By The newspaper
03 Apr 2024, 08:43 AM EDT
The storm system that continues to affect areas of the central United States is moving towards the East Coast today where it is expected to affect more than 35 million people with snow and rain, the Storm Prediction Center estimated.
Changes in weather will bring heavy snow and gusty winds this afternoon into Friday. Snow accumulations could exceed 12 inches in some areas north of New York and central New England, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicts.
The forecast also anticipates rain until tomorrow that could cause coastal flooding in the northeast.
The NWS estimates that about 12 million people, mainly in northern New England, are under winter weather advisories.
Other states in the east of the country such as the Carolinas and Florida will also be affected by the system, as well as Washington DC
The impact on the East Coast comes after more than 275,000 homes and businesses in West Virginia, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan were left without power last night due to the phenomenon as it moved through the Ohio Valley. High winds, hail and tornadoes led West Virginia Governor Jim Justice to declare a state of emergency in several counties yesterday.
In that state, according to the CNN report, at least 13 homes were affected and some residents suffered minor injuries due to the tornadoes.
Kevin Walker, director of the Fayette County Office of Emergency Management, told the outlet that some homes were destroyed. At least 14 tornadoes had been confirmed yesterday in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama and Tennessee, in addition to 103 reports of damaging wind and 22 reports of hail. Shortly before midnight this Wednesday, one of these systems was reported in Conyers, Georgia, a city about 25 miles from Atlanta.
In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear also declared a state of emergency as areas such as Lexington experienced significant damage. In Tennessee, a funeral home and some homes in the town of Sunbright were damaged by two tornadoes, authorities reported. In the case of Alabama, structural damage was recorded in the city of Barnsdall, due to the impact of four tornadoes. In southern Indiana, several vehicles overturned due to high winds or a possible tornado on Interstate 265, state police reported. Some people suffered minor injuries.
Unstable weather conditions are reported in the middle of spring.