Photos: Tornado damages Jacksonville State University campus as severe storms rampage across Alabama
One of the largest severe weather outbreaks of the year unfolded from Monday night into Tuesday morning, as damaging thunderstorms spawned tornadoes, hail the size of tennis balls and damaging winds across the Southeast.
The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center listed nine tornado reports from Monday, all of them in Alabama. Damaging tornadoes ripped through the town of Jacksonville, Alabama, located about 76 miles northeast of Birmingham.
"Considerable" damage was reported at Jacksonville State University as campus officials warned students and faculty against traveling to the school as trees and power lines were down throughout campus. The university remains closed on Tuesday due to the extensive damage.
Despite the reports of damaged structures, there have not been any reports of injuries or fatalities.
Storm damage reported in Limestone County, Alabama. (Photo/Limestone County Sheriff's Office)
“There has been significant damage tonight in parts of Alabama," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. "We are sending state resources to those affected areas, especially to Jacksonville and Calhoun County. We will continue to monitor and respond to needs in other areas as needed. Our first priority is ensuring our people are safe. Please stay out of affected areas and let first responders do their job. I thank all first responders, EMA and Weather officials, and utility workers for their hard work trying to keep Alabamians safe.”
On Tuesday, Ivey declared a state of emergency in response to the severe weather.
Residents in Calhoun County, Alabama, were being asked to conserve water Tuesday morning as supplies were running low due to power outages.
Over 15,000 Alabama Power customers were without power during the height of the storms, the utility reported. That number had dropped to around 9,300 by 6 a.m. local time Tuesday.
In Georgia, utility companies reported more than 26,000 customers suffered power outages during the storms.
The threat of severe weather will extend east to parts of Florida and the coastal Southeast on Tuesday.
Multiple residences were damaged on Gatlin Road and Highway 251 near Ardmore, Alabama. (Photo/Limestone County Sheriff's Office.)
Damage in Ardmore, Alabama. (Photo/Limestone County Sheriff's Office)
A roof was damaged at Road Gear Trucking Equipment in Russellville, Alabama, on Monday night. (Twitter user @GSMoore16)
Damage in Good Hope, Alabama, after large hail fell across the town. (Photo/@xotic_illusions)
