Halloween storms that toppled trees and downed power lines across Chattanooga region give way to cold temps

Storms raked across the central United States from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes on Thursday ahead of an arctic blast that forecasters said was expected to bring record cold to the South.

Temperatures were predicted to drop by as much as 30 degrees in a few hours. In the Chattanooga area, Thursday morning started out on the warm side in the 70s, but overnight lows were forecast to hit 33, prompting a freeze warning.

In some areas, winds were gusting above 30 mph and heavy rain caused havoc across most of the South, including in Chattanooga where emergency crews responded to several calls involving downed trees and power lines.

One driver escaped major injury after a tree crushed his car as he was traveling in the 800 block of Belvoir Avenue near Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, according to police at the scene.