A major winter storm has wreaked havoc across the United States, resulting in multiple deaths and widespread power outages. The National Weather Service reported a major winter storm in the West and river flooding across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with blizzard conditions in western Alaska. Winter Storm Finn is causing flood concerns in the Northeast, while Winter Storm Gerri is expected to follow a similar track. The storms have also triggered tornadoes in the South.
In the Northeast, hundreds of thousands of people are facing power outages, with over 120,000 in New York and 80,000 in Pennsylvania without electricity. Parts of New Jersey experienced flooding, with some areas receiving up to three inches of rain since Tuesday night. In New York City, the storm knocked out train service and flooded a highway in the Bronx, disrupting thousands of commuters. Meanwhile, Long Island’s southern shore was inundated by coastal flooding, leading several schools to cancel or delay classes.
In the northern regions of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, heavy snowfall has been reported. In the South, severe weather has caused roofs to be blown off homes and debris to be scattered. Florida’s 49 counties in North Florida have been placed under a state of emergency, with flood watches, warnings, and advisories issued for several areas. The storms have claimed several lives, including an 81-year-old woman in Alabama and another person in North Carolina, both from suspected tornadoes. Additionally, a man was killed when a tree fell on his car south of Atlanta, while slushy highways led to the deaths of two men in Wisconsin and Michigan following separate collisions.
The situation continues to develop, and updates are expected as the storms progress.