Intense Storms Claim Two Lives, Trigger Power Outages and Flight Disruptions in Eastern US
Severe storms ravaged parts of the eastern United States on Monday, leaving a destructive trail that claimed the lives of two individuals, left hundreds of thousands without electricity, and resulted in the cancellation or delay of thousands of flights.
A wide swath of the eastern seaboard, spanning from Alabama to New York, bore the brunt of these intense weather conditions. Millions of people found themselves under severe weather alerts, including tornado watches, as torrential rain, powerful winds, and hail descended upon the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) had earlier predicted a moderate risk of hazardous storms, warning of gusts reaching up to 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour).
In light of the impending weather, the NWS in Baltimore and Washington urged residents to remain vigilant, stating on social media, Stay weather aware and make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings. As nightfall arrived, the most severe weather threats subsided, but the risk of flooding lingered as rain continued to pour. The NWS reported hail as large as 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) in diameter in Virginia.
Tragically, two fatalities marred this stormy episode. In Alabama, a 28-year-old man lost his life after being struck by lightning in a parking lot within an industrial park. Similarly, in South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy was killed when a falling tree struck him outside his grandparents’ residence, as reported by a local CBS station.
Poweroutage.us, a tracking website, revealed that more than 700,000 customers along the East Coast experienced power outages by late Monday. Simultaneously, FlightAware, a flight tracking website, disclosed that over 1,700 US flights were canceled, with over 8,000 experiencing delays due to the severe weather conditions. Consequently, Washington’s federal agencies released their employees early at 3 pm (1900 GMT) in anticipation of the impending storms.
Interestingly, these tempestuous events occurred while several southern states, including Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, battled excessive heat warnings. The scorching temperatures, reaching up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius), were projected to persist until Tuesday. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events worldwide to the effects of climate change.
As the eastern United States recovers from the aftermath of these intense storms, communities must rally together to restore power, repair any damages incurred, and support those affected by the unfortunate loss of life.
