A deadly winter storm that caused chaos throughout the US with tornados, snow, rain and flooding slammed into the Northeast overnight.
The storm knocked out power to more than 500,000 people in the region, including those New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut. It had already left a trail of damage.
At least three fatalities have been reported due to the weather. Among them, an 81-year-old woman who died in Alabama as the storm created tornados in the Southeast early Tuesday. The same system brought snow and travel headaches in the Midwest.
The mid-Atlantic has dealt with heavy rain and flooding. In North Carolina, more than 170,000 people lost power from the storm. Parts of historic Alexandria, Virginia, were underwater as floods filled streets.
All 50 states were put on weather alerts because of the storm.
A deadly winter storm that has caused chaos throughout the US with tornados, snow, rain and flooding is set to slam into the Northeast overnight
A vehicle sits under debris after a portion of the Red Roof Inn in Newark collapsed during a powerful storm on Tuesday
Northeast
The widespread heavy rain, strong winds and fierce thunderstorms which arrived on Tuesday continued into Wednesday as utilities companies battle to restore power.
As of 2am more than 8,000 people were without power in the New York metro area.
A high wind warning remains in place for New York state into Wednesday morning for gales of up to 70mph.
A power line went up in flames in Queens’ Jamaica Hills neighborhood after strong winds brought a tree down on top of it. Trees were also uprooted by the gusts on Staten Island, with one falling onto a resident’s home.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told residents to brace for ‘more inclement weather’ bringing potential for flooding as the day progresses.
People carry umbrellas on Times Square in New York on Tuesday ahead of gusty winds and heavy rain
A tree uprooted on Staten Island amid high winds on Tuesday night. A warning for gusts remains in place until Wednesday morning
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Rain or shine: While on her way to make some music on Tuesday, the pop star, 34, turned heads as she emerged from her vehicle in the rainy weather and made a beeline into the studio
AccuWeather meteorologists predicted the storm would pull warm air with it from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean that could cause a rapid thaw of snow on the ground in the Northeast.
‘Initially, the storm will bring a burst of heavy snow and/or a period of ice or wintry mix across parts of the central Appalachians and New England for a time on Tuesday,’ said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.
‘But, the most notable impact from the upcoming storm will be high winds and flooding rainfall.’
The forecasted flooding is could be comparable to the deadly flooding caused by the snowmelt of the blizzard of 1996.
A flood watch is in effect citywide until midday Wednesday. A high wind warning is in effect for Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island expires at 6am, and a wind advisory is in effect for the Bronx and Manhattan at the same time.
The New York City Emergency Management Department issued a travel advisory from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning due to the storm.
The deluges were not enough to put a dampener on Taylor Swift’s recording plans however and she was seen arriving to the Electric Lady recording studio in Greenwich Village despite the weather warnings.
The 12-time Grammy winner didn’t let the deadly storm get in her way as she stepped out in a pair of chic thigh high leather boots to stay dry.
In Queens, a power line caught fire after gale force winds brought a tree down on the structure
A powerful winter storm is slated to bring major flooding and blizzard conditions to the Southeast and East Coast this week
Migrants run in the rain towards the tents at migrant housing location in New York on Tueday
Elsewhere on Tuesday night flights were grounded at JFK and LaGuardia airports due to high winds, while across the border in New Jersey Morristown Airport was shuttered as was Lebanon Municipal Airport in New Hampshire.
A state of emergency came into effect in New Jersey which was among those hit by blackouts, with Governor Phil Murphy warning the worst could be yet to come.
‘Beginning tomorrow morning and continuing through Wednesday morning, we are expecting one to four inches of heavy rain, strong winds, and potential inland and coastal flooding,’ said Governor Murphy.
‘This storm will exacerbate the effects of the inclement conditions we experienced in December and this past weekend and may precede another storm Friday night. As always, I urge all New Jerseyans – including residents in our coastal and riverine communities – to follow all safety protocols and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.’
Flood warnings are in place for much of New England as rapid rainfall is expected to combine with snow melt.
Generally across the Northeast, commuters on Wednesday morning are being warned of possible travel chaos due to lingering flooding and blocked roads from downed trees.
