Over 250 storms slammed the United States overnight, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds. This severe weather trend continues Tuesday, affecting large swaths of the country.
Widespread Impacts from East to West
In Kentucky, emergency teams rescued residents trapped in cars amid flooding. New Jersey also saw vehicles stuck in rising waters. A suspected tornado hit Virginia, causing trees to fall and blocking roads. Tens of thousands lost power in the Southeast due to downed power lines. Meanwhile, in Colorado, winds of 100 mph created dust storms.
The storm system disrupted nearly half of the nation. A World Cup game in Philadelphia paused at halftime Monday evening due to lightning. In New York City, heavy rain disrupted daily life.
Massive Travel Disruptions
On Monday, airports from Boston to Washington issued ground stops amid the severe weather. This resulted in 10,000 flight disruptions to kick off the week. By Tuesday morning, there were 851 delays and 175 cancellations. Major airports affected included John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Philadelphia International, and Ronald Reagan Washington National. These airports continued to face low visibility issues, according to FlightAware.
Continued Storm Risk
On Tuesday, another 12 million people face storm threats in two main areas. The first region stretches from eastern North Carolina through southeastern Virginia to southern Maryland. Here, damaging winds are the primary risk, although brief tornadoes are possible. Flash flood warnings extend from Norfolk, Virginia, into West Virginia. Rainfall in the mid-Atlantic could reach 2-4 inches.
The second risk area spans the western High Plains into the central Plains. From eastern Wyoming and Colorado to the Oklahoma-Texas border, large hail and damaging winds are expected. Tornadoes remain a possibility.
The storm threat extends into Wednesday, primarily affecting the western High Plains from eastern Wyoming to eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle.
Scorching Heat in the South and West
While the West Coast anticipates relief from the storms, they face high heat. Over 30 million people face heat alerts from Louisiana to the Pacific Northwest. Record-high temperatures could hit several states, reaching up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Las Vegas and 111 in Phoenix.
High humidity along the Gulf Coast elevates heat index levels further. This intense heat persists through the week’s end, creating dangerous conditions. As the West cools down, the East will heat up. By the weekend, triple-digit temperatures are expected in the southern Plains, the Southeast, and northern Florida.