Severe weather producing hail and heavy downpour has moved into southern Tennessee, causing marathon runners to take cover in Nashville and power outages in Memphis, The Associated Press reports
A tornado watch was issued for West Tennessee and parts of Middle Tennessee through Saturday afternoon and evening.
No reports of significant damage had been reported to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency just before noon.
Richard Thompson, a spokesman with Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division, told The Commercial Appeal that more than 4,400 people lost power throughout Shelby County, but no serious damage was reported.
In Nashville, officials opened up LP Field, home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, for Country Music Marathon runners to take shelter once thunderstorms moved into town.
A series of strong thunderstorms is predicted to continue through the night and into Sunday. The National Weather Service this morning warned of strong supercells that could bring severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and large hail stones.
The weather service said
isolated tornados will be possible in the afternoon and and evening.
Localized flooding is possible from heavy rains, the weather service says.
Scattered storms are expected to continue through the night and into Sunday.