Winter storm brings snow, wind, hail and flooding across US

A powerful winter storm that dropped sw in places from El Paso, Texas, to Great rth Woods of Maine paid a violent visit to New Orleans and n brought more severe wear across Deep South early Thursday.

Winter storm warnings or advisories were in effect from rastern Oklahoma to Great rth Woods of Maine, National Wear Service said, and Storm Prediction Center forecast storms early Thursday with potential of generating hail, 60 mph (95 kph) winds and twisters. Flooding was reported in Alabama, and flood watches were in effect as front moved eastward.

Sw also was falling in places from upper Midwest into New England, where a few inches was expected on coast of Maine and up to 16 inches could fall in New Hampshire mountains before sunny skies take hold over weekend.

Scaffolding at a Four Seasons Hotel construction site collapsed onto at least a dozen cars Wednesday, injuring one person, as thunderstorms and high winds moved through New Orleans. Hail pounded city’s central business district, and high winds shattered glass on two revolving doors.

Downtown streets were flooded near University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and rain fell steadily through night in Atlanta, bringing temperatures up to a balmy 65 degrees (18 Celsius).

Sw is unusual along Mexican border in El Paso, where mail carrier Pablo Salinas of San Elizario said wear and traffic accidents nearly doubled his drive to work. Salinas said about 4 inches (10 centimetres) of sw had melted by on Wednesday, however, with only a bit of sw dusting palm trees lining street and red rock hills above.

wear service forecast sunny skies and a high of about 50 degrees (10 Celsius) for El Paso on Thursday. However, freezing temperatures were expected to preserve Wednesday’s sw accumulations from Red River Valley of Texas through Oklahoma, prompting school systems to remain closed Thursday in those areas.

winter storm mostly missed a parade to celebrate Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. wear service had predicted several inches of swfall along parade route, but storm shifted slightly, sparing fans from all but a few flurries.

Swfall was heavier to east, where several tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles collided around on, closing westbound traffic on a bridge that spans Missouri River near Rocheport. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Scott White said at least one person was taken from scene in an ambulance.

Highway Patrol troopers worked more than two dozen accidents in Oklahoma City area early Wednesday, including some with injuries, after several inches of sw fell overnight, said Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Sarah Stewart.

“ biggest impact has been snarled traffic from jack-knifed semis,” Stewart said.

Im Source: AP