FIRST ALERT: Strong storms prompt tornado and thunderstorm warnings across the Mid-South

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A strong low-pressure system brought an intense line of rain and storms to parts of the Mid-South early Saturday morning, including damaging wind and the chance reports of isolated tornadoes. We declared Saturday a First Alert Weather Day.

If you can safely take pictures or video of the damage, please share them with us at www.wmcactionnews5.com/mypics and we may show them on TV.

See the storm’s track here:

7:16 a.m. -- Olive Branch police says Bethel Park and College Park subdivisions were hit with damaging winds, downing numerous trees. Cedar Creek Road is blocked by downed trees and power lines. College Road between 305 and Bethel Road is impassable.

7:05 a.m. -- Tornado Warning issued for northern Tishomingo, northeastern Prentiss and southeastern Alcorn counties until 7:45 a.m.

7:03 a.m. -- ARDOT is reporting a section of State Highway 364 in Cross County closed because of high water.

6:44 a.m. -- Marshall County Emergency Management is reporting mobile home damage with possible injuries on Highway 4 near Chulahoma.

6:41 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Henderson, southern Benton, eastern McNairy, northern Hardin, Chester and Decatur counties until 7:45 a.m.

6:35 a.m. -- ARDOT says a U.S. Highway 79 in Lee County is closed because of high water.

6:32 a.m. -- A large tree is blocking westbound Poplar west of Massey Road.

6:24 a.m. -- Entergy Arkansas is reporting nearly 42,000 power outages across the state with southeast Arkansas taking the biggest hit.

6:24 a.m. -- Panola County Emergency Management is reporting widespread damage, including downed trees and power lines. There are several reports of trees on houses and two commercial businesses with damage. They’re telling residents not to leave their homes if possible.

6:19 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for southeastern Hardeman, McNairy, northwestern Hardin and central Chester counties until 7 a.m.

6:18 a.m. -- A WMC viewer says camping trailers are overturned with people inside in the Oak Grove Camping Ground in Sardis, but no injuries have been reported.

6:17 a.m. -- A Marshall County firefighter tells us he believes a tornado touched down earlier at Highway 4 between Senatobia and Holly Springs. Multiple trees and structures are down. Several injuries have been reported.

6:09 a.m. -- Oxford police are reporting street flooding near South 18th and University Avenue.

6:09 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm warning for Tippah, eastern Benton, northern Prentiss, Alcorn and southeastern McNairy counties until 7 a.m.

6:06 a.m. -- More than 25,000 power outages reported by MLGW.

6:05 a.m. -- Memphis Dispatch confirms a tree fell on an apartment on East Parkway. It’s not clear if there were any injuries.

5:57 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for eastern Lafayette, Chickasaw, Calhoun, Union, Pontotoc, southeastern Marshall, western Lee, southern Tippah, south central Benton and southwestern Prentiss counties until 6:45 a.m.

5:55 a.m. -- Meteorologist Spencer Denton says the severe threat is over in Memphis and Shelby County.

5:48 a.m. -- DeSoto County Emergency Management is reporting downed trees and power lines south of Hernando and in the Lewisburg area. Trees have fallen on houses.

5:47 a.m. -- WMC viewers are reporting street flooding in Frayser and a street sign blown away in Germantown.

5:45 a.m. -- Power providers are reporting more than 35,000 outages in the Mid-South.

5:43 a.m. -- MLGW outages are up to 22,000.

5:39 a.m. -- MLGW is reporting nearly 20,000 power outages. See the outage map here.

5:36 a.m. -- TORNADO WARNING for eastern Fayette and northwestern Hardeman counties until 6 a.m.

5:34 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for northwestern Lafayette, southeastern Tate, northeastern Quitman and Panola County until 6:15 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located over Laws Hill at 5:33 a.m. moving northeast at 50 mph.

5:32 a.m. -- A WMC viewer is reporting power lines down on Presidents Island in southwest Memphis.

5:29 a.m. -- A strong thunderstorm producing wind gusts up to 50 mph was located at 5:29 a.m. near Somerville moving east at 45 mph.

5:26 a.m. -- Kendall Downing says power is flashing in Collierville as a wall of wind pushes through town.

5:21 a.m. -- DeSoto County Emergency Management is reporting damage south of Hernando off Highway 51. Crews are responding now.

5:21 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northern Marshall and northwestern Benton counties until 6 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located eight miles northwest of Holly Springs at 5:21 a.m. moving east at 40 mph.

5:20 a.m. -- A WMC producer is reporting damage to homes and cars in Lewisburg in DeSoto County.

5:19 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Lafayette, Yalobusha, Calhoun, western Union, western Pontotoc, southeastern Marhsall and southeastern Panola counties until 6 a.m. Severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Harmontown to 6 miles southwest of Coffeeville moving east at 40 mph.

5:17 a.m. -- Strong thunderstorms producing wind gusts up to 50 mph was located at 5:17 a.m. along a line extending from South Fulton to 11 miles west of Dancyville.

