Big Storm Brings Lots of Rain to East Coast, 59 Million Get Flood Warnings

A powerful storm system has lashed the East Coast with heavy rain and thunderstorms over the past couple of days, leaving behind major impacts from Florida to Maine. Due to this potent storm, there has been widespread flooding, flight cancellations, power outages, and extremely hazardous travel conditions across the Eastern Seaboard.

The weather system first struck over the weekend, battering the Southeast with strong winds and torrential rainfall. Some parts of Florida saw over 7 inches of rain, while Charleston, South Carolina, broke a record for its wettest December day. A record storm surge for a non-tropical system also occurred along the Carolina shoreline.

Heading into Monday, the storm center pushed northward into the Mid-Atlantic region. Serious effects continued across the Southeast states while new problems developed up the coast. There is still the risk of excessive rainfall over New England through Tuesday as the storm slowly exits.

Widespread Flooding Leaves Many Roads Dangerous if Not Impassable

Due to this slow-moving storm’s unrelenting rain bands, flood warnings and alerts stretch from Virginia up through Maine, affecting 59 million residents. The heavy rainfall has led to localized flash flooding, with urban areas and transportation routes being the most vulnerable.