Severe Weather Knocks Out Power For Thousands In West Alabama
Early morning storms across West Alabama have left tree and power line damage and power outages. Alabama Power and power coops are reporting some 45,000 outages in the state. According to the National Power Outage map, that is by far the most of any other state. Georgia s second with almost 9,500 outages.
Alabama Power crews are assessing the damage and responding to outages according to an online message from the company. APC's Storm Emergency Operations Canter in Birmingham has been activated. The company advises customers with outages to use their cell phones to report it to the storm center. If it is a dangerous condition, including downed power lines, please call 1-800-888-2726.
Tuscaloosa County is reporting more than 2,500 outages; Walker County has 1,400. However, Jefferson County is accounting for the largest number of outages at 24,000.
Volunteer fire departments and county road crews are working to remove trees and limbs from roads across West Alabama. Winds gusting to 40mph felled a number of trees, especially along rural roads.
A ground stop was ordered for about an hour at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this morning due to high winds and a possible tornado in the area of the airport.
A second round of storms are expected across West Alabama this afternoon and early evening as the area remains under a Slight (2 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms.
Read More: Alabama Faces the Potential for Additional Strong to Severe Storms
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