about an inch of snow in and around the city Friday.

As much as 4 inches of snow could accumulate overnight, and a winter storm warning was in effect until Saturday morning, the weather service said. East of El Paso, in Hudspeth County, the national weather service issued an ice storm warning.

Texas Department of Transportation officials reported ice and snow on stretches of Interstate 10 from El Paso to Reeves County, about 200 miles away. Road crews shut down a mountain pass that connects the city’s west and east sides before the storm hit.

Some roads were being de-iced, but state transportation officials said Thursday that sand and de-icing chemicals were likely to be rationed this weekend.

In El Paso, road crews planned to treat only highway onramps and the right lane of each highway.

Much of far West Texas was spared from freezing ice storms that crippled much of the rest of the state, and forecasters have predicted that this latest storm won’t be as severe.

Wintry conditions moved into the state a week ago, resulting in at least 12 weather-related deaths as roads were slickened by ice. Schools and businesses were shut down and flights were canceled all over the state.

In the Panhandle, sleet and snow were falling Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service predicted the area could see heavy snow through Sunday.

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL Associated Press Writer

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-01-19-07 1913EST