Severe storms, including tornadoes, hail, and lightning, led to the cancellation or delay of thousands of U.S. flights on Monday. Residents in the Washington area were warned to stay indoors and prepare for the worst.
Precipitation started in Washington shortly after 5 p.m., accompanied by an ominous dark gray sky, signaling the arrival of severe weather and anticipated power outages.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area until 9 p.m., along with a flood warning that extended into Tuesday morning. A special Weather Service statement warned of the potential for hurricane-force winds, large hail, and tornadoes.
The storms, impacting 10 states from Tennessee to New York, were particularly concerning in the Washington-Baltimore region.
By late Monday afternoon, over 1,500 U.S. flights had been canceled and more than 7,000 were delayed. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport accounted for the majority of cancellations due to disruptions caused by previous storms.
STEFANI REYNOLDS via Getty Images
The Federal Aviation Administration rerouted planes around the storms approaching the East Coast and warned of potential flight pausing in the New York City area, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
The White House adjusted President Joe Biden’s departure on a four-day trip by 90 minutes to beat the storm’s impact. A back-to-school cybersecurity event, featuring first lady Jill Biden, was canceled. The Office of Personnel Management closed federal offices early.
“This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong.
Forecasters were particularly concerned about the timing of the storms, which were expected to hit major population areas in late afternoon and early evening. Strong advised residents to seek shelter at home or work.
By early evening, over 580,000 customers were without power across Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. Power companies reported widespread outages, with significant damage in some areas.
The situation remains ongoing, with authorities and residents keeping a close watch on the severe weather conditions.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