5:16 a.m. -- A Twitter user tells WMC the storm blew his patio furniture onto his roof near Wolf River and Houston Levee.

5:13 a.m. -- Tornado Warning issued for northwestern Lafayette, central Marshall, southeastern Tate, southwestern Benton and northeastern Panola counties until 6 a.m. Doppler radar-indicated a severe thunderstorm producing a tornado near Barr moving northeast at 55 mph.

5:13 a.m. -- MLGW is reporting more than 15,000 power outages.

5:12 a.m. -- Kendall Downing is reporting heavy wind in Collierville. Meteorologist Brittney Bryant says radar shows more than 80 mph winds in the area.

5:10 a.m. -- A WMC Facebook viewer says roads are flooding near Shelby Forrest.

5:09 a.m. -- Tunica County officials are reporting structural damage south of the city, including an overturned semi.

5:07 a.m. -- Viewers are reporting tornado sirens sounding across parts of Shelby County, including downtown Memphis, east Memphis and Cordova.

5:05 a.m. -- Entergy is reporting more than 2,500 power outages in DeSoto County.

5:01 a.m. -- TORNADO WARNING issued for parts of DeSoto, Marshall, Fayette and Shelby counties until 5:30 a.m.

4:59 a.m. -- MLGW is reporting more than 10,000 power outages in Shelby County.

4:55 a.m. -- Damage reports in Burdette, Arkansas include a trampoline in a fence, busted window and a downed tree. Powerlines and poles are down across Highway 61 but the road is not blocked.

4:55 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for northeastern DeSoto, southeastern Tipton, northwestern Fayette and Shelby County until 5:45 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was spotted over midtown Memphis at 4:54 a.m. moving northeast at 45 mph.

4:55 a.m. -- DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office says a tornado was spotted 8.5 miles southwest of Hernando moving northeast at 55 mph. Take cover immediately.

4:55 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for western Lafayette, Yalobusha, northwestern Calhoun, southwestern Marshall, southeastern Tunica, southern Tate, eastern Tallahatchie and Panola counties until 5:45 a.m. Severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Little Texas to Batesville and Paynes moving at 50 mph.

4:50 a.m. -- Twitter user @WillNunley reports heavy hail on the Memphis riverfront.

4:49 a.m. -- NWS Memphis reports a Tornado Warning with a storm approaching I-55 south of Hernando. Residents should take their tornado precautions now.

4:47 a.m. -- A Significant Weather Advisory in in effect for western Weakley County, Tipton County, Crockett County, Lauderdale County, Obion County, Dyer County, western Gibson County and Haywood County until 5:15 a.m. Strong thunderstorms producing winds at least 40 mph were located along a line extending from near South Fulton to near Dixonville moving east at 35 mph.

4:45 a.m. -- Tornado Warning issued for DeSoto and Tate counties until 5:30 a.m. This is a radar-indicated tornado with penny-sized hail possible. The storm is moving northeast at 55 mph.

4:44 a.m. -- Arkansas State Police is reoprting an overturned semi in Crittenden County about 5.6 miles west of West Memphis.

4:42 a.m. -- Radar is indicating 79 mph wind gusts in Tunica County.

4:38 a.m. -- MLGW is reporting more than 7,300 power outages in Shelby County.

4:36 a.m. -- Entergy is reporting nearly 1,000 power outages in Coahoma County and about 300 in Tunica County.

4:29 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for southeaster DeSoto County, southeastern Coahoma County, southeastern Tunica County, Tate County, northwestern Tallahatchie County, Quitman County and Panola County until 5:15 a.m. Severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Dubbs to near Dublin at 4:28 a.m. moving northeast at 30 mph.

4:24 a.m. -- Our Jonesboro sister station has received a report of a mobile home blown over west of Wynne, Arkansas.

4:24 a.m. -- MLGW is reporting about 1,500 power outages in Shelby County as the leading edge of the storm makes its way into west Tennessee.

4:22 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for western Yalobusha County, Southeastern Coahoma County, Tallahatchie County, southern Quitman and south central Panola County until 5 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located over Parchman at 4:22 a.m. moving east at 50 mph.

4:16 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for southeastern Lee County, western DeSoto County, Tunica County and western Tate County until 5 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located near Tunica moving northeast at 35 mph.

4:15 a.m. -- A Tornado Watch is issued for parts of northern Mississippi and eastern Tennessee until 10 a.m.

4:09 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for northeastern St. Francis County, central Crittenden County, northwestern DeSoto County and Shelby County until 5 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was spotted about 9 miles southwest of West Memphis moving northeast at 55 mph.

4:04 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for central Phillips County, Coahoma County, southwestern Tunica County and Quitman County until 4:45 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was spotted over Sherard moving east at 55 mph.

4:02 a.m. -- Woodruff Electric is reporting more than 2,000 power outages in eastern Arkansas including nearly 2,000 in Cross County and more than 400 in St. Francis County.

