Powerful Winter Storms Devastate Eastern US and Canada, Leaving Death and Destruction in Their Wake

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A series of powerful winter storms has wreaked havoc in parts of the eastern United States and Canada, resulting in at least four deaths and leaving over half a million homes without power.

Florida experienced strong winds that flipped cars and caused damage to homes, with several tornadoes reported in the state. The severe weather conditions also led to the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights in or out of the US on Tuesday. Even Vice-President Kamala Harris’ plane had to be diverted due to the inclement weather.

In the eastern US, from Florida to New York State, more than 630,000 households are currently without electricity. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 49 counties, where roofs were blown off homes and power lines were knocked down. Additionally, several tornadoes caused significant damage in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, leading to search and rescue operations.

Tragically, there have been reports of fatalities across the affected regions. An 81-year-old woman died in Houston County, Alabama, after a tornado destroyed mobile homes and RVs. In Claremont, North Carolina, one person was killed and two others critically injured when a powerful storm swept through a mobile home park. In Clayton County, Georgia, a motorist lost their life when a tree fell across a highway, crushing their car. There was another fatality in Birmingham, Alabama, as a man was crushed by a toppled tree.

The extreme weather conditions have caused widespread disruption, with roadways becoming impassable in Panama City, Florida. The storms also brought hail the size of baseballs and led to the declaration of a curfew for the downtown area. A coastal flood advisory is in effect in New Jersey until Wednesday, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul has warned that the storms could be “life threatening.”

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), more powerful storms are expected in the region and other parts of the eastern US. The NWS has issued flood warnings from Louisiana to Maine, covering at least 15 states along the US Atlantic coast. Residents in affected areas are urged to stay home and exercise caution.

Overall, the severe winter storms have caused significant damage, loss of life, and widespread power outages in parts of the eastern United States and Canada. The NWS anticipates a slight easing of the extreme weather, but snow showers may persist in some affected areas.