Severe weather swept through parts of the Southwest early today, with heavy snow halting travelers in New Mexico and violent thunderstorms rattling Texas.

Up to 13 inches of snow fell in the mountains of New Mexico, shutting down Interstate 40 between Albuquerque and the Arizona state line, closing some schools and knocking out power.

Motorists forced off I-40 were stranded in Grants.

''They can't go anywhere and they're upset because New Mexico is supposed to be warm,'' said Terri Griego, night auditor of the Best Western Inn and Suites in Grants.

The National Weather Service said 13 inches of snow fell north of Jemez Springs in the Jemez Mountains, north of Albuquerque, and 12 inches fell southwest of Cuba.

Many roads in northern Arizona were icy and snowpacked this morning, but no highway closures were reported.

Thunderstorms peppered parts of West Texas with large hail during the night.

Tornadoes also were reported, but no major damage or injuries were reported and the weather service allowed a tornado watch for 40 Texas counties to expire this morning.

Thunderstorms also developed over the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, with the possibility of 50 mph wind, large hail and heavy rain.

In the Northeast, showers moved through southeastern Pennsylvania, south New Jersey, parts of Maryland and Delaware and northern Virginia as a low pressure system moved out into the Atlantic.

Rain spread over western Washington as a storm system move in from the Pacific. Rainfall could become heavy over western Washington and Oregon, with totals of up to an inch creating a threat of roadway flooding.

Wind gusting to more than 30 mph was possible in southern California.

Highs today were forecast in the 40s and lower 50s in the Northeast, the northern Plains; in the 50s and 60s across most of the West; and in the 70s and 80s in Texas and the Southeast.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 Tuesday ranged from 93 degrees in Del Rio, Texas, to minus 8 degrees in West Yellowstone, Mont.