Major Eastern U.S. Storm Causes ‘Significant Damage’: Where It’s Heading Next

Topline A major storm system will “hammer” most of the eastern U.S. on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, as the Southeast experiences power outages amid heavy rain, wind and a series of tornadoes that caused “significant damage” in the Florida Panhandle. A state of emergency was issued for most of Florida as tornadoes were reported across the South.

Key Facts Hazardous weather took hold across much of the eastern third of the U.S. on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, which issued tornado watches stretching from the Tampa area all the way to southern Virginia. Heavy rain that could result in flooding is expected from the Florida Panhandle to southern Maine, the agency said, in addition to flood watches near New York City and Philadelphia.

Winds upward of 50 miles per hour are expected across the East Coast, where severe thunderstorms are projected from northern Florida to the North Carolina and South Carolina coastlines. New England will begin receiving major impacts later in the day Tuesday, “where the combination of 1 to 3 inch rainfall totals over highly saturated, and in some cases snow covered ground, along with swollen creeks and streams, will elevate the potential for flooding across this region.

Areas of the Midwest, including much of Iowa, northwestern Illinois, northern Missouri and the southern half of Wisconsin, are under winter storm warnings related to the massive weather system, which involves a low pressure system interacting with a cold front sweeping eastward. Crucial Quote “Don’t underestimate this storm, this could be a rough one for us,” New Jersey Gov.

Phil Murphy said , adding state residents should “take this seriously” amid concerns of flash flooding in the state. Big Number 282,382. That’s how many people are without power across the eastern U.S. as of 1:30 p.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us, including 102,069 in Florida, 62,750 in Georgia, 44,744 in North Carolina, 38,543 in Pennsylvania and 34,276 in Alabama.

Additional power outages are expected across the Northeast later in the day as more severe aspects of the storm push into the region. What To Watch For Weather conditions are expected to “slowly improve” through Wednesday morning following the storm, the National Weather Service said. Another storm moving across the Pacific Northwest will likely bring additional tornado and flood threats to the South later this week.

Key Background Emergency officials in Bay County, Florida reported “significant damage” across Panama City Beach, St. Andrews and Southport after a series of tornadoes tore through the region. A county spokesperson told ABC News at least five people were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis subsequently issued a state of emergency across 49 of the state’s 67 counties, citing concerns over “damaging wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour,” tornadoes and possible hail and flash flooding. About 12 tornadoes were reported across Florida, Alabama and Georgia earlier on Tuesday, according to CNN .

Further Reading Tornadoes, Flooding Rain Threaten East Coast ( ABC News ).