Severe Storms Batter East Coast, Causing Widespread Damage and Travel Disruptions

Severe thunderstorms have swept across the East Coast, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, and widespread disruption. Authorities reported a 15-year-old boy was struck by lightning in New York City's Central Park, though he remains alert and conscious. Tornado warnings were issued near Philadelphia, highlighting the intensity of the weather system.The storms have severely impacted travel, leading to ground stops at major airports including Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Newark. Hundreds of flights were canceled and thousands delayed, stranding numerous travelers. Power outages affected over 500,000 households across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, with winds gusting over 60 miles per hour.Further inland, the system left a trail of damage, including a sports park in Jacksonville, Illinois, affected by at least 12 reported tornadoes across four states since Wednesday afternoon. Massive flooding shut down I-40 in both directions near the North Carolina-Tennessee border, with authorities estimating the closure could last at least two weeks. Following these severe storms, more than 200 million Americans are bracing for extreme heat, with temperatures in New York City expected to feel like 105 degrees.