At least five people have died and close to a million homes have been left without power after lethal tornadoes ripped through the US.
Powerful storms have brought snow, rain and wind across parts of the eastern US and Canada, with formidable wind gusts of up to 60mph being reported.
The storms stretching across the US have caused millions of dollars worth of damage and have claimed five lives.
The miserable weather conditions have taken out powerlines, disrupted air travel and closed schools.
The storm is stretching across the whole US
Reuters
An 81-year-old woman, Charlotte Paschal, was killed after a tornado tore through her home in Houston Country, Alabama.
Police in Clayton County, south of Atlanta, said a man died after a tree fell on his car due to heavy rainfall.
In Claremont, North Carolina, one person was killed and two others were critically injured after a powerful storm surged through a mobile home park.
A man was also crushed to death by a toppling tree in Birmingham, Alabama.
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A view of flooded area after winter storm in New Jersey
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A motorist died in Clayton County, Georgia, officials said, after a tree fell across a highway and crushed the driver’s car.
All 50 states have been put on weather alerts due to the storm.
As of Tuesday evening, more than 890,000 people from Florida to New York state have been left without power, according to the monitoring website United States Power Outage Map.
The risk of flooding will continue long after the storm has calmed, as the water runs downhill and causes rivers to swell, meteorologists have warned.
In New Jersey, a state of emergency has been declared by Governor Phil Murphy.
In nearby New York City, officials have evacuated almost 2,000 migrants who are housed in an expansive tent facility, amid fears that gale force winds already battering the country could increase to 70mph.
Governor Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency for 49 Florida counties, where tornadoes have ripped roofs off homes and knocked down power lines.
National weather advisors have issued a raft of warnings covering almost the entire country through the next 24 hours
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In Maine, Governor Janet Mills has delayed the opening of all state offices until the poor conditions have subsided.
Even Hawaii has been tormented by the horrific weather, as the Maui County Emergency Management Agency stated that flash flooding was continuing. They also said a high wind warning for the Big Island would stay put overnight.
National weather advisors have issued a raft of warnings covering almost the entire country through the next 24 hours.
The warnings come amid a three-storm attack – Ember struck after the weekend with impacts from Finn felt today with the next, Gerri, close behind.
A spokesman for the National Weather Service (NOAA) said: “A major storm system will hammer the Eastern US with widespread heavy rain, and strong winds.
“A very potent mid-upper level trough over the Central US is becoming negatively tilted and this is allowing for rapid surface cyclogenesis over the Midwest and Ohio Valley.
“Widespread hazardous weather impacts are expected for the eastern third of the US in association with this low-pressure system, and numerous warnings and advisories are now in effect from the local NWS forecast offices.”
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