A major winter storm has caused multiple deaths and widespread power outages in the United States. The National Weather Service reported on Wednesday morning that the West and the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions were experiencing a major winter storm and river flooding, with blizzard conditions in western Alaska.
Flood concerns in the Northeast are attributed to Winter Storm Finn, which spawned numerous tornadoes in the South on Tuesday. Winter Storm Gerri is anticipated to follow a similar path, according to the Weather Channel. In Connecticut, the city of Norwich ordered a mandatory evacuation of areas along the Yantic River due to flooding from dam conditions.
New Jersey saw flooded streets and roads, while New York City train lines and a highway in the Bronx were affected by the storm. Additionally, Long Island’s southern shore experienced coastal flooding and school closures. In northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, heavy snowfall was reported, while severe weather in the South caused damage to homes and posed flood concerns in several areas of Florida.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 49 counties in North Florida, where the National Weather Service planned to send out tornado survey teams to assess suspected tornado damage. Reports of fatalities include an 81-year-old woman in Alabama, a person in North Carolina, a man in Georgia, and two men in Wisconsin and Michigan.
As of Wednesday evening, thousands of people were experiencing power outages. This story is developing, and updates are expected.