Two people have died, thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed, and over 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power on Monday due to severe storms that swept through the eastern United States. The National Weather Service warned of tornadoes in 10 U.S. states, from Tennessee to New York, predicting the possibility of destructive winds and heavy hail. The agency reported that more than 29.5 million people were affected by tornado warnings on Monday afternoon. A 15-year-old boy was killed in Anderson, South Carolina, when a tree fell on him as he exited a vehicle. In Florence, Alabama, police reported that a 28-year-old man was struck by lightning and died.
Meanwhile, more than 2,600 flights were canceled and nearly 7,900 were delayed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The White House delayed President Joe Biden’s departure for 90 minutes for a four-day trip to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. An event on cybersecurity featuring First Lady Jill Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and school administrators from across the country was also canceled.
Chris Strong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated in a live briefing on Facebook, "This appears to be one of the most impactful weather events in the Mid-Atlantic we've seen in some time." The storms were expected to hit populated areas late Monday afternoon into early evening, prompting authorities to send federal workers home early to avoid being on the road amid the winds, hail, and potential tornadoes. The storms also postponed a Major League Baseball game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals in Philadelphia. In Maryland, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning after 4 inches (10.2 cm) of rain fell in a short period.
