At least three people were tragically killed and numerous others injured as a powerful storm system swept through four states on Tuesday, posing a significant threat to parts of the East Coast. The destructive weather conditions, including tornadoes and heavy rain, have resulted in widespread damage across the affected areas.

Reports indicate that more than a dozen tornadoes have been recorded from Texas to Georgia since Monday, with many occurring overnight and into Tuesday morning in Florida's Panhandle. The region was hit especially hard, with a tornado striking the Panama City area in Bay County early Tuesday, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Bay County spokesperson Valerie Sale informed ABC News that at least five individuals were transported to hospitals with injuries. Significant damage has been reported throughout the county as a result of the storm. Governor Ron DeSantis has taken action by issuing a state of emergency for northern Florida, encompassing 49 counties in the north and central regions.

In Georgia, one fatality occurred when a tree fell on a vehicle as it traveled on Highway 54 in Jonesboro on Tuesday morning. In North Carolina, officials from Catawba County reported one death and two critical injuries in a mobile home park in Claremont due to severe weather. A team from the National Weather Service is currently assessing whether a tornado occurred in that area.

Tragically, an 81-year-old woman lost her life in Cottonwood, Alabama, after a possible tornado caused her mobile home to be overturned multiple times while she was inside, according to the Houston County Coroner's Office.

As of Tuesday afternoon, over 500,000 customers in the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions were without power. Florida alone accounted for over 82,000 outages, while the Carolinas reported more than 155,000.

The storm system's trajectory is expected to shift northward and bring flooding and damaging winds to the Northeast on Tuesday. Flood watches are in effect for a large portion of the East Coast, including major cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

The Interstate 95 corridor will experience heavy rain throughout the afternoon and evening, with a chance of flooding. The storm's most severe impacts are predicted to occur Tuesday evening into early Wednesday, affecting the D.C./Baltimore area and the greater New York City metro region. Residents should prepare for extremely heavy rain and strong wind gusts during this timeframe.

The Northeast, particularly New England, is also bracing for heavy rain on Tuesday night into Wednesday, potentially leading to further flooding. Forecasters estimate that an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall on top of melting snow in the region.

With heavy rain expected, strong damaging winds will accompany the storm. Wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph are possible from the Virginia coast up to Maine, increasing the likelihood of power outages across the Northeast.

In addition to the storm impacting the East Coast, the Midwest will face heavy snowfall, spanning from Missouri to Iowa, and reaching up into Wisconsin and Michigan. Localized areas could receive up to 10 inches of snow. Chicago is expected to experience a mix of rain and snow, with a few inches of wet snow possible, while surrounding areas may see 5 to 10 inches of snow.

Simultaneously, a second storm is making its way into the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies, with heavy snow, strong winds, and heavy rain anticipated along the coast. Parts of Oregon and Washington are under a rare blizzard warning, which has not been issued in over a decade in some areas near Seattle and Portland.

This storm will follow in the tracks of the current system, bringing further severe weather to the South on Friday, including tornadoes and flooding threats. The Midwest and Great Lakes regions can also expect heavy snowfall. By Friday night into Saturday, the storm is projected to reach the Northeast, bringing with it continued heavy rain, strong winds, and increased risk of flooding.

As the severe weather continues its path across the United States, residents in affected areas are urged to stay vigilant, heed warnings from authorities, and take necessary safety precautions to protect themselves and their properties from the damaging effects of the storm system.