Severe Storms Disrupt Travel and Daily Life Across Eastern US

Severe weather is impacting a large portion of the eastern United States, bringing the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, and widespread travel disruptions. Millions of people are under alerts, and thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed as a powerful storm system moves through the region.

Tornado Watches and Severe Weather Alerts

As of Monday, March 11, 2026, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued tornado watches for approximately 10 states. The mid-Atlantic region, stretching from northern South Carolina to southern Maryland, is particularly at risk, with potential wind gusts exceeding 75 mph and the possibility of tornadoes NBC News.

More than 120 million people from the Mississippi Valley into New England are under wind alerts, and an additional 60 million, from northern Florida to New York state, face the risk of severe storms capable of producing destructive winds and numerous tornadoes NBC News.

Travel Disruptions

The storms have caused significant disruptions to air travel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily ordered flights to remain grounded at Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia and Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina, though the order was later lifted. Delays were likewise reported at New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports, as well as at Houston Bush in Texas and Newark in New Jersey NBC News.

As of Monday afternoon, over 10,000 flights had been cancelled or delayed due to the weather NBC News.

Government Response and Preparations

Federal employees in the Washington area were ordered to leave their offices by 2 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. In the UK) due to the risks posed by high winds and severe thunderstorms NBC News.

Energy companies from New York to Tennessee have placed workers on standby to address potential power outages caused by downed power lines NBC News. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned residents on X (formerly Twitter) that wind gusts could reach up to 55 mph in the area NBC News.

Recent Severe Weather Events

The current storms follow a period of intense winter weather earlier in the year. A blizzard in January left over 810,000 homes without power and caused thousands of flight cancellations. The NWS reported that at least 180 million people in 37 states – more than half of the US population – were affected by that earlier winter storm NBC News.

Ongoing Risks

The severe weather risk has shifted eastward into the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic after multiple apparent tornadoes swept through Illinois and Indiana on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A few tornadoes are still possible, along with damaging wind gusts and large hail. Cities in the risk zone include Houston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Charleston, and Baltimore NBC News.