[The Epoch Times, December 15, 2022](Comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Dave Ruo) On Thursday (December 15), a spreading winter storm is expected to cause ice, snow and strong winds in the northeastern United States. The storm has already spawned dozens of tornadoes across the southern United States, killing three people and leaving a devastating trail across the South.
Louisiana officials said a woman was killed when a tornado destroyed her home west of New Orleans, while a mother and her son died as a tornado swept through a rural town in northwest Louisiana.
Destroyed or damaged homes and businesses, downed power lines and piles of Fragments are everywhere.
More than two dozen people were injured when a tornado hit an apartment complex and a mobile home park in Farmerville, Louisiana, a police spokesman told CNN.
The relentless storm did not end on Thursday. In its forecast, the National Weather Service said the storm threatened parts of the East Coast — from western North Carolina to Pennsylvania to New England — with snowfall of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) and winds of more than 35 mph ( 56 km).
Additionally, the storm is expected to bring freezing rain and icy roads across the region, with transportation officials urging people not to drive.
Storm hits Louisiana
In Louisiana, officials have so far confirmed three deaths and dozens of injuries from the storm.
Communities across Louisiana were severely damaged by the storm, including downed power lines and collapsed buildings. In Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans, the sheriff’s office said there had been “catastrophic damage” to homes and businesses in the area.
Michael Willis, a Louisiana resident, told CBS that getting close to a tornado near the town of Harvey was “the scariest thing” he’s ever experienced.
He was in a large SUV when the tornado blew him up, sending debris through his windshield and windows.
“It happened very quickly,” he said. “I looked at the wood, the building, and it was all spinning together, like it was spinning with me, and then it threw me out.”
Earlier, Louisiana health officials confirmed that a 30-year-old woman and her 8-year-old son were found dead in Caddo Parish in the northwest corner of the state.
About 10,000 people were still without power across the state as of 7:00 a.m. local time Thursday, according to the poweroutage.us website.
Power outages in six states
The weather also left tens of thousands without power in six states. In addition to Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia also reported power outages. In Wisconsin alone, 70,000 people were without power Thursday morning.
In Florida and Georgia, millions were still under threat of tornadoes as the sun rose Thursday, with authorities warning residents of “damaging to devastating winds.” The severe risk is expected to end by Thursday afternoon.
Further north, forecasters expect snow and freezing rain to persist through at least Friday afternoon, across a swath from the East Coast to the Midwest.
“What’s notable about this system is that it affects everything from California to the Northeast,” National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira told CBS News.
In South Dakota, nearly two feet (0.6 meters) of snow fell in some areas, prompting officials to close 320 miles (514 kilometers) of highway.
Also in Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported that blizzard-like conditions were possible by Thursday, with up to 2.5 feet (0.75 meters) of snow possible by the weekend.
In Canada, freezing rain warnings remained in place for much of Ontario on Thursday, while snow warnings were also issued for Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#