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Storms rattle East Coast

 
Missouri: Homes and camps in Osage City, Mo., are submerged up to their roofs after being overtaken by the rain-swollen Osage River that spilled its banks after Friday’s heavy storms.
Missouri: Homes and camps in Osage City, Mo., are submerged up to their roofs after being overtaken by the rain-swollen Osage River that spilled its banks after Friday’s heavy storms.
Published June 3, 2013

PORTLAND, Maine — The East Coast weathered on Sunday the remnants of violent storms that claimed 13 lives in Oklahoma.

Damaging winds flattened trees and knocked out power in parts of northern New England on Sunday, flights were delayed in New York City and there were reports of a tornado in South Carolina.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms, high winds and hail moved through sections of the Northeast on Sunday afternoon, knocking out power to more than 40,000 in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning as a line of thunderstorms raced through New Hampshire into western Maine. The weather service said the warning was issued as radar indicated a possible tornado moving from Kingfield, Maine, to Bingham, Maine. The tornado was not immediately confirmed.

In northwestern South Carolina, authorities checked unconfirmed reports of a tornado, said Jessica Ashley, a shift supervisor for Anderson County's 911 center. The fire department responded to a report of roof damage to a home and callers said trees were blown over. No injuries were reported.

The weather service said thunderstorms and winds in excess of 60 mph in Vermont produced hail up to an inch in diameter and knocked down numerous trees and wires.

In northern Maine, radar picked up a line of thunderstorms capable of producing quarter-sized hail and winds stronger than 70 mph. Forecasters warned of tornadoes.

The prediction for stormy weather in the New York City region produced delays at major airports. La Guardia Airport and Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey had delays of up to 90 minutes, while John F. Kennedy International had delays of about 30 minutes.

Outside Washington, delays were up to nearly two hours at Dulles International Airport.

In the southern United States, thunderstorms, high winds and hail were expected as part of a slow-moving cold front.

Heavy rains could spawn flash flooding in some areas, the weather service said.