Storm surge and tornado threat prompts alerts for 80 million on US East Coast

About 80 million people from Georgia to Maine were placed under watches on Sunday as a powerful storm system moved toward the U.S. East Coast. The National Weather Service warned of strong winds, large hail, lightning and isolated tornadoes, with wind gusts reported at 84 mph in Neosho, Missouri. Major cities in the warned area included New York City, Albany, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington and Raleigh.

The storm was expected to arrive Friday afternoon and continue through the night, while a slow‑moving cold front was forecast to bring heavy rain from Texas to the Gulf Coast and the Southeast through Tuesday. Heat index values were projected to exceed 38 °C in parts of North Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and temperatures of 35‑38 °C were expected in the Pacific Northwest.

Authorities reported hail the size of a softball near Winfield, Kansas and golf‑ball‑sized hail in Kansas and Nebraska. The severe weather caused tree damage and widespread power outages across affected states.