White House says Air Force 2 diverted due to bad weather 

The White House said Vice President Harris’s plane was diverted Tuesday due to bad weather, as severe storms rip through the United States.

“Tonight, en route from Atlanta, GA, Air Force 2 was diverted from Joint Base Andrews to Dulles International Airport due to inclement weather,” Kirsten Allen, Harris’s press secretary, said in a statement.

The diversion occurred when Harris was on her way back from Atlanta, which like most of the East Coast is experiencing severe storms Tuesday.

A source familiar with the situation said Air Force 2 encountered a wind shear, which the Federal Aviation Administration defines as a change in wind speed or direction over a short distance.

The governors of at least five states issued emergency declarations Tuesday as a storm system brings heavy flooding, thunderstorms and possible tornadoes to parts of the Southeast and East Coast. Hundreds of thousands are already without power as high wind, flooding and tornado warnings are issued, according to powerOutage.us. 

President Biden urged Americans to follow the directions of local officials Tuesday due to the severe weather. 

“Countless communities in the central and eastern U.S. are experiencing flooding, tornadoes, and heavy snowfall as a powerful winter storm moves across the country,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I urge everyone to follow the guidance of local officials. Visit ready.gov for more information.”