2 dead after severe weather tears across Northeast downing trees, knocking out power

02:27

At least 2 dead when powerful thunderstorms barrel across Northeast

At least two people were killed by falling trees in the Northeast on Wednesday as severe thunderstorms tore across the region.

NEW YORK – At least two people were killed on Wednesday night when a line of powerful thunderstorms barreled across the Northeast, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of utility customers and impacting numerous flights at some of the nation’s busiest airports just as Americans prepare to travel ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday.

Officials in Connecticut said a pedestrian was killed in the city of Willimantic on Wednesday night when powerful thunderstorms blasted across the state.

According to Willimantic Fire Chief Marc Scrivener, firefighters were called to the 100 block of Union Street around 10:40 p.m. ET after receiving word that someone was trapped under a tree that fell during the severe weather.

Scrivener said it took between 10 and 15 minutes to stabilize the fallen tree to get to the victim.

The victim, who hasn’t been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

WATCH: LIGHTNING STRIKES NEW YORK CITY SKYSCRAPER DURING WEDNESDAY'S ROUND OF STORMS

The same line of storms claimed another life in East Orange, New Jersey when a 30-year-old man was fatally struck by a falling tree. 

00:47

Storms strike New York City

A hot day with temperatures in the 90s across the Big Apple turned into a stormy evening, with the Storm Prediction Center issuing Severe Thunderstorm Watches for millions of people on Wednesday.

East Orange city officials said Juan José Angeles Lopez was having a barbecue in his backyard on North Munn Avenue around 8 p.m. when the storm rolled through. As the winds intensified, Lopez was attempting to secure an outdoor umbrella when a tree on a neighboring property fell on him.

Lopez is survived by his pregnant wife and 2-year-old child. 

"This is heart-wrenching, and as a community, we are going to do whatever we can to help Mr. Lopez’ wife and family during this difficult time," said East Orange Mayor Ted Green said. 

The National Weather Service received hundreds of storm reports, including damage caused by likely tornadoes and hurricane-force wind gusts that knocked down trees and power lines from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts.

Bright flashes of lightning illuminated the sky above New York City on Wednesday evening, and video recorded from New Jersey captured the moment lightning struck a skyscraper in Manhattan.

Lightning striking tall buildings is common, and due to protection systems such as lightning rods and grounding devices, impacts are usually not felt indoors.

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Connecticut boy trapped in bedroom after tree falls onto home

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Watch: Tree falls on Connecticut home trapping 3-year-old in bedroom

A 3-year-old Connecticut boy became trapped inside his bedroom when a tree fell onto his home when powerful thunderstorms tore across the Northeast Wednesday.

A 3-year-old Connecticut boy escaped serious injuries after a tree fell onto his home in Windsor when the severe thunderstorms plowed across Connecticut on Wednesday night.

"I heard two loud bangs, and I saw lightning," the boy’s mother said. "I just knew something wasn’t right. The house was very still, and I just heard things collapsing. I knew something was wrong."

The thunderstorms that pushed across the state Wednesday night produced hurricane-force wind gusts at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, which is just to the north of Windsor.

"We were going to bed, and we heard a loud boom, and then I heard glass crash," the mother continued. "And then I heard my son crying, so I went into his room and took the ceiling that was on top of him off of him."

The boy was not seriously injured.

More than 100K remain without power in Northeast

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More than 100,000 utility customers remain in the dark after the powerful storms rolled across the region on Wednesday, with PowerOutage.us showing Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut have the most outages. Nearly 300,000 customers in the region were without power around sunrise Thursday morning.

The severe weather produced thunderstorms with hurricane-force wind gusts, including a 77-mph gust reported at Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL), north of Hartford.

Strong winds also brought down trees and power lines in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which added to the power outage reports.

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Watch: Severe thunderstorm knocks down large tree in Massachusetts high school parking lot

The Seekonk Police Department in Massachusetts shared video of a large tree that was knocked over during severe weather on Wednesday, June 27, 2024.

The Seekonk Police Department in Massachusetts shared a video showing a massive tree that was knocked over in the parking lot of a high school late Wednesday night.

Police said multiple trees were brought down and blocked roads when the powerful thunderstorms raced across the Bay State.

Severe weather also pushed through the Pennsylvania community of Brockway on Wednesday.

Photos from the area showed a massive tree that fell across Main Street when the severe weather struck before 5 p.m.

Al Gibes, the man who took the photos, said a car was also heavily damaged when the tree limb fell. He said everyone inside, which included three children, escaped without serious injuries.

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01:13

Watch: Cars drive through flooding on Massachusetts highway outside Boston

Video recorded in Natick, Massachusetts, which is just outside Boston, shows floodwaters covering Route 9 during severe weather on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t only winds that caused issues during the severe thunderstorms in the Northeast on Wednesday night.

Video recorded in Natick, Massachusetts, which is just outside Boston, shows flooding on Route 9 due to the heavy rain.

The National Weather Service had issued a Flash Flood Warning and Severe Thunderstorm Warning at the time, and drivers were being urged to stay off the roads if possible.

EF-2 tornado causes damage outside Pittsburgh

This photo shows damage from a likely tornado in Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania.

(PA Storm Trackerz/Facebook)

An EF-2 tornado caused damage in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, and photos taken in New Alexandria show just how powerful the storm was.

The photos show parts of a barn roof thrown across a road in Westmoreland County and into a field after the tornado rolled through.

 There were also numerous reports of trees and wires down after the storm, and drivers were urged to use caution in the area.

JFK, LaGuardia, Newark see significant flight delays due to severe weather

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There have already been more than 3,000 reports of flight delays as of Thursday morning, with John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) experiencing the highest number of delays.

However, the FOX Forecast Center said that delays at those airports will likely have a ripple effect at airports across the U.S., and delays have also been reported at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

HOW A WEATHER DELAY ON A FLIGHT COULD PUT MONEY BACK IN YOUR WALLET

03:33

Travel impacted after severe weather blasts across Northeast

Severe weather barreled across the Northeast on Wednesday just as people prepare to catch a flight or hit the road ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne has more information on what to expect as you head out the door.

In addition to the delays, more than 500 flights have been canceled altogether.

Anyone traveling to those airports on Wednesday should contact their airline to confirm the flight is still on time or if there have been delays or cancellations.