- Title: Looming storms shut US government offices, millions under tornado watch
- Date: 7th August 2023
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 7, 2023) (REUTERS) WHITE HOUSE DURING HEAVY RAINFALL STREET VIEW DURING RAINFALL RAIN FALLING AGAINST WINDOW VEHICLES ON THE ROAD DURING RAIN VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH RAIN DARK CLOUDS
- Embargoed: 21st August 2023 23:54
- Keywords: U.S. Washington capital climate hail storm thunderstorm weather
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Environment,North America,Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA001296207082023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:U.S. government offices in the Washington area closed early on Monday (August 7) due to approaching thunderstorms as people across the eastern U.S. were warned of possible tornadoes, damaging wind, and large hailstones before the end of the day.
The National Weather Service said more than 29.5 million people lived in an area from Alabama to western New York state where there was a risk of tornadoes before 11 p.m. ET.
The greatest risk was in the mid-Atlantic area including Washington, D.C. Some places could see wind exceeding 75 miles per hour and hail larger than golf balls, the NWS said.
Libraries, museums, the National Zoo, pools, and other municipal and federal services in the Washington area were also closing early. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said federal employees had to depart no later than 3 p.m.
FlightAware, a flight tracking site, said more than 2,200 U.S. flights had been canceled, including 89 at Washington Reagan National Airport. Another 5,700 U.S. flights have been delayed.
(Greg Savoy, Eva Weininger) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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