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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 2 May 2023
Tornadoes in Virginia and Florida, flooding in other states

By BEN FINLEY numerous cranes. Rainfall
Associated Press approaching 5 inches (13
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (AP) centimeters) also led to
— A rare and powerful flood warnings on several
tornado sent residents of rivers in parts of southern
a coastal city in Virginia Maine.
fleeing for cover over the The Virginia Beach torna-
weekend as it peeled roofs do destroyed at least 100
from buildings and pushed buildings, tearing through
homes from their founda- them with wind speeds
tions. as high as 150 mph (240
It was the most powerful kph), officials assessing the
tornado ever to hit Virginia wreckage and weather
Beach, Virginia, officials data said Monday. The
confirmed Monday. No National Weather Service's
one was reported injured, Wakefield, Virginia, office
despite few residents being confirmed Monday morn-
prepared for tornadoes. ing that the tornado was
Several people described rated at EF-3, with wind
taking cover under stair- estimates of 140 mph (225
wells; most lack basements kph) to 150 mph (240 kph).
because the water table is It's the first tornado to be
so high. rated that high, according
Wreckage from destructive A vehicle is crushed by a fallen tree on N Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach, Va., on Sunday, April to NOAA records, with wind
weather dotted the U.S. 30, 2023 as a result of a strong storm that ripped through the area. Associated Press gusts exceeding those of
Monday as officials took the largest hurricanes re-
stock of unrelated torna- grandchildren, aged 2 Florida and California. The the Sierra Nevada through corded around the city.
does and flooding dam- years and 5 weeks, as well National Weather Service the week. Fears of flood- A.T. Price, 73, was at his
age from over the week- as two dogs, ran into a confirmed a Saturday tor- ing shut down of parts of stove making tacos Sunday
end, stretching from Florida stairwell — the only place nado in Florida. And high Yosemite Valley over the when his phone started to
to Maine. without windows. water on the Mississippi Riv- weekend. But the National buzz with severe weather
In Virginia Beach, residents "Then all the windows blew er is testing flood defenses Park Service said the Mer- alerts. At first, he pooh-
credited a cellphone warn- out in the kitchen and in Iowa and Illinois as the ced River did not rise as poohed it.
ing system for helping them sucked everything out of river crests in the area Mon- much as expected and the "But it kept buzzing and
take shelter in time. One the kitchen and a tree fell day. West Virginia's eastern valley reopened on Mon- buzzing. I checked it again
family escaped injuries by through the roof," Camper mountains could see up to day. In Maine, heavy rain and it says, 'Immediate
reacting to a weather alert said. "And now one side of 8 inches (20 centimeters) and powerful wind gusts danger. Tornado down,'"
that came less than a min- the house is leaning." of snow Tuesday morning knocked out power for Price said. He dove into the
ute before the tornado hit. She hadn't experienced as a rare May winter storm more than 50,000 homes closet below his first-floor
"It just happened sudden- a tornado that strong in moves through, forecasters and businesses on Monday stairwell, crouching into a
ly," Lori Camper said. "The the 19 years she had lived said. The snow won't help morning. Wind gusts of up fetal position under his win-
whole thing lasted 10 sec- there. the area's ski resorts, which to 70 mph (115 kph) were ter coats.
onds." "I'm grateful," she said. had already closed for the reported Sunday near Ma- "I heard the freight-train
She and her visiting daugh- "God took care of us." season. tinicus Island, about 20 sound, and it sounded like
ter looked out the window No injuries were reported. In California, a late-season miles offshore, and up to it was going right over the
and saw the trees bending Elsewhere, officials were weather system brought 65 mph (100 kph) onshore house," Price said. "I would
in the wind and ran. The assessing damage Mon- showers and the possibility in Bath, where Navy ship- tell people to heed those
family, including Camper's day in West Virginia, Maine, of high-elevation snow in builder Bath Iron Works has alerts."qVirginia Beach Di-

At least 6 people dead in Illinois highway windstorm

DIVERNON, Ill. (AP) — A meters) north of St. Louis. been very dry across this
windstorm in southern Illi- Starrick told reporters that area really for the last three
nois kicked up dangerous it was a spring version of a weeks. The farmers are out
clouds of blinding dust off “whiteout situation” typi- there tilling their fields and
farm fields Monday, caus- cally seen in winter snow- planting. The top layer of
ing numerous crashes and storms. soil is quite loose.”
killing at least six people on “The cause of the crashes Starrick said more than 30
Interstate 55, police said. is due to excessive winds people were transported
The late morning crashes blowing dirt from farm to hospitals with injuries fol-
involved 40 to 60 cars and fields across the highway, lowing the crashes, which
multiple tractor-trailers, two leading to zero visibility,” occurred in both the south-
of which caught fire, Illinois he said. Winds at the time bound and northbound
State Police Maj. Ryan Star- were gusting between lanes. He said I-55 would be
rick said. 35 mph (56 kph) and 45 closed until late morning or

Smoke billows after a crash involving at least 20 vehicles shut At least six people died, he mph (74 kph), the National early afternoon Tuesday.
down a highway in Illinois, Monday, May 1, 2023. said. Weather Service said. The Auburn Travel Center in
Associated Press I-55 was shut down in both “It’s very flat, very few Divernon was established
directions in Montgomery trees,” meteorologist as a reunification spot for
By JOHN O’CONNOR Associated Press County, 75 miles (120 kilo- Chuck Schaffer said. “It’s travelers.q