Winter storm warnings: Flash flooding continues as weekend threatens repeat storms
At least four deaths were attributed to Storm Finn, a major winter storm pummeling the US including Florida and New York
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Your support makes all the difference.As the northeast braces for flooding rain and damaging winds through Wednesday, meteorologists forecast a second storm will blow through the eastern half of the US late this week.
The southeast should brace for a repeat of destructive winds and possible tornadoes, the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the midwest can expect even more snow over the weekend, while rain will continue to beat down on the northeast, according to the NWS.
As for Wednesday, flooding rain and damaging winds will hit Boston, Massachusetts overnight, while New York City residents should remain braced for potential flooding throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the south is recovering from the destruction of a devastating storm earlier this week.
Four people have died and 890,000 homes were left without power after Storm Finn ripped through the Atlantic Coast, from Florida to New York. The deaths were reported in North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
Fourteen tornadoes were reported across Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina on Tuesday, causing significant damage, blowing roofs off homes and prompting rescues in Florida’s panhandle, which was hit with 55 mph winds and hail.
Florida officials report damage and continued need to seek shelter as squall line passes through region
The Bay County, Florida Sheriff Tommy Ford told residents to seek sturdy shelter and find a safe place inside their home as a squall line passes through the region.
He told residents the Sheriff’s Office has already received numerous damage reports as a result of the storm.
Rescue crews assisting with tornado cleanup efforts
The Jackson County, Florida Sheriff’s Office has requested extra rescue equipment and manpower from Houston County, Alabama in the wake of a tornado in the Marianna area, Public Information Coordinator Ramsey Romero told The Independent.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said there have been no reports of fatalities in the region as of late Tuesday morning but was unable to provide any information on the number of injuries at this time.
Iowa buried in snow as Storm Finn blows through midwest, northeast
Several inches of snow are falling across Iowa as every county in the state sits under either a winter storm warning or winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service (NWS) for Des Moines has recorded more than 7 inches of snow in their region, with more still falling as of Tuesday morning. More than half that snow fell in just six hours, according to the NWS.
Meanwhile, the Des Moines airport has recorded more than 6 inches, with snow still falling.
Travel conditions are proving dangerous — the Des Moines Police warned residents to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to travel.
Residents of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina facing tornado watches Tuesday afternoon
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued tornado watches to northern Florida, southeast Georgia and much of South Carolina as Storm Finn moves northward.
There is a high likelihood of tornadoes and high wind in the region until 6 pm local time, the NWS said.
Tornadoes wreak havoc in Florida as Storm Finn continues to hit the southeast
Tornadoes and destructive winds are blowing through Florida after a dangerous evening on Monday.
Storm Finn initially threatened the Florida panhandle Monday night, moving eastward into Tuesday and expanding the possibility of tornadoes across northern Florida. Several tornadoes were reported, with one in Marianna, Florida injuring seven.
Northern Florida now faces an intense squall line moving across the region, bringing continuous threats of high winds. As Storm Finn moves north, the National Weather Service has also issued tornado watches to residents of southeast Georgia and the Carolinas.
SEE IT: Overnight tornado damages Jackson County, Florida
A tornado struck near Marianna, Florida last night, injuring seven and causing property damage across Jackson County, Public Information Coordinator Ramsey Romero told The Independent.
10 million in southern Florida also under tornado watch until Tuesday evening
Several counties in central and southern Florida are under a tornado watch until Tuesday at 9 pm local time, the National Weather Service reports.
10 million people are impacted by the watch, along with 1,875 schools and 122 hospitals. Wind gusts of 70 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail are also possible.
The watch comes as northern Florida endures an “intense” squall line moving through the region just hours after a series of tornadoes swept through the area overnight.
Migrants relocated from relief center in New York City amid forecasts of flooding, damaging winds
New York City officials have evacuated nearly 2,000 migrants from their emergency housing in Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, local outlets Spectrum News NY 1 and the New York Daily News report.
Officials evacuated them to a nearby high school due to the field’s proximity to Jamaica Bay amid forecasts of coastal flooding and damaging winds Tuesday evening.
“The health and safety of migrants in our care is always a top priority, which is why we are currently overseeing the relocation of 1,900 guests from the humanitarian emergency response and relief center at Floyd Bennett Field,” a spokesperson from New York City Hall told Spectrum News NY 1.
Several counties in Georgia and Carolinas under tornado warnings
Several counties in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are under a tornado warning as the National Weather Service reports multiple tornadoes detected by radar in the region.
Several of the warnings include the possibility of pea-sized hail as Storm Finn moves north along the Atlantic Coast.
Number of flight cancellations hit highest since storm series began
The number of flights cancelled so far Tuesday surpassed the cancellations recorded during the weekend winter storm in the northeast or on Monday when Storm Finn first hit the US, according to FlightAware.
At least 945 flights within, into, or out of the US have been cancelled as of Tuesday afternoon, with more than 5,000 delayed. Meanwhile, Saturday travellers saw more than 500 cancellations nationwide, while 838 were cancelled the following day.
Monday came in at 814 cancelled flights as well.
With tornadoes hitting the southeast, torrential rain slamming the northeast and winter storms blowing through the Pacific Northwest, travel chaos will likely continue through the day and into Wednesday.
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