3:54 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for northeastern Mississippi County, southern Pemiscot County, northwestern Crockett County, Dyer County, northern Gibson County, Obion County, northern Lauderdale County and southeastern Lake County until 4:45 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located 10 miles east of Blytheville moving northeast at 45 mph.

3:46 a.m. -- Our sister station in Jonesboro says they’ve received a report of a roof peeled back at a gas station in St. Francis County.

3:45 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for eastern Lee County, southeastern St. Francis County, southwestern Crittenden County, western DeSoto County and northern Tunica County until 4:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located over Brickeys nine miles southwest of Hughes moving northeast at 25 mph.

3:45 a.m. -- St. Francis County Dispatch says between seven and 10 semi trucks have blown over on I-40 in Wheatley. The report came in just after 2 a.m. Several injuries have been reported.

3:43 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for northeastern Bolivar County in northwestern Mississippi until 4:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located near Gunnison 10 miles north of Rosedale moving east at 55 mph.

3:36 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warming is in effect for south central Mississippi County, northern Crittenden County, southwestern Tipton County and northern Shelby County until 4:15 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located near Jericho near Marion moving northeast at 40 mph at 3:36 a.m.

3:32 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warming is in effect for southern Phillips County, Coahoma County and west central Quitman County until 4:15 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located over Crumrod near White River National Wildlife Refuge at 3:32 a.m. moving northeast at 35 mph.

3:32 a.m. -- Entergy is reporting thousands of power outages in eastern Arkansas: Almost 2,000 outages in Crittenden County, almost 5,000 outages in Cross County, close to 1,000 in Mississippi County, about 600 in Phillips County and about 3,500 in St. Francis County.

3:23 a.m. -- Our sister station in Jonesboro is getting reports of wind damage about a mile southeast of Wynne, Arkansas at Cathy’s Lake.

3:23 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for southwestern Mississippi County, Tipton County, Lauderdale County and Western Haywood County until 4:15 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was spotted over Wilson at 3:23 a.m. moving northeast at 45 mph.

3:16 a.m. -- A Severe thunderstorm is in effect for Lee County, southeastern St. Francis County, Phillips County and central Tunica County until 4 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located over Marvell at 3:16 a.m. moving northeast at 65 mph.

3:16 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for southern Pemiscot County, west central Crockett County, western Dyer County, northern Lauderdale County and south central Lake County until 4 a.m. A severe thunderstorm was located over Burdette near Blytheville at 3:16 a.m. moving northeast at 45 mph.

3:07 a.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for eastern St. Francis County, Crittenden County, southeastern Cross County and western Shelby County until 3:45 a.m. The severe thunderstorm was radar indicated over New Home, 8 miles east of Madison, at 3:05 a.m. moving east at 45 mph.

3:05 a.m. -- Radar indicates near 60 mph wind gusts in the Wynne, Arkansas area.

2:23 a.m. -- Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued for parts of eastern Arkansas until 3:15 a.m., including Forrest City, Marion, Wynne, Blytheville and Osceola.

Saturday 2:19 a.m. -- A semi has blown over on I-40 near Wheatley.

Friday -- The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for parts of eastern Arkansas and western Tennessee until 7 a.m. Saturday.

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On Friday, the Storm Prediction Center increased our threat for strong to severe storms, including all of eastern Arkansas, the Mississippi Delta and parts of west Tennessee. Those areas, including Shelby County and the city of Memphis, are now in a moderate risk for severe storms --- a 4 on a scale of 5. While those areas are facing the highest risk across the region. everyone in the WMC Action News 5 area should stay vigilant.

As for timing with this storm, eastern Arkansas will be under the threat first around 3 a.m. and then near the Mississippi River and Memphis around 5 a.m. The storm will continue east toward the Tennessee River Valley around 11 a.m. Once this line pushes east of the region, we will see our severe threat diminish.

Damaging winds are the primary threat. Gusts could exceed 50 mph, meaning a high likelihood of downed trees and power lines. We are expecting a number of power outages with this system as it barrels across the Mid-South.

Along with the wind threat, we could see flash flooding. A decent amount of rain will push through the region in a short time. Remember, Turn Around, Don’t Drown if you approach water over the roadway.

We also have a small threat for hail as this line of storms rolls across the region.

Enough dynamics are in place to give us tornado potential with this line. Due to this line moving in across the region early in the morning hours Saturday, having multiple ways to monitor watches and warnings is imperative. Make sure your weather radio is ready and download the WMC Action News 5 First Alert Weather app. Do not rely on outdoor weather sirens to warn you if you are inside your home.

Stay weather aware and download WMC’s FREE First Alert Weather app on Apple or Android devices. Make sure you check your notification settings so you’re getting warnings that are important to you. Watch this video for a demonstration.

Chief Meteorologist Ron Childers and the First Alert Weather team are monitoring the storm through the night and in the morning. We’ll be live on TV and our digital platforms as soon as the weather turns worrisome.

If you can safely take pictures or video of the storm or damage, share them with us at wmcactionnews5.com/mypics or upload them directly through your First Alert Weather app.

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