A wave of destructively strong storms – predicted to include tornadoes, hail and lightning – are moving through the US north-east and causing thousands of flight cancellations and leaving more than 1.1m homes and businesses without power on Monday.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area, lasting until 9pm, as well as a flood warning extending through Tuesday morning. A special statement warned: “There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.”
The storms’ spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The National Weather Service said the area of greatest concern centered in the Washington-Baltimore region.
By late Monday afternoon, more than 1,300 US flights had been canceled and 5,500 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.com. More than a quarter of the cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms.
By early evening, more than 1.1 million customers were without power across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia – all states along the storm system’s path, according to poweroutage.us. The Knoxville utilities board tweeted that the damage across its service area in Tennessee was “widespread and extensive” and will likely take several days to repair.
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Triple-digit temperatures are persisting in the south of the US, from Arizona to Florida, with heat indexes as high as 115F as the heatwave affects more than 65 million Americans.
Extreme heat advisories remain active in cities like Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Orlando.
“The oppressive daytime heat, limited overnight cooling, and widespread record warm nighttime lows will pose a significant health risk to anyone, especially those without effective cooling and adequate hydration,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
Meanwhile, north-east US prepared for the threat of rare and unusually dangerous thunderstorms.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center declared a rare moderate level 4 out of 5 risk of severe storms in parts of the midwest and along the east coast, potentially affecting up to 120 million people.
“A severe weather outbreak is possible … with widespread damaging winds, locally destructive, and isolated tornadoes,” the service said.
The NWS warns there are currently five tornado watches and two severe thunderstorm watches in effect.
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There are currently 5 Tornado Watches and 2 Severe Thunderstorm Watches currently in effect, stretching from AL to NY. The severe weather threat will continue throughout the afternoon and evening. Information about individual watches can be found at https://t.co/IUIXQmr3Fo pic.twitter.com/sHu4Usm8E7
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) August 7, 2023
The states at risk are Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, as well as Washington DC.
“This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time,” National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing.
Also concerning forecasters was the timing of the storms. They were expected to strike major population areas in late afternoon and early evening, prompting federal workers to be sent home early so they wouldn’t be in their cars amid wind, hail and tornadoes.
Strong advised residents: “Have yourself in a strong shelter. Be at home or be at work.”
The extreme weather could leave behind destructive winds, hail, heavy rain and flooding in its wake.
This summer has seen particularly rare weather patterns of oppressive heat, wildfires, severe storms and tornadoes. Climate scientists warn of more frequent and more severe weather as a result of the climate crisis.
Associated Press contributed reporting