Winter storm warnings: Flash flooding continues as weekend threatens repeat storms
At least four deaths were attributed to Storm Finn, a major winter storm pummeling the US including Florida and New York
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Your support makes all the difference.As the northeast braces for flooding rain and damaging winds through Wednesday, meteorologists forecast a second storm will blow through the eastern half of the US late this week.
The southeast should brace for a repeat of destructive winds and possible tornadoes, the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the midwest can expect even more snow over the weekend, while rain will continue to beat down on the northeast, according to the NWS.
As for Wednesday, flooding rain and damaging winds will hit Boston, Massachusetts overnight, while New York City residents should remain braced for potential flooding throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the south is recovering from the destruction of a devastating storm earlier this week.
Four people have died and 890,000 homes were left without power after Storm Finn ripped through the Atlantic Coast, from Florida to New York. The deaths were reported in North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
Fourteen tornadoes were reported across Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina on Tuesday, causing significant damage, blowing roofs off homes and prompting rescues in Florida’s panhandle, which was hit with 55 mph winds and hail.
At least 400,000 people on the east coast are without power
At least 400,000 energy customers along the East Coast — from Florida to New York — are without power as of Tuesday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.
Those outages come as dangerous winds and torrential rain threaten the midwest and eastern seaboard through Wednesday.
At least 600,000 people in total are without power in the country as of Tuesday afternoon. The Gulf Coast is still feeling the impacts of Storm Finn blowing through Monday evening into Tuesday, while the Pacific Northwest is reeling from a series of winter storms and blizzards that hit the region early this week.
More than 100,000 people are without power in North Carolina
More than 100,000 customers in North Carolina have no power as the National Weather Service issues tornado warnings for several counties in the state, according to PowerOutage.us.
Florida is a close second, with 80,000 people in a blackout. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for much of central and south Florida on Tuesday afternoon as the Florida panhandle reels from several hours of high winds and tornadoes.
Multiple deaths attributable to high winds from Storm Finn
At least three deaths have been reported as suspected tornadoes and high winds hit the South.
One person died in North Carolina after a suspected tornado struck a mobile home park Claremont, North Carolina on Tuesday, theAssociated Press reports. Two others were critically injured. In Cottonwood, Alabama, another woman died when a suspected tornado caused her mobile home to be ripped from its foundation, according to the AP.
Mobile homes are especially dangerous during tornadoes, according to a previous AP report. The rapid on-set that is characteristic of many tornadoes makes it very difficult for residents to safely find other shelter, however.
A third person died near Atlanta, Georgia after a tree struck his car in heavy rain, the AP reports. Officials across the country are telling residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
Heavy rain expected overnight in New York City
As heavy rain hits New York’s Orange County, the storm is expected to blow into New York City overnight, the National Weather Service said.
Some areas of New York City may also see coastal flooding. Strong winds are expected, with sustained winds up to 35 miles per hour and gusts up to 70 miles per hour, according to meteorologists.
Semi-truck flips over on bridge in Charleston, South Carolina amid severe winds
Meteorologist Shea Gibson says a trailer flipped over on Charleston’s Ravenel Bridge in 60-mile-per-hour winds. Traffic is significantly backed up as severe weather continues to impact the region.
It is unclear what caused the truck in Charleston to flip over. However, some states — like New York — are banning empty tractor-trailers amid severe weather to prevent similar accidents caused by high winds toppling the vehicles.
ICYMI: Florida’s Jackson County called in backup to assist with tornado wreckage clean-up
The Jackson County, Florida Sheriff’s Office requested extra rescue equipment and manpower from Houston County, Alabama in the wake of an overnight tornado in the Marianna area, Public Information Coordinator Ramsey Romero told The Independent.
Ms Romero said there were at least seven people injured but no reports of fatalities as of late Tuesday morning.
Million in central, southern Florida under tornado watch until later this evening
Several counties in central and southern Florida are under a tornado watch until Tuesday at 9 pm local time, the National Weather Service reports.
10 million people are impacted by the watch, along with 1,875 schools and 122 hospitals. Wind gusts of 70 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail are also possible.
Meanwhile, at least three deaths in the southern US are attributable to suspected tornadoes and high winds from Storm Finn, the Associated Press reports.
More than 1,000 flights were cancelled Tuesday
More than 1,000 flights within, into, or out of the US were cancelled on Tuesday amid winter storms in nearly every region of the US.
Meanwhile, more than 6,000 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport were among the most impacted.
Tuesday marked the worst travel day since winter storms began hitting the US over the weekend. The chaos will likely persist into Wednesday as many regions will still face the threat of extreme weather.
ICYMI: Another massive winter storm will likely hit midwest later this week
A second devastating winter storm could hit the upper midwest US late this week, meteorologists say.
The storm will travel from Oklahoma City to Detroit on Friday through Saturday. The storm may classify as a “bomb cyclone,” The Washington Post reported, due to extreme low pressure.
The storm is forecasted to bring snow and wind, as well as a surge of warm air and rain along the northern Gulf Coast.
ICYMI: New York City officials evacuate migrants from emergency housing amid flood risk
New York City officials evacuated nearly 2,000 migrants from their emergency housing in Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field on Tuesday afternoon, local outlets Spectrum News NY 1 and the New York Daily News reported.
They are now housed at a nearby high school due to the field’s proximity to Jamaica Bay amid forecasts of coastal flooding and damaging winds for Tuesday night.
“The health and safety of migrants in our care is always a top priority, which is why we are currently overseeing the relocation of 1,900 guests from the humanitarian emergency response and relief center at Floyd Bennett Field,” a spokesperson from New York City Hall told Spectrum News NY 1.
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