"Federal workers sent home early as severe weather disrupts D.C. operations"

Severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, and large hail swept across the East Coast, causing power outages for over 1 million people and canceling flights. Tornado watches and warnings were issued, with the National Weather Service forecasting "very active" weather from the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast. Strong winds downed trees in Maryland, where over 96,000 customers lost power, and there were reports of golf-ball-sized hail in West Virginia. Flooding and flash floods were also a concern, with flight delays and cancellations affecting major airports from Atlanta to New York City.