Up to two million people were left without electricity after powerful storms hit the U.S. Atlantic coast, the BBC reported on Saturday, referring to local authorities.
The storms swept across West Virginia, Virginia, Washington and Maryland, with wind speeds of up to 75mph (120 kph). The storms left behind felled trees, streets littered with fallen branches and downed power lines.
The storm is locally referred to as a "derecho," which means a violent windstorm associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms.
The power cutoffs left many without air conditioning after a day of record-breaking 104F (40C) heat.
The Washington metro lines were affected, with trains sent to their end points after trees fell across the tracks and power was lost.