Mid-Atlantic
Parts of the Carolinas including Greenville, South Carolina, have also dealt with floods because of the storm
Flooding in Greenville, South Carolina, which saw power cables downed amid the winter storm on Tuesday
Heavy rains and high winds downed power cables in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Carolinas.
In Claremont, North Carolina, a person was killed after the storm tore through a mobile home park.
Powerful gusts in the Washington area forced Vice President Kamala Harris’ plane to divert to another airport whilst returning from Georgia.
‘Air Force 2 landed safely at Dulles and all passengers are safe,’ Kirsten Allen, the vice president’s press secretary, said in a statement.
Flood warnings which expire early Wednesday were brought in Tuesday night for the capital after four inches of rain fell. While no more rain has been forecast, the effects of flooding persist.
Footage showed extensive flooding in historic Alexandria, Virginia, because of the storm. Water rushed through the streets and was midway up newspaper boxes along the sidewalk.
Midwest
The snow and blizzard conditions that hammered much of the Midwest under winter storm Finn continued across the region.
Some parts of Iowa have seen nearly a foot of snow from the storm, including Des Moines, which has registered 11.2 inches as of Tuesday night, according to KCCI.
In Chicago, residents dealt with a wintery mix from the storm that caused havoc for the evening commute on Tuesday.
The snow and blizzard conditions which hammered much of the Midwest under winter storm Finn are set to continue as the system sweeps across the region
In Chicago, residents dealt with a wintery mix from the storm that caused havoc for the evening commute
All 50 states were issued some type of weather alert amid Tuesday’s storm. Pictured: A resident attempts to shovel snow off his car in Sioux City, Iowa where 12 inches of snow fell
A firetruck is lifted by tow truck operators following a crash on Tuesday in Belleville, Illinois
Forecasters said parts of the Windy City metro area were in for an additional four to seven inches of snow overnight, according to ABC Chicago, before the snow was due to taper out by Wednesday,
In Detroit, experts warned about frigid temperatures and snow in the area, with totals reaching about six inches before the end of the storms.
‘It’s kind of our first bigger snow event this season,’ Andrew Arnold, a National Weather Service meteorologist in White Lake Township, told the Detroit Free Press. ‘We do have a winter storm weather watch that is out, up toward Midland and Bay County.’
The snow drifts led to school closures for many across the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest region to close on Tuesday.
The system move east and was expected to peter out overnight in Wisconsin and Iowa, but up to a further four inches were expected in Michigan leading many schools to remain closed on Wednesday.
Southeast
Suspected tornadoes are thought to have resulted in at least two deaths in the southeast
In the southeast, the storm brought strong wind gusts across the region and spawned a few tornados.
At least one fatality was recorded in Alabama after 81-year-old Charlotte Paschal’s mobile home was flipped when a tornado touched down early Tuesday morning.
A suspected tornado hit the Florida panhandle on Tuesday causing damage to homes and businesses. About 15 tornado warnings were issued across the area during the storm, according to Fox Weather.
A marina was destroyed near Panama City Beach, leaving many beaches flipped during the storm.
Police early Tuesday asked residents to stay indoors and off the roads ‘unless absolutely necessary’. The tornado watch expired at 2pm on Tuesday and schools which had closed were preparing to open Wednesday.
In Georgia, authorities in Jonesboro are investigating the death of a motorist who was presumed to have died after a tree fell onto their car during the storm.
Pacific Northwest
Parts of the Pacific Northwest were issued a blizzard warning which remains in place until Wednesday
The peak of the ‘bomb-cyclone’ that hit the region left more than 100,000 without power across western Washington and Oregon early Tuesday morning.
Gales of up to 60 mph and two feet of snow whipped up blizzard conditions over the Cascades and Olympics, making travel difficult to impossible.
The blizzard alert was the first to be issued by the Seattle office of the National Weather Service in 11 years.
Blizzard warnings remain in place until Wednesday, morning with forecasters predicting an additional 16 inches of snow.
The storm will eventually be felt in California where Winter Storm Warnings are in place in the Siskiyous and Sierra Nevada for Wednesday into early Thursday, with the areas seeing up to three feet of snow at higher elevations.