A “Powerful” Storm Lashes Mid-Atlantic Coast, Leaving Millions Without Power and Causing Travel Chaos
A powerful storm has battered the mid-Atlantic coast, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms that have left over 59 million people from Virginia to Maine under flood alerts. The storm has also caused over 400,000 homes and businesses to lose power, with airports reporting flight delays and cancellations as holiday travelers scramble to adjust their plans.
According to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, there is a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of New England through Tuesday, with localized areas of flash flooding expected.
The storm system, which began over the weekend, has caused significant damage and disruption. Florida and the Carolinas were hit with strong winds and torrential rain, while South Carolina set a record for the greatest storm surge from a non-tropical system.
As of 11 a.m., more than 400,000 people across New England and New York are without power, and the impacts of the storm are being felt in major cities like New York City, where flooding conditions on roads and power outages have prompted a travel advisory.
Mayor Eric Adams urged caution for morning commuters, advising them to take mass transit and stay off the roads if possible. Over 10,000 people in New York City were without power, and over 200 reports of downed trees were made to emergency management officials.
The storm has also caused chaos for travelers, with over 2,000 delays and more than 400 cancellations nationwide. Millions of people are expected to take to the skies ahead of Christmas, leading to concerns about further travel disruptions.
In addition to heavy rain, wind alerts have been issued for 38 million people in the Northeast, with gusts of up to 60 mph reported at various airports. The storm is expected to continue causing disruptions as it moves further into Canada by Monday evening.
Meanwhile, a storm is also moving onshore over the West Coast, bringing significant rainfall and snow to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
This is a developing story, and updates on the storm and its impacts are expected.