Storms leave 4 dead in Va., cancel flights
WAVERLY, Va. — Storms systems brought tornadoes to the East Coast, killing four in Virginia, and heavy snow that canceled hundreds of flights in the Midwest.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Wednesday night after tornadoes damaged homes and left thousands without power across the state.
The tiny town of Waverly took the brunt of the storm. Virginia State Police spokesman Corinne Geller said a 2-year-old child and two men, ages 50 and 26, were killed there during the storm. Their bodies were found about 300 yards from their mobile home.
At least five structures were damaged in the town of about 2,000 and roads leading into town had to be closed because of downed trees and debris tossed by winds gusting to 60 mph, Geller said.
In Appomattox County, a funnel cloud left an 8- to 10-mile path of destruction, injuring seven people and killing one man, state police said.
At least 15 structures were destroyed and 25 injuries were reported when the storm passed through Essex County and the town of Tappahannock, about 45 miles northeast of Richmond, police said.
The line of storms moved across Pennsylvania and the New York City area Wednesday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that knocked down trees and caused power outages.
In the Midwest, a powerful storm brought heavy snow and biting winds, leading to mass flight cancellations at Chicago airports and school closings in several states.
The Chicago Department of Aviation reported more than 1,100 flights had been canceled at the city’s two major airports by Wednesday evening.
Northern Indiana was expected to see the heaviest snow, as powerful winds blowing off Lake Michigan could bury the area in up to 18 inches. Parts of Michigan could also see more than a foot of snow. Most of the state was under a winter storm warning.
Bill Bunting with National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center estimated 20 to 24 tornados hit from Louisiana to Florida on Tuesday.
One of the hardest-hit areas along the Gulf Coast was a recreational vehicle park in the town of Convent, in southern Louisiana. RVs were tossed on top of cars and pickups. Two people were killed there, and 31 injured people were taken to area hospitals, authorities said.
