Tens of Thousands Lose Power After Storms, Tornadoes Hit Northeast US
Severe storms ripped through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including two tornadoes that touched down in New York City, on Saturday, hurling debris in the air and causing flooding, power outages and delay of the United States Open tennis tournament.
A tornado with winds of about 70 mph struck the beachfront in Rockaway in Queens on Saturday morning, followed by another one with a speed of 110 mph that touched down in Canarsie, Brooklyn, 10 minutes later, as part of a series of outbursts of severe weather across the New York region, according to the National Weather Service.
The storms affected residents across New York state. Strong winds blew off roofing of some buildings, throwing bricks into the street in Buffalo, The Associated Press reported.
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The storms forced organizers to delay the start of the US Open and postpone the women's singles final until Sunday. The harsh weather also caused widespread power outages in the tri-state area, Virginia, and other states along the East Coast.
About 1,100 residents lost power in New York City, and more than 10,500 customers had no electricity in other parts of the region, including in East in Warren County and the Hudson Valley.
In northern New Jersey, storms dumped hail and rain and caused power outages affecting more than 17,000 customers.
Massachusetts, western Connecticut and parts of New Hampshire were also hit by storms with winds reaching up to 60 mph and flooding roads. About 4,000 power outages were reported in New Hampshire.
Funnel clouds were also sighted in Virginia and Maryland. About 95,600 customers were without power in Virginia. Thunderstorms also hit the Washington, D.C., area, rendering tens of thousands powerless.
The National Weather Service said on Twitter that 12 people at the Prince George's County Fair were wounded while trying to flee Show Place Arena, 20 miles east of Washington in Maryland.
Weather officials had issued a severe weather advisory saying severe thunderstorms, including widespread damaging winds and tornadoes, were likely in parts of the lower Great Lakes, New England and Mid-Atlantic States from Saturday afternoon unlit late at night.
