JACKSON, Miss. – Powerful storms tore across Mississippi on Friday, triggering a rash of warnings and leaving a rash of scattered damage in their wake.
Damaged homes and downed trees were reported in hard-hit areas from the Mississippi River into Central Mississippi, including the Vicksburg and Jackson metropolitan areas. Power outages were reported in several areas, including near downtown Vicksburg and in the Madison area.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The National Weather Service issued tornado and severe thunderstorm alerts for areas in the path of the fast moving system that was producing heavy rain, strong wind gusts, lightning and hail.
The line of storms had moved east of the Jackson area by early afternoon, with some damage reported in Rankin County. Areas of east Mississippi were also threatened.
A particularly strong storm left damage to some homes and downed trees in the Ross Barnett Reservoir area. Hail was reported in the same area, which at one point was under a tornado warning.
Storms in the Madison and Ridgeland areas forced motorists off highways, and many people sought shelter in businesses until the systems moved to the east.
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