Tornado Watch Covers More Than 15 Million People Across Mid-Atlantic

U.S.|More than 15 cardinal radical successful the Mid-Atlantic are nether a tornado watch.

• Aug. 18, 2021Updated 3:55 p.m. ET

For the 2nd time successful a row, a immense expanse of the East Coast faced a tornado menace connected Wednesday successful the aftermath of Tropical Depression Fred, with much than 15 cardinal radical successful the Mid-Atlantic nether a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Eastern time, the National Weather Service said.

The ticker extended to parts of 4 states — Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania — and included Washington, D.C.

The Weather Service said that isolated upwind gusts of up to 70 miles per hr were imaginable successful the region, successful summation to marble-size hail.

On Tuesday night, the Weather Service issued astatine slightest 10 tornado warnings successful North and South Carolina, meaning that a tornado had been spotted oregon picked up connected radar. Tornadoes were reported connected Tuesday successful Edgefield, S.C., and successful Iredell County, N.C., astir 50 miles northbound of Charlotte.

There were nary contiguous reports of injuries associated with those tornadoes, but the decease of a Florida antheral connected Monday was attributed to Fred. The News Herald of Panama City, Fla., reported that the antheral mislaid power of his car portion driving done floodwater. Other parts of the Southeast besides experienced dense flooding successful the storm’s wake.

In Haywood County, N.C., which is westbound of Asheville, exigency responders said connected Wednesday that astatine slightest 30 radical remained unaccounted for aft flash flooding successful the country connected Tuesday.

Greg Christopher, the county’s sheriff, urged residents to enactment location portion a hunt continued.

“Please bash not thrust done lasting water, and delight enactment retired of the affected communities,” helium said.