Large tornado damages homes near Tupelo, Miss., no injuries immediately reported

JACKSON, Miss. – Authorities say a large tornado has damaged homes and downed trees and power lines around the northern Mississippi city of Tupelo.

Don Lewis, chief operations officer for the city, says there were no immediate reports of injuries. He says damages have been reported in several neighbourhoods north of the city and emergency crews have spread out to aid residents with recovery.

Areas of western Tupelo also reported some homes damaged and downed trees when the tornado moved past. Forecasters say the tornado sprang from a severe storm front sweeping across the northern part of the state.

Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency Monday in advance of expected storms that forecasters have warned could trigger tornadoes, heavy downpours, damaging hail and flash floods.

LINKS:

WATCH: Weatherman orders crew to take cover as tornado hits Mississippi – Global News

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TORNADOES RIP ACROSS MIDWEST

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Emergency workers are searching through rubble left in the wake of a series of deadly tornadoes and severe weather, the worst of which hit suburban Little Rock, Ark., Sunday night.

One tornado touched down around 7 p.m. west of Little Rock and grew to be half a mile wide, authorities said. It was among a rash of tornadoes and heavy storms that rumbled across the center and south of the country overnight.

The National Weather Service forecast that destructive storms could again strike Monday in the South and Mississippi Valley.

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