Storms bear down on New England and East Coast as severe weather persists across the US
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A major spring storm was expected to drop more than a foot of snow in parts of New England on Wednesday night, while heavy rains soaked the East Coast and cleanup work continued in several states wracked by tornadoes and other severe weather blamed for at least two deaths.
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 were expected with some local amounts topping 24 inches (61 centimeters) at higher elevations. Parts of New Hampshire and Maine were expected to see the highest amounts.
A mix of rain and snow was falling throughout the region by early evening and was expected through Thursday night in many areas.
“It is now a rain/snow mix at the office, and we have received our first trace of snow for the storm ahead,” the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, said Wednesday night via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “It won’t be long before our ground turns white!”
Maine officials warned the storm was expected to cause difficult travel conditions, power outages and minor coastal flooding.
“Travel is discouraged during this storm due to unfavorable driving conditions,” Pete Rogers, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement. “Folks need to be prepared at home for the possibility of an extended power outage with emergency supplies, alternate power sources, and should charge their mobile devices in advance.”
In New Hampshire, the U.S. Forest Service issued an avalanche watch through 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 warned backcountry hikers and skiers of the possibility that 30 inches (76 centimeters) of snow or more could fall in higher elevations and create dangerous avalanche conditions.
School districts and government offices throughout both states announced Thursday closures because of the storm.
Coastal flood warnings and watches were in effect in many areas stretching from Maine to Long Island, N.Y., while wind gusts of up to 60 mph (about 97 kph) were expected in eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and coastal Connecticut. Heavy rains and severe thunderstorms were also expected to impact the Mid-atlantic states and Florida.
Forecasters said heavy, wet snow would persist across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan into Thursday, with 6 to 10 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) overall possible in far-northern Wisconsin and 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) in Madison, but just a trace in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, residents in some of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula had already seen several inches of snow, with overall accumulations of 2 feet (0.6 meters) or more expected.
The severe weather comes a day after thousands of homes and businesses were left without power after strong storms roared through several states across the nation.
Storms in northeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday unleashed three suspected tornadoes and dumped heavy rain that was blamed for the death of a 46-yearold homeless woman in Tulsa who was sheltering inside a drainage pipe.
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.