Devastating Winter Storm Claims 4 Lives and Plunges Northeast into Darkness with Widespread Power Outages
Powerful storm claims lives and triggers vast power outages in the Northeast, as heavy snow and freezing temperatures grip the region, leading to dangerous flooding, disrupted travel, and numerous water rescues
Four individuals have lost their lives due to a severe storm causing widespread flooding and travel issues on the East Coast. Additionally, over 620,000 homes and businesses in the Northeast have experienced power outages. The storm has also brought cold temperatures and heavy snowfall to the region. The chaotic path of the storm led to the deaths of a man in Pennsylvania and a woman in South Carolina, both in their 70s, after their vehicles were submerged in floodwaters. Two other fatalities were reported in Maine and Massachusetts.
The Northeast was hammered by a storm on Monday, resulting in 2-4 inches of rainfall within 24 hours. This heavy rainfall led to flooding that affected drivers in New Jersey and Connecticut, and prompted water rescues in New Hampshire and Maine. While the storm has moved into Canada and the rainfall has decreased, the impacts will still be felt in New England on Tuesday, with the threat of flooding remaining for several communities. River levels are still at their peak.
Parts of western New York and Pennsylvania may also see snowfall, along with parts of the Great Lakes and Appalachians on Tuesday.
People walk through Brooklyn's Prospect Park on a snowy morning over on February 28, 2023 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Where has all the snow gone? Major Northeast cities are missing feet of snow and recent storms have not been helpful. Temperatures are expected to drop to the 30s and 40s across much of the Northeast, as over 620,000 homes and businesses in the region are still without power as of early Tuesday, according to poweroutage.us. The majority of outages are in Maine, where 432,000 are currently without power.
Central Maine Power has cautioned that it could take several days to fully restore power to some residents in Maine. The utility serves over 600,000 customers. As a result of the conditions, several districts in Maine and New Hampshire have either closed schools or are experiencing delays.
Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have been closed until further notice following the mayor's declaration of an emergency on Monday afternoon in preparation for potential flooding from the rising Passaic River. The mayor expressed concern, stating that he anticipates the worst flooding to occur within the next 24 hours.
In the neighboring town of Little Falls, the mayor has strongly advised residents to evacuate before midnight on Monday due to the impending flooding of the river. Authorities had previously issued warnings that the situation could be "catastrophic."
"Residents are urged to stay in their homes at their own risk," warned Mayor James Belford Damiano. "Flooding could create hazardous conditions that may prevent rescues, especially during the overnight hours."
The risk of flooding could worsen in certain New England states due to heavy rainfall on existing snow cover, leading to rapid snowmelt and a significant increase in the threat of flooding.
Dangerous storm conditions leave several dead
The storm has been advancing up the East Coast and into the Northeast since the weekend, leaving at least four people dead from South Carolina to Maine.
In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a 72-year-old woman was discovered lifeless on Sunday after her car became completely submerged in water, as reported by the Charlestons Post and Courier newspaper. The region experienced over 6 inches of rainfall that day.
Cars were left stranded in flood waters on River St in Paterson, NJ on Monday Dec. 18, 2023.
Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com/USA TODAY NETWORK
Four individuals have perished following a severe storm in the Northeast that resulted in power outages, road flooding, and a mandatory evacuation. Additionally, a 73-year-old man lost his life after his car became submerged in floodwaters due to heavy rainfall in Pennsylvania on Monday, as reported by the coroner's office in Lancaster County.
A man, aged 40, died in Windham, Maine on Monday when a piece of a tree fell on him while he was on his roof attempting to remove another part of the tree from his home. In addition, strong winds and rain in Massachusetts on Monday caused a tree to collapse onto a small travel trailer in Plymouth County, resulting in severe head trauma for the 89-year-old man inside, as confirmed by the local district attorney. Although the man was rescued from the trailer, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Snow arrives in Great Lakes and Appalachians
Cold air trailing behind the storm has ushered in winter weather alerts across 10 states in the Great Lakes, Appalachians and interior Northeast.
Northwestern New York, Ohio, central Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are under winter storm warnings as up to a foot of snowfall is expected in these areas. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are also forecasted. Surrounding areas may see 1 to 6 inches of snow, while areas around the Great Lakes could receive up to 7 inches, as per the weather service.
CNN Meteorologist Taylor Ward and CNNs Michelle Watson, Danny Freeman, Jamiel Lynch, Caroll Alvarado and Celina Tebor contributed to this report.
