Storm system that dropped snow on El Paso now threatens Deep South

EL PASO, Texas — A powerful winter storm in the central United States dropped snow as far south as El Paso on Wednesday, while areas of the Deep South braced for the risk of severe weather including tornadoes and torrential rains, forecasters said.

Winter storm warnings or advisories were in effect from northeastern Oklahoma to the Great North Woods of Maine on Wednesday night, the National Weather Service said. Meanwhile, the Storm Prediction Center said storms that could generate hail, 60 mph winds and twisters were possible across much of Mississippi and Alabama.

Mail carrier Pablo Salinas of San Elizario said the weather and traffic accidents nearly doubled his drive to work from south of El Paso on Wednesday.

“There were four accidents coming in. They closed I-10. I was close to an hour late,” Salinas said.

By noon, Salinas said about 4 inches of snow had melted, with only a bit of snow dusting the palm trees lining the street and the red rock hills above.

El Paso International Airport recorded 2 inches of snow Wednesday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist David Hefner, who said the city averages 6.9 inches of snow per season.

Hefner said the snow tends to melt quickly.

“We can get 4-5 inches overnight and it’s generally gone by the next afternoon,” Hefner said.

The forecast called for sunny skies and a high of about 50 degrees for El Paso on Thursday.

However, freezing temperatures were expected to preserve Wednesday’s snow accumulations from the Red River Valley of Texas through Oklahoma, prompting school systems to remain closed Thursday in those areas.

Snow also was expected to extend into Illinois, Michigan and other parts of the Midwest on Thursday before reaching the Northeast by Friday, the weather service said.