New York, December 19: A powerful storm lashed the US East Coast and Northeast, killing three people, causing power outages, closing roads and even forcing community evacuations. The storm, which first hit South Carolina over the weekend, brought high winds and heavy rain to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and other Northeastern states on Monday.
The reported deaths occurred in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and South Carolina. In the Northeast, the storm dropped 2–4 inches of rain within 24 hours, with some areas near New York City receiving more than five inches. New York City suffered disruptions, with major bridges and parkways temporarily closed, subways suspended and more than 10,000 Consolidated Edison customers without power. 237 incidents of falling of trees were recorded in the city.
Air travel was significantly affected, with approximately 400 flights canceled at New York’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports, as well as Boston’s Logan International Airport. More than 4,700 flights were delayed across the country.
In the Northeast, more than 660,000 customers were without power, with Maine hardest hit, with more than 420,000 customers out of 852,000 tracked in the dark. Little Falls in northern New Jersey suffered potentially significant flooding along the Passaic River, prompting evacuation warnings.
As the storm approached Canada late Monday night, its impacts were expected to continue, with concerns about potential flooding in some areas. The impact of the storm underlines the importance of preparedness and response measures in the face of severe weather conditions.