Damaging storms moving through east, south

PORTLAND/CHICAGO: Damaging winds flattened trees and utility wires and knocked out power in parts of the Northeast, flights were delayed in New York City and a tornado touched down in South Carolina as the East Coast weathered the remnants of violent storms that claimed 13 lives in Oklahoma.
Heavy rain, thunderstorms, high winds and hail moved through sections of the Northeast on Sunday afternoon, leaving 30,000 in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine still without power late that night. 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 a tornado 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, a tornado knocked a home off its foundation and blew part of the roof off, said Taylor Jones, director of emergency management for Anderson County. Some trees were blown down and there was heavy rain, but no widespread damage. No injuries were reported.
“It was an isolated incident,” Jones said. The weather service said thunderstorms and winds in excess of 60 mph in Vermont produced 1-inch-diameter hail 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 backups at major airports. But by just before 10 p.m., the delays that had been up to three hours had eased to 15 minutes or less at John F. Kennedy International, La Guardia Airport and Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey. In Boston, there were delays up to 45 minutes, and outside Washington, delays were up to nearly two hours at Dulles Airport.