Mother Nature Hits the Deep South

Strong storms pounded parts of the Deep South on Sunday, damaging buildings and toppling trees in northern Louisiana, the AP reports. The National Weather Service reported multiple tornadoes and damaging winds over much of the northern part of the state. There were no immediate reports of serious injuries. Utility companies reported thousands of power outages. The city of Monroe, Louisiana, said the storm damaged commercial buildings and homes in multiple neighborhoods. Flights were canceled at Monroe Regional Airport, where siding was ripped off buildings and debris was scattered on runways. Airport director Ron Phillips told the News-Star the storm caused up to $30 million in damage to planes inside a hangar. For more:

• As of Sunday afternoon, the weather service said the greatest risk for strong Easter Sunday storms covered much of Mississippi, Alabama, and western Georgia. That area was at "moderate risk" while much of the rest of the South was under at least a "marginal" risk, the weather service said.
• The weather service said a broader area, from east Texas to the East Coast was also under at least a "marginal" risk of storms.
• "This could be a very difficult day weatherwise," Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves told residents in a live Facebook presentation. "Please be weather aware. Pay attention. ... We can see significant winds. We can also see significant tornadoes coming through Mississippi today."
• In Morgan County, Alabama, a church roof and steeple were damaged by lightning Sunday afternoon, Morgan County Emergency Management Agency Eddie Hicks told AL.com.
  

(More severe weather stories.)