The Northeast will see heavy rain and winds as storms roll through the region

This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows damage around Panama City Beach, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, after a sprawling storm hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle. (Bay County Sheriff's Office/via AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa — A storm packing high winds and heavy rain was sweeping through the Northeast early Wednesday, while wild winter weather elsewhere brought tornadoes and deadly accidents in the Midwest and South, flood threats in Florida and blizzards in the Northwest.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy already declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon and New York City officials evacuated nearly 2,000 migrants housed at a sprawling tent complex ahead of predicted wind speeds that could top 70 mph (112 kph) at times.