Deadly storms slam Northeast and South Texas, forcing July 4 cancellations and power outages

CNBC

10 hours ago

Heavy overnight thunderstorms in the Northeast and South Texas left several people dead and caused widespread damage ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, authorities said.
Officials with the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, just southwest of New York City, said two males, aged 79 and 25, were killed when a tree fell onto the vehicle they were traveling in at the height of the storm. The names of the victims were being withheld out of respect for the families, the officials said.
"The devastating storm that struck our city has left deep scars, widespread damage, and thousands still without power," Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said in a statement on Facebook.
At 6 a.m., nearly 44,000 energy customers were in the dark in New York state, along with 24,000 in New Jersey and 23,000 in Massachusetts.
The priority was to "begin the work of rebuilding," Mapp said.
"In light of this tragedy we cannot, in all good conscience proceed with our Fourth of July parade, concert, or fireworks," he added.
An additional overnight fatality in nearby North Plainfield, New Jersey, was confirmed by Mayor Lawrence La Ronde, who told WNBC that the city's West End area is "a mess." He said the city was working with utility officials to remove down wires and restore power.
Footage posted on social media showed large trees toppled by strong winds in North Plainfield, while another video showed downed power lines in Salt Point, New Jersey. Videos also captured heavy hail falling across the region.
New York City appears to have avoided the worst of the storm, but damage was reported from Connecticut into central New Jersey.
Roughly 39 million people were subject to alerts and warnings for thunderstorms Thursday, putting holiday celebrations and travel plans at risk.
By Friday morning, the number affected had dropped to 11.5 million, according to the weather service's Storm Prediction Center.
Fireworks displays may be affected by storms or rain after dusk in these areas.
Law enforcement in Kerr County, Texas, northwest of San Antonio, confirmed Friday that flooding from storms there had led to unspecified fatalities. NBC News 4 San Antonio reported a family in Kerrville, Texas, was missing after their house was swept away.
Heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to swell to levels not seen in decades, according to the National Weather Service. "The entire county is an extremely active scene," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook. In an area near Hunt, Texas, the Guadalupe River jumped 22 feet in 3 hours, authorities said.
Flood alerts remain in effect through Friday evening for 3 million residents across Abilene, San Angelo, and San Antonio, Texas.
The NWS had earlier declared a flash flood emergency for the county, with between 5 and 10 inches of rain fell overnight. The agency said that automated rain gauges "indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River" and that "flash flooding is already occurring."
A warning of "life-threatening" flash flooding was also issued for several counties across south-central Texas.
The July 4 holiday will feature widely scattered showers across parts of the Rockies, Plains, and Southeast, while the Northeast and Southwest are expected to remain dry.
Fourth of July celebrations were already canceled on Anna Maria Island in Southwest Florida due to the risk of storms and flooding, while a celebration in nearby North Port, Florida, was postponed.
There were widespread flight delays across East Coast terminals Thursday night, with a ground stop or ground delays declared at New York airports, but there were minimal delays Friday morning.