Undated (AP) A powerful low-pressure system is to blame for storm-force winds that have whipped from the great lakes to the east coast.

The winds, with gusts topping 65 miles per hour, are blamed in at least five deaths.

A New Jersey woman was killed when a tree snapped and crashed through her car’s windshield, impaling her. In New York, a construction worker was killed when a wall collapsed.

Utilities, including Jersey Central Power & Light, report downed power lines from wind-snapped trees. Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power in a number of states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Power could be out through the weekend in Ohio and West Virginia.

A warm spell that preceded the cold front led to flooding in some areas as snow melted and ice jams formed on creeks. A river flood advisory has been posted for Pittsburgh through Saturday.