Storms in US South kill nine, head to Northeast

Storms producing tornadoes and heavy rains rolled through parts of the southern United States on Friday, killing at least nine people and leaving over 1 million customers without power, authorities said.

The National Weather Service said the powerful storm had mostly left the South by late on Friday and was moving to the Northeast, where it was forecast to cause heavy snow and sleet from southeastern Michigan east to New York state. Parts of central New York and southern New England may see over 30 cm of snow by Saturday afternoon.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said at least two tornadoes sparked by the storm system ripped through the western part of his state on Friday. The governor said on social media that at least three people were killed in the severe weather, though he did not provide any more details. A fourth person was killed by the storm Kentucky, a woman who died when a tree fell on the car she was in, the Fayette County coroner’s office said.

Aside from the tornadoes, Beshear said thunderstorms in Kentucky were generating winds of 128.75 kph, which are “strong enough to blow tractor trailers off the road.”

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said on social media that three people were killed in the storm in her state, though she provided no details.