Tornado watch continues until 4 am for several central AL counties

A tornado damaged homes and at least one church, and strong winds damaged student housing at a community college Tuesday in eastern Mississippi.

The combination of snow in one part of the country and severe thunderstorms in another isn’t unusual when a powerful system moves across the country, said Greg Carbin with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. No deaths or injuries were reported but severe damage was reported in MS, where at least four thousand tornadoes roamed the state.

The storm originated in Scooba, Mississippi where the local National Weather Service office confirmed a tornado there.

Reportedly 13 homes were destroyed, while trees and powerlines were down all over West Alabama. Heavy snowfall and powerful winds on Tuesday knocked out power, prompt schools and businesses to close, and triggered flight cancellations across a swath of states from Colorado to northern MI.

The tornado appeared to be on the ground for about five miles in and near the small town of Collinsville, northwest of Meridian, said Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie.

A tornado emergency was issued for Carrollton, warning residents to take cover immediately.

An Alabama prison and a college in MS were damaged, according to NBC News. “We’ve had some houses hit and minor injuries reported”, said Aliceville’s emergency 911 director Belinda Tilley.

Severe storms swept across the region on Tuesday afternoon, blasting the area with strong winds. An isolated tornado is also possible.

A tornado touched down in Aliceville, Alabama, near the MS border. Bells City Schools will also be closed due to storm damage in the area.

Carpenter says the greatest threat will be east of Interstate 55.

A warm front was located south of IN at 1:30 p.m. and will continue to lift north across central IN this evening. Keep in mind WBRC will provide a special newscast at 4 p.m. focusing on the severe weather threat and tracking the storms.