Cincinnati, Ohio endured tornadoes, flooding rain, and snow that wreaked havoc across multiple states on Tuesday, resulting in the destruction of buildings, uprooted trees, and downed power lines. The storm system has claimed at least one life and left many facing severe damage, with homes stripped down to metal bones and roofs ripped off buildings.
Reports indicate that 27 million people are at risk of severe storms as the destructive system moves eastward. The system is expected to bring heavy rain, floods, high winds, and severe winter weather from Maine to Florida. In the past 24 hours, 12 tornadoes have been reported across six states, including Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, and Kentucky. Kentucky confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes with wind speeds ranging from 95 mph to 110 mph.
As the storm system continued its path across the country after starting in the west over the weekend, Tulsa, Oklahoma reported a tragic incident where a 46-year-old homeless woman sheltering in a drainage pipe died due to floodwaters. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency due to the storms that began hammering the state on Monday, deploying state police and emergency managers to assist affected areas.
The aftermath of the storm in Kentucky revealed severe damage, with fire officials sharing images of mangled metal and collapsed buildings during response efforts to a gas leak. As the storm moved east, millions of people were under wind, flood, and winter alerts, with the Southeast and Florida Panhandle experiencing severe storms and tornado watches. Flash flooding warnings were also issued for areas from the Ohio River Valley to the Northeast.
The Great Lakes region faced heavy snowfall and blizzard warnings for parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with significant snow accumulations forecasted for northern states. Major metros like Chicago and Boston may see some snowfalls mixed with rain, but little to no accumulation is expected. With additional rain and the risk of coastal flooding on the horizon, the effects of this powerful storm system continue to unfold.