2 Dead, Many Displaced As Harsh Weather Hit Multiple US States

Web Desk — At least two people were dead and several were feared displaced as powerful thunderstorms battered the eastern region of the United States on Tuesday. USA TODAY has reported that more than 300,000 homes and businesses were without power and thousands of flights were canceled in the affected areas.

In South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy was killed after a tree fell on him and more than 12,000 customers remained without power Tuesday morning, according to the Anderson County Office of the Coroner.

Police said in Florence, Alabama, a 28-year-old man died after he was struck by lightning. According to flight tracking website FlightAware, more than 1,700 flights were canceled and nearly 9,000 were delayed in the affected areas on Monday.

According to weather experts severe thunderstorms and winds in excess of 60 mph caused damage in central Maryland, southern Pennsylvania, and northern Virginia. The storms sent power lines crashing into roads, toppled trees, and ripped roofs from buildings.

Andrew Orrison, a metrologist from the National Weather Service, said there were reports of heavy hail across the mid-Atlantic and flash flooding in the Baltimore metropolitan due to the storms. The Knoxville Utilities Board said on X, formerly Twitter, the damage across its service area in Tennessee was colossal and will likely take many days to repair.

Dozens of people, including children, in Westminister Maryland were rescued after 34 cars were trapped on Route 140 by downed power lines, according to Maryland State Police. According to media reports, the motorists were trapped for more than 5 hours.

According to the weather service, more than 29.5 million people were under tornado watches Monday afternoon, and more than 1.1 million customers lost power as the storms struck.

Severe weather could continue this week

Orrison said the storm system that brought severe weather to the mid-Atlantic and Southeast on Monday caused heavy rainfall to parts of New England on Tuesday.

According to Orrison, there was the possibility of large hail and strong gusty winds across the Gulf Coast states and parts of the Southeast, including areas of Mississippi, Alabama, and southern Georgia Tuesday evening. He said harsh weather could also hit portions of the central High Plains region. Some areas of eastern Colorado, Nebraska, and portions of Kansas are also likely to be affected Tuesday afternoon and overnight.

The turbulent weather could damage much of the East for the rest of the week, forecasters have said.

AccuWeather Senior Metrologist Alex Sosnowski said, “The pattern, across much of the East, this week will feature frequent showers and thunderstorms, typically every other day or so.” “Even though it may not rain as much or as often as it did in July, conditions may again pose daily challenges for outdoor plans and travel,” Sosnowski added.