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Friday November 15, 2024

US braces for unprecedented weather chaos with tornadoes, blizzards, and power loss

New Jersey's governor, Phil Murphy, urged residents not to underestimate impending chaos as up to four inches of rain and high winds threaten the region

By Web Desk
January 10, 2024
People carry umbrellas on Times Square in New York as the northeastern US is hit by bad weather. — AFP
People carry umbrellas on Times Square in New York as the northeastern US is hit by bad weather. — AFP 

The United States faces an unprecedented weather crisis as a major storm system wreaks havoc across multiple regions. Tornadoes tear through the South while blizzards and high winds batter the North, resulting in power outages for hundreds of thousands.

In a rare convergence of extreme weather events, the nation finds itself grappling with a relentless storm surge. From the western Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, forecasts predict heavy rain, flash floods, and thunderstorms. 

New Jersey's governor, Phil Murphy, issues a warning, urging residents not to underestimate the impending chaos as up to four inches of rain and high winds threaten the region.

The South bears the brunt of this atmospheric rampage as tornadoes sweep through the Florida panhandle, leaving behind a trail of destruction: downed trees, damaged buildings, and roofs torn off. Governor Ron DeSantis declares a state of emergency across 49 counties, highlighting the severity of the situation.

However, the tumultuous weather isn't confined to the South alone. In the North, blizzard warnings, a rarity in some areas for a decade, emerge for the Cascade and Olympic mountains. Simultaneously, the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions brace for heavy snowfall, exacerbating the already dire conditions.

The consequences extend beyond the immediate weather impact. Flight operations suffer a significant blow with over 900 cancellations and 5,300 delays reported across the country. Compounding the issue, the grounding of some Boeing 737 MAX jets for inspection further disrupts air travel following a recent mid-flight incident.

Experts underscore a grim reality: as the planet continues to warm due to human-induced climate change, these erratic weather patterns are likely to become more frequent and severe. With wetter, fiercer storms on one end and hotter, drier periods on the other, the strain on resources and infrastructure is palpable.