Update: Thousands still without power Tuesday after severe storms batter the East Coast
Severe thunderstorms swept across the eastern United States on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and leaving over 1.1 million customers without power. The storms brought damaging winds and large hail, causing widespread destruction and disruption in multiple states. Tornado watches and warnings were issued across 10 states, from Tennessee to New York, as toppling trees and power lines posed hazards to roads and homes.
The National Weather Service described the severe weather event as one of the most impactful in the Mid-Atlantic region in recent times. The Washington, D.C. area experienced thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds, with the National Weather Service and the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang issuing a rare Level 4 out of 5 ranking for the severe weather outbreak. A tornado watch was in effect for many areas along the East Coast on Monday afternoon.
Flight cancellations and delays were also reported, with over 2,600 flights canceled and nearly 7,900 delayed, according to FlightAware. Additionally, more than one million Americans were left without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
The severe storms resulted in the loss of two lives. In Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy was killed when a tree fell on him as he exited a car at his grandparent’s house. In Florence, Alabama, a 28-year-old man died after being struck by lightning.
Power outages affected over one million customers in nine states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Maryland. Flight disruptions were also widespread, with the Federal Aviation Administration rerouting aircraft to avoid the storms as much as possible.
Forecasters warned of dangerous winds, flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes from Atlanta to Philadelphia, putting more than 80 million people at risk. Thunderstorms triggered localized torrential downpours and disrupted travel in parts of the central Appalachians and the Northeast. The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk warning for severe storms in parts of the mid-Atlantic, including Baltimore and Washington, highlighting the threat of widespread damaging winds.
The storms were expected to intensify throughout Monday, bringing destructive straight-line winds, hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes. Cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore,
