JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Authorities say there have been reports of downed trees and power lines in parts of Mississippi as a severe line of weather pushes across the state.
Martin Pace, sheriff of west Mississippi's Warren County, says strong wind has knocked down trees and power lines there.
In Copiah and Simpson counties, the Southern Pine Electric Power Association said a power outage has affected about 4,000 residents and businesses in Copiah and Simpson counties. Southern Pine spokesman Dan Davis said the outage, which occurred around noon Wednesday, is believed to be weather-related.
Davis said Southern Pine personnel are en route to the substation in the Shady Grove community of Copiah County.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urged residents to keep a close eye on the weather. Much of the southern half of the state was under a tornado watch until 6 p.m. Tuesday and the National Weather Service had issued a number of tornado warnings.
Forecasts called for the threat of severe weather through the early evening hours with possible tornadoes, damaging winds, lightning, hail and flooding.
Some areas could see as much as 5 inches of rain from the slow-moving storm.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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