A massive and destructive spring storm tore through the East Coast on Wednesday, putting over 56 million people from Florida to New York on high alert. This powerful system had already caused chaos in the South the day before, bringing dangerous thunderstorms and tornadoes — and it wasn’t slowing down.
As the storm moved up the Eastern Seaboard, it slammed major cities along the busy I-95 corridor, creating dangerous travel conditions and widespread disruptions. Mark Sudduth, a FOX Weather storm tracker, was in eastern North Carolina when the worst of the weather hit.
“I’ve seen my fair share of heavy rain over the years, but this was next level,” Sudduth said. “At times, I couldn’t even see the road in front of me.”
The National Weather Service issued multiple watches and warnings, including Tornado Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Watches for parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. More than 250 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and dozens of Tornado Warnings stretched from the Gulf Coast up through the mid-Atlantic.
The storm left its mark, knocking down countless trees and damaging homes. In North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, a tree crashed onto a house, and in Union County, officials reported storm damage from a possible tornado near Friendly Baptist Church Road in Unionville. The Porter Ridge area also saw damage, and power outages were reported across the region.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported in North Carolina, but the storm had already claimed at least three lives in Mississippi earlier in the week.
Travelers along the I-95 corridor faced major headaches, with heavy rain and fierce wind gusts causing long delays at airports in Philadelphia and New York. As the storm pushed north, it continued to disrupt daily life and keep millions on edge.
This spring storm served as a stark reminder of how quickly severe weather can turn dangerous — and why it’s so important to stay prepared and stay safe.
