Flight cancellations, power cut, and flood alert issued as strong storms arrive in USA
US flights cancelled and delayed as destructive storms, including tornadoes, hail, and lightning, hit several states.Flight cancellations, power cut, and flood alert, marks the arrival of strong storms in DC
Storm clouds darken the sky over the Washington Monument, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Washington. Thousands of federal employees were sent home early Monday as the Washington area faced a looming forecast for destructively strong storms, including tornadoes, hail and lightning.
Thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed, electricity was shut, schools were closes, and people were asked to stay indoors as the US prepared for one of its worst weather events in near time.
The weather forecast agency on Monday warned of destructively strong storms, including tornadoes, hail and lightning, and residents were warned to stay indoors and prepare for the worst.
In evening the rain began falling in the Washington area shortly after 5 pm, and the skies gradually turned an ominous dark gray, a precursor to the severe weather and mass power outages that were predicted.
Tornado threat in Washington
The national weather service issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area till 9 pm. There was also flood warning till Tuesday morning. The weather service also warned of 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 centred in the Washington-Baltimore region.
Flights cancellation
By Monday afternoon, more than 1,300 US flights had been cancelled and more than 5,500 flights were delayed, reported AP citing data from FlightAware. There were large number of cancellations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that it was changing the route of planes around storms heading to the East Coast. In case of adverse situation, it has warned of pausing flights in and out of the New York City area, Philadelphia.
President Joe Biden’s departure on a four-day trip pushed up by 90 minutes
The White House pushed up by 90 minutes President Joe Biden’s departure on a four-day trip that’s taking him to Arizona New Mexico and Utah. There were other cancellations of programmes and events that featured first lady Jill Biden, who is a teacher, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and school administrators, educators and education technology providers from around the country.
Power outage
By early evening, more than 5.8 lakh customers were under darkness across Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee and Virginia due to the harsh weather. 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.
Dominion Energy reported nearly 15,000 people without power in Loudoun County, Virginia, west of D.C. And Pepco, a power company serving Washington and its suburbs, reported outages affecting more than 2,000 people.
“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.
The storms are expected to strike in late afternoon, warned the weather forecasting agency. Due to this, federal workers needs to be sent home early so they wouldn’t be in their cars amid wind, hail and tornadoes.
