TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — More than a foot of snow was expected to fall in parts of New England Wednesday night, while heavy rain drenched the East Coast and cleanup efforts continued. In many states At least two deaths were attributed to typhoons and other severe weather.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for several states in New England, where 7 to 18 inches (18 to 46 centimeters) of snow is expected, with some local amounts of up to 24 inches (61 centimeters) at high elevations. New Hampshire and parts of Maine were expected to see higher levels.
A mixture of rain and snow fell across the region in the evening and was expected in many areas till Thursday night.
Maine officials said the storm is expected to cause difficult travel conditions, power outages and minor coastal flooding.
AP reporter Donna Warder reports that thousands of homes are without power as powerful storms sweep through several states.
“Travel during this storm was discouraged due to unfavorable driving conditions,” Pete Rogers, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement. “Emergency supplies, alternate power sources and charging their mobile devices in advance.”
In New Hampshire, the U.S. Forest Service issued an avalanche watch until Friday afternoon for parts of the White Mountains, including Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet (1,917 meters). The service issued a warning to backcountry hikers and skiers about the potential for 30 inches (76 centimeters) or more of snow to fall at higher elevations and create dangerous avalanche conditions.
Coastal flood warnings and watches are in effect for many areas from Maine to Long Island, NY, while winds up to 60 mph (about 97 km/h) are expected in eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and coastal Connecticut. Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are expected to affect the Mid-Atlantic states and Florida.
Forecasters said heavy, wet snow will continue through Thursday across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, with totals of 6 to 10 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in northern Wisconsin and 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) in Madison. A trace in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, residents in parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula have already seen several inches of snow, with total accumulations of 2 feet (0.6 meters) or more expected.
The severe weather came a day after thousands of homes and businesses were left without power as severe storms lashed several states across the country.
Storms unleashed three suspected tornadoes and heavy rains in northeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday, leading to the death of a 46-year-old homeless woman who was sheltering in a drain pipe in Tulsa.
In Kentucky, storms that spawned at least five tornadoes led to one death and widespread damage in several counties, Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday afternoon.
The weather-related death was from a traffic accident in Campbell County, Beshear said. There were no other major injuries, he said.
Tornadoes touched down in Nelson, Anderson and Jessamine counties and the city of Prospect on Tuesday, according to the weather service.
Along with the confirmed tornadoes, Beshear said surveyors are looking at damage to determine if tornadoes developed in four other counties. More than a dozen additional counties were damaged by the storms, he said.
“We will get through this and we will do it together,” he said. “So many people are affected right now and we want you to know that we will be there for you.”
In Rockdale County, Georgia, crews planned to survey the damage to determine if a tornado hit overnight, according to the weather service.
“My living room is boarded up,” Carolyn Gilman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Gilman said he walked out of the storm in his bathroom and heard the rain coming at his home east of Atlanta.
“That big 'whoosh' I heard, that big crash I heard, I knew it was coming through the tree,” Gilman told the newspaper.
An EF-1 tornado touched down in the northeast Tennessee town of Sunbright on Tuesday, according to the weather service.
The tornado's path was about 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) long and about 150 yards (137 meters) wide, the weather service added. The twister damaged numerous residential and commercial structures in addition to sheds and hardwoods in the town of about 500 residents. There were no injuries or fatalities.
Sunbright Mayor Karen Melton told the Knoxville News Sentinel After the tornado passed she drove through town and found a family there.
“We had a young mother and father holding their children, an infant and a 4-year-old, (when) the tornado tore the roof off their apartment. … It was very scary and sad,” Melton said. “But they were safe, and she had some There were scratches, but the children were safe.”
In West Virginia, more than 103,000 homes and businesses were without power Wednesday, mostly in the southern part of the state. power cut. us. Some Appalachian Power customers won't get their service back until Thursday night, the utility said.
Schools were closed Wednesday in eight of West Virginia's 55 counties, and Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency in several counties on Tuesday. Moderate flooding was forecast for the Ohio River, which was expected to reach nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) above Thursday's flood stage in Wheeling.
In Crisp County, Georgia, roads were closed early Wednesday morning as emergency workers assessed damage to several homes and buildings after the storm, officials said.
Photos shared by the sheriff's office showed large trees on top of a home and power lines draped across yards and roads. Residents were advised to minimize travel due to damage and gas leaks.
“We've been surveying the damage all morning and trying to make sure everyone in the homes is OK,” Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said via Facebook.
Crisp County is about 140 miles (225 kilometers) south of Atlanta.
Flooding was also a problem in parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Western Pennsylvania has received 2 to 3 1/2 inches (5.1 and 8.9 centimeters) of rain since Monday night, causing flooding in all corners of the region. A flood warning was in effect for most areas as of Wednesday afternoon due to the widespread risk of standing water on roadsides and creeks, streams and rivers. Several homeless encampments along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh were abandoned due to flooding.
Several counties in Northeast Ohio saw minor to moderate flooding after nearly three days of continuous rain. Although conditions are expected to improve by Wednesday night, flood watches and warnings remain in effect.
___
Associated Press writers Rebecca Reynolds in Louisville, Kentucky, Dave Collins in Hartford, Kan., John Roby in Charleston, West Virginia, Jeff Martin in Atlanta and Adrian Sines in Memphis, Tennessee contributed to this report.
