On Memorial Day, millions of people along the Interstate 95 corridor in the eastern United States are at risk of severe weather, including damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes. The threat comes after at least 21 people were killed by severe storms in the central US over the weekend, including four children. More than 600 reports of storm damage were recorded across at least 20 states.
According to multiple sources, damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats in the East Coast and Southeast U.S., with a few tornadoes possible from Pennsylvania to North Carolina including Philadelphia, D.C., Richmond, and Raleigh.
The National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm watches for several states along the East Coast, including Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. The watches are in effect until 9 p.m. ET on Monday.
Severe weather is expected to move into the eastern United States on Memorial Day following destructive and deadly storms that ravaged a large area of the central US over the weekend.
At least 21 people were killed by severe storms in parts of Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma over the weekend. The storms killed 15 in Arkansas and Texas alone. Another four people died in Kentucky.
Sunday was the busiest severe weather day of the year so far with more than 600 reports of storm damage across at least 20 states, including tornadoes, wind gusts in excess of 75 mph and hail the size of softballs. Storms caused buildings to be reduced to piles of rubble and damaged cars.
Power outages affected more than 600,00 homes and businesses in the central, southern, and eastern US on Monday.
The threat of severe weather comes as record heat continues to plague the South from Florida to Texas. Record highs were tied or broken on Sunday in several Gulf States. Del Rio, Texas hit a record of 112 degrees while Abilene, Texas tied its record of 102 degrees.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
