Storm kills 2, power outage affects 1.1m across US

WASHINGTON — At least two people died, thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power on Monday as severe storms, including hail and lightning, moved through the eastern United States.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater DC area, lasting until 9 pm. "There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes," warned a special statement of the service.

The storms' spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The weather agency said more than 29.5 million people were under a tornado watch on Monday afternoon.

In Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy who arrived at his grandparent's house during the storm was struck and killed when a tree fell on him as he got out of a car, said the Anderson County Office of the Coroner.

In Florence, Alabama, police said a 28-year-old man was struck by lightning and died, WAAY-TV reported.

By Monday night, more than 2,600 US flights had been canceled and nearly 7,900 delayed, according to flight tracking service Flight-Aware. Many cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms.

The White House pushed up by 90 minutes President Joe Biden's departure on a four-day trip that is taking him to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The Office of Personnel Management announced on Monday that all non-emergency employees would have to depart before 3 pm, when all federal offices close.

"This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time," National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing.

In Maryland, the service issued a flash flood warning into Tuesday after 10.2 centimeters of rain fell in a short amount of time.

Trees and power lines were toppled in multiple states, falling into roads and some homes, news outlets reported.

Agencies Via Xinhua