Charleston, S.C. (CN) — A powerful storm wreaked havoc across the Northeast on Monday, bringing heavy rain and gusty wind that flooded roads, grounded flights and downed trees.
More than 600,000 residents were without power across the Northeast by early Monday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us, including more than 200,000 homes in Massachusetts. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at Boston’s Logan Airport as wind gusts topped 50 mph. Delays were also reported at LaGuardia Airport in New York and Reagan National in Washington, according to flightaware.com.
The nor’easter was expected to dump up to six inches of rain in the region before reaching Canada by evening, but the National Weather Service warned dangerous snow squalls could follow in its wake. Winter storm warnings have been issued for portions of Michigan and Indiana as forecasts call for up to six inches of lake-effect snow and 50 mph wind gusts.
The late-year storm struck South Carolina early Sunday with unusual force, flooding several coastal communities and causing at least one death.
Charleston recorded its highest non-tropical tide on record as coastal waters swamped the downtown, closing dozens of roads and prompting flash flood warnings. Residents posted videos to social media of cars floating down major roads as the water reached as high as three feet in some parts of the flood-prone city.
Nearly four inches of rain fell in downtown Charleston on Sunday, smashing a prior record of 1.8 inches from 1923, according to the local weather service.
Georgetown, a waterfront community two hours north of Charleston, recorded more than 12 inches of rain on Sunday. A Georgetown County spokeswoman told The Associated Press that authorities rescued dozens of motorists from floodwaters, but no injuries were reported.
Coastal officials were assessing damages on Monday.
Authorities reported one person died after becoming trapped in a submerged vehicle Sunday afternoon in Mount Pleasant, a suburb of Charleston. First responders were able to free the person, who has not been identified, and perform CPR at the scene, but they later died at an area hospital.
In Georgetown, officials reported water damage to the county’s historic courthouse, which would limit government operations. A Charleston County ambulance was also damaged after it became disabled in floodwaters, officials said.
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