Snow, Gale Force Winds Pound Texas, Northeast

Storms blamed for 11 deaths lashed the Northeast and Texas today with gale force winds, snow and freezing rain after dumping nearly two feet of snow on the Midwest, where 367,000 customers were left powerless when ice-laden lines snapped.

A winter storm warning was in effect for northern New Hampshire and Maine as well as for north central Texas, while travelers advisories for freezing rain or snow were posted today for northern and central New England, the Texas Panhandle and southeastern Oklahoma.

The National Weather Service predicted that up to a foot of snow could cover Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont by nightfall.

In Texas, temperatures plunged below freezing early today as far south as San Antonio and winds close to 40 m.p.h. dropped the wind chill factor to near zero. Snow blanketed much of the northern half of the state while freezing rain fell farther south.

In Oklahoma, where 2 to 3 inches of snow covered the southeast and light snow fell in most areas, Interstate 40 between El Reno and Elk City reopened this morning. Trucks jackknifed and more than 200 cars skidded off the icy roadway before it was closed, state police reported.

Officials in Michigan said it would take until Friday to restore power to the 367,000 homes and businesses affected by downed power lines at the peak of Tuesday’s storm. (Story on Page 20.) About 250,000 customers were without power early today